Makar Sankranti
Makar Sankranthi, or Sankranti is a popular Indian festival. It is celebrated in many parts of the country and in some other parts of the world with great zeal and enthusiasm. It is a harvest festival, which is celebrated in the Hindu communities. The festival marks the day when the sun begins its northward journey and enters the sign of Makar (the Capricorn) from the Tropic of Cancer. It is like the movement of sun from Dakshinayana (south) to Uttarayana (north) hemisphere. It is the one of the few chosen Indian Hindu festivals which has a fixed date. This day falls on the 14th of January every year according to the Hindu Solar Calendar. The festival is considered to be a day from where onwards all the auspicious ritualistic ceremonies can be solemnized in any Hindu family. This is thus considered as the holy phase of transition.
Makar Sankranti holds special significance as on this day the solar calendar measures the day and night to be of equal durations on this day. From this day onwards, the days become longer and warmer. It is the day when people of northern hemisphere, the northward path of the sun marks the period when the sun is getting closer to them. The importance of the day was signified by the Aryans who started celebrating this day as an auspicious day for festivities. The reason behind this may be the fact that it marked the onset of harvest season. Even in the epic of Mahabharata, an episode mentions how people in that era also considered the day as auspicious. Bhishma Pitamah even after being wounded in the Mahabharata war lingered on till Uttarayan set in, so that he can attain heavenly abode in auspiciuous times. It is said that death on this day to brings Moksha or salvation to the deceased.
Makar Sankranti is celebrated in almost all parts of India in myriad cultural forms, with great devotion. Millions of people take a dip in places like Ganga Sagar (the point where the river Ganges meets the Bay of Bengal) and Prayag and pray to the Sun God (Surya). In the western Indian state of Gujarat, the celebrations are even bigger. People offer thousands of their colorful oblations to the Sun in the form of beautiful kites. The act stands as a metaphor for reaching to their beloved God, the one who represents the best. Makara Sankranti is also to honour, worship and to pay respect to Saraswati (Goddess of Knowledge). At the start of this significant event, there is also worship for the departed ancestors.
Makara Sankranti identifies a period of enlightenment, peace, prosperity and happiness followed by a period of darkness, ignorance and viciousness with immense sorrow. The six months of northern movement of the sun is followed by six months of southern movement. Since the festival is celebrated in mid winter, food prepared for this festival is such that it keeps the body warm and gives high energy. Ladduof til made with Jaggery is a specialty of the festival. In the western Indian state of Maharashtra, it is called 'Tilgul'. In Karnataka, it is called 'Yellu-Bella'. In some states, cattle are decorated with various colours and are made to jump over a bon-fire. It is celebrated differently in different regions of India.................................
Friday, January 14, 2011
Sunday, January 2, 2011
MY LOVELY HUBBY'S MYSORE PAK
INGREDIENTS: Bengal Gram Flour - 1 cup
Ghee - 2 cups( you can even use 3/4 cup oil if you like , if using oil add 1 1/4 th ghee)
Sugar - 2cups
Water - 1/2cup
METHOD:
1. Take 1cup of besan and add 2tsp of oil.
2. And rub the flour with your hands.
3. Sieve the besan flour to remove lumps.
4. Grease the tray (in which you will finally transfer the mysore pak) with ghee .
5. Heat the ghee in a vessel till it is very hot.
6. Keep a small bowl/cup with water near the cooking stove.
7. Take 2cups of sugar in a pan.
8. Mix the water and sugar in a heavy kadai and place on fire.
10. It should get one string consistency.
11. When the sugar is dissolved strain through a fine filter to remove dust particles.
12. Pour the sugar syrup back into the kadai and place again on low fire.
13. Keep stirring till you reach soft ball consistency.
14. To check the consistency, just drop a bit of the sugar syrup in the bowl/cup of water that you have near the stove.
15. The syrup should instantly settle at the bottom as a round lump inside the water.
16. This is the soft ball consistency (It will approx take 10 minutes to reach soft ball consistency).
17. Now drop the gram flour little by little into the syrup, stirring constantly (to avoid forming lumps).
18. Once all the gram flour has blended with the syrup,
pour the hot ghee-oil little by little, stirring constantly. All the ghee will get absorbed.
19. Continue to stir and within few minutes the mixture will get frothy and leave out ghee.
20. At this stage remove from fire and transfer into the greased tray/plate and pat it even.
21. Grate some almonds on top.
22. After about 3-4 minutes, cut into pieces in the tray.
23. Allow to cool and then remove the pieces to store in a jar..............................
This recipe was prepared by my lovely hubby.......
