HOME REMEDIES WITH POMEGRANATE

Grind the seeds and make a thick paste. Apply to face and wash off after 15-30 minutes. Your skin will feel fresh and firmer. Also helps in reducing the spots and blemishes on skin.
... Dip cotton ball in pomegranate juice and apply on skin after cleansing. It will help get rid of acne and pimples. It is an excellent astringent and toner.
You can use the seeds paste as a body scrub. It would remove excess oil.
Use pomegranate juice to make clay masks or other kinds of face masks
For a dry skin, mix honey and pomegranate juice or seeds paste and apply to your skin. It will instantly revive your face giving it a fresh glow without drying your skin....:)

KAPIL MUNI FAIR- KOLAYAT ( Rajasthan )

Kolayat Fair also known as the Kapil Muni Fair is the largest fair of Bikaner, Rajasthan. It is held on Kartik Purnima at Kolayat, originally known as Kapilayatan. The place is named after the sage Kapil who is believed to have done meditation for the salvation of mankind in