Enjoy your mysore pak................
Ghee - 2 cups( you can even use 3/4 cup oil if you like , if using oil add 1 1/4 th ghee)
Sugar - 2cups
Water - 1/2cup
METHOD:
1. Take 1cup of besan and add 2tsp of oil.
2. And rub the flour with your hands.
4. Grease the tray (in which you will finally transfer the mysore pak) with ghee .
5. Heat the ghee in a vessel till it is very hot.
6. Keep a small bowl/cup with water near the cooking stove.
7. Take 2cups of sugar in a pan.
8. Mix the water and sugar in a heavy kadai and place on fire.
9. Keep mixing the sugar syrup.
12. Pour the sugar syrup back into the kadai and place again on low fire.
13. Keep stirring till you reach soft ball consistency.
14. To check the consistency, just drop a bit of the sugar syrup in the bowl/cup of water that you have near the stove.
15. The syrup should instantly settle at the bottom as a round lump inside the water.
16. This is the soft ball consistency (It will approx take 10 minutes to reach soft ball consistency).
17. Now drop the gram flour little by little into the syrup, stirring constantly (to avoid forming lumps).
18. Once all the gram flour has blended with the syrup,
pour the hot ghee-oil little by little, stirring constantly. All the ghee will get absorbed.
19. Continue to stir and within few minutes the mixture will get frothy and leave out ghee.
20. At this stage remove from fire and transfer into the greased tray/plate and pat it even.
21. Grate some almonds on top.
22. After about 3-4 minutes, cut into pieces in the tray.
23. Allow to cool and then remove the pieces to store in a jar..............................
This recipe was prepared by my lovely hubby.......
Enjoy your mysore pak................
Saturday, January 1, 2011
HAPPY NEW YEAR WISHES TO ALL MY FRIENDS
I wish you all a very happy and a prosporous new year......................
Welcome to the New Year! It is time for change, renewal, and celebration. The great thing about today is that yesterday is gone. You can't go back and undo things you have done, but you can embrace today and look towards the future with the hope.
Build on yesterday's success and learn from yesterday's failures. Live in today.
May this year be the best year of your life...........................
Welcome to the New Year! It is time for change, renewal, and celebration. The great thing about today is that yesterday is gone. You can't go back and undo things you have done, but you can embrace today and look towards the future with the hope.
Build on yesterday's success and learn from yesterday's failures. Live in today.
May this year be the best year of your life...........................
Thursday, December 30, 2010
HOMEMADE TIPS FOR CLEANING MICROWAVE
A microwave is one of the most convenient ways to heat up some food quickly in our homes.
However, all that food can splatter and spill in the microwave, making a big mess , plus, have you ever burned something in the microwave, such as microwave popcorn? That smell seems to linger on and on, as do many other microwave odors.
1. Microwaves can be freshened by wiping the interior with a solution of four tablespoons of baking soda to one quart warm water. NEVER use a commercial oven cleaner.
2. Wet a rag with cold water, leave it really wet but not dripping. Nuke it for about a minute and then open the microwave and wipe the mess away with a separate wet cloth. The one that was microwaved is VERY HOT do not touch it with your hands. Mess will wipe away easily without ANY cleansers at all. The steam loosens the baked on mess and it wipes clean away. May need to repeat a few times before you are done.
3, put a cup of water in the microwave with a couple of tablespoons of lemon juice in it (or a couple of drops of dish soap if I'm out of lemon juice), run it for 2-3 minutes, let it sit so it steams up the inside of the microwave and loosens the stuck-on yucks, then wipe it all away with a paper towel. It's quick, simple and makes the microwave smell nice!.
However, all that food can splatter and spill in the microwave, making a big mess , plus, have you ever burned something in the microwave, such as microwave popcorn? That smell seems to linger on and on, as do many other microwave odors.
1. Microwaves can be freshened by wiping the interior with a solution of four tablespoons of baking soda to one quart warm water. NEVER use a commercial oven cleaner.
2. Wet a rag with cold water, leave it really wet but not dripping. Nuke it for about a minute and then open the microwave and wipe the mess away with a separate wet cloth. The one that was microwaved is VERY HOT do not touch it with your hands. Mess will wipe away easily without ANY cleansers at all. The steam loosens the baked on mess and it wipes clean away. May need to repeat a few times before you are done.
3, put a cup of water in the microwave with a couple of tablespoons of lemon juice in it (or a couple of drops of dish soap if I'm out of lemon juice), run it for 2-3 minutes, let it sit so it steams up the inside of the microwave and loosens the stuck-on yucks, then wipe it all away with a paper towel. It's quick, simple and makes the microwave smell nice!.
START YOUR LIFE THINKING POSITIVE
Positive thinking is an art that can help you manage your life better. There are ways to follow in order to learn how to start thinking positive. Positive thinking is not something that will fall one day from the sky but it needs effort and skills to be able to achieve it. By start thinking positive you will place you self in a position that will allow you not only to manage your life better but it will also help you to raise yourself esteem and self confidence
10 Ways to start thinking positive :
1. START THINKING ABOUT SUCCESS:
Create in your mind an indelible image of yourself as a successful person. Keep this strong image within you, and do not even allow it to fade. Over time, this picture will evolve within you and the details will be stimulated. You must never challenge the reality of this intellectual image because it will be dangerous. Your mind will also try to fill the gaps in what was originally imagined. Always have in your mind the success regardless of how bad things seem to be at the moment.
Each time that invades your mind a negative thought concerning your personal powers and abilities, deliberately start thinking of something very positive to counteract.
2. BYPASS YOUR OBSTACLES AND FEARS :
Do not build your imagination with obstacles. Instead, try to minimize any potential obstacle. The difficulties must be studied and treat effectively in order to be eliminated, without giving them more power than they really have. Often fear exaggerates the difficulties and «hides» their true dimension.
3. TRANSFORM YOUR THOUGHTS TO IMAGES:
Think of your brain as an image playback unit. The images are coming from our thoughts, often taking shape in our minds and frighten us, or give us the power to be creative or inspire us or make us dream.
Negative thoughts create negative images and hence negative reactions. The same happens with positive thoughts that make exactly the opposite and work for our benefit. To start thinking positive you have to create these positive images in your mind and take advantage of the inspiration and creativity they will create.
4. DONOT GET IMPRESSED EASILY BY OTHER PEOPLE :
This must be the most intelligent advice. Do not overly be impressed by other people so as to copy them. Nobody can be as effective as you have in your life. Remember also that regardless of how dynamic and successful one can seem, often they may have the same lack of self-confidence and they may be afraid the same as you.
5. LEARN YOURSELF BETTER :
Get to know your self better. Find what is causing your inferiority or your fears and misgivings. It is likely these negative feelings of you to stem from childhood and from young age. You may often need the advice of a specialist to help you understand why you feel and behave in a particular way. Try to understand your self better, which is the first step in managing your life better.
Make a realistic assessment of your skills
Make a realistic assessment of your skills and then increase that by 10%. That does not mean that you will become selfish. Instead, you must believe in the forces and means to create a rock solid sense of your self. Only when you believe in your self you will be able to start thinking positive.
7. START THINKING POSITIVE AND CREATIVE:
Turn positive thinking into creative thinking. Positive thinking alone will not help us to manage our life better. What we need apart from positive thinking is creative thinking. Creative thinking is about planning, designing and putting objectives for the future. Starting from simple, everyday things we have in our daily schedule. This can be the first step to organize our thinking on how to implement the things we have to do.
Also the power of creative thinking, besides the benefits it can bring to us, can also be used as a positive influence for those around us. We can inspire them; give them incentives, energy and vision. Thinking creatively is something that we can train ourselves to do. It takes time and effort but when we achieve it we will be able to manage our life better.
8. USE YOUR TIME EFFICIENTLY :
Start transforming thoughts to actions. Try and find ways to simplify and facilitate your daily obligations, which would result in savings of your valuable time that is needed for your personal improvement.
9. SOLVE YOUR EVERYDAY PROBLEMS :
Focus to solve some of the operational problems of everyday life and then direct the power of your positive thinking to try and shape your next steps in your lives, your personal relations in your career and your family.
10. DO NOT STOP DREAMING :
Dream! The power of thinking can take you to some great moments that made you happy…it can magically transfer you to the beach as if you were on holiday! It can transfer to you sounds, colours, smells and people.
Dream now what you would like to be in your life, your relationship, your work and think about it intensely with as many details as you can. This thought makes you feel beautiful? This thought gives you incentive to try to get to the point that you dreamed? Yes! We must do this every day thinking, again and again and again!
So, install a new operating system in your brain that will make you start thinking positive. This will ignore the fears and will not convert them into images, will ignore the bad thoughts about possible failures and transform them into a big picture of success and self confidence. You'll see that with time your life will become more beautiful and will approach the life that you dreamed about and also your behaviour will become more effective and more acceptable to your environment. Fight against the evil thoughts from their roots and do not leave them reach the surface. To start thinking positive is in your hand ... or rather in your mind!
10 Ways to start thinking positive :
1. START THINKING ABOUT SUCCESS:
Create in your mind an indelible image of yourself as a successful person. Keep this strong image within you, and do not even allow it to fade. Over time, this picture will evolve within you and the details will be stimulated. You must never challenge the reality of this intellectual image because it will be dangerous. Your mind will also try to fill the gaps in what was originally imagined. Always have in your mind the success regardless of how bad things seem to be at the moment.
Each time that invades your mind a negative thought concerning your personal powers and abilities, deliberately start thinking of something very positive to counteract.
2. BYPASS YOUR OBSTACLES AND FEARS :
Do not build your imagination with obstacles. Instead, try to minimize any potential obstacle. The difficulties must be studied and treat effectively in order to be eliminated, without giving them more power than they really have. Often fear exaggerates the difficulties and «hides» their true dimension.
3. TRANSFORM YOUR THOUGHTS TO IMAGES:
Think of your brain as an image playback unit. The images are coming from our thoughts, often taking shape in our minds and frighten us, or give us the power to be creative or inspire us or make us dream.
Negative thoughts create negative images and hence negative reactions. The same happens with positive thoughts that make exactly the opposite and work for our benefit. To start thinking positive you have to create these positive images in your mind and take advantage of the inspiration and creativity they will create.
4. DONOT GET IMPRESSED EASILY BY OTHER PEOPLE :
This must be the most intelligent advice. Do not overly be impressed by other people so as to copy them. Nobody can be as effective as you have in your life. Remember also that regardless of how dynamic and successful one can seem, often they may have the same lack of self-confidence and they may be afraid the same as you.
5. LEARN YOURSELF BETTER :
Get to know your self better. Find what is causing your inferiority or your fears and misgivings. It is likely these negative feelings of you to stem from childhood and from young age. You may often need the advice of a specialist to help you understand why you feel and behave in a particular way. Try to understand your self better, which is the first step in managing your life better.
Make a realistic assessment of your skills
Make a realistic assessment of your skills and then increase that by 10%. That does not mean that you will become selfish. Instead, you must believe in the forces and means to create a rock solid sense of your self. Only when you believe in your self you will be able to start thinking positive.
7. START THINKING POSITIVE AND CREATIVE:
Turn positive thinking into creative thinking. Positive thinking alone will not help us to manage our life better. What we need apart from positive thinking is creative thinking. Creative thinking is about planning, designing and putting objectives for the future. Starting from simple, everyday things we have in our daily schedule. This can be the first step to organize our thinking on how to implement the things we have to do.
Also the power of creative thinking, besides the benefits it can bring to us, can also be used as a positive influence for those around us. We can inspire them; give them incentives, energy and vision. Thinking creatively is something that we can train ourselves to do. It takes time and effort but when we achieve it we will be able to manage our life better.
8. USE YOUR TIME EFFICIENTLY :
Start transforming thoughts to actions. Try and find ways to simplify and facilitate your daily obligations, which would result in savings of your valuable time that is needed for your personal improvement.
9. SOLVE YOUR EVERYDAY PROBLEMS :
Focus to solve some of the operational problems of everyday life and then direct the power of your positive thinking to try and shape your next steps in your lives, your personal relations in your career and your family.
10. DO NOT STOP DREAMING :
Dream! The power of thinking can take you to some great moments that made you happy…it can magically transfer you to the beach as if you were on holiday! It can transfer to you sounds, colours, smells and people.
Dream now what you would like to be in your life, your relationship, your work and think about it intensely with as many details as you can. This thought makes you feel beautiful? This thought gives you incentive to try to get to the point that you dreamed? Yes! We must do this every day thinking, again and again and again!
So, install a new operating system in your brain that will make you start thinking positive. This will ignore the fears and will not convert them into images, will ignore the bad thoughts about possible failures and transform them into a big picture of success and self confidence. You'll see that with time your life will become more beautiful and will approach the life that you dreamed about and also your behaviour will become more effective and more acceptable to your environment. Fight against the evil thoughts from their roots and do not leave them reach the surface. To start thinking positive is in your hand ... or rather in your mind!
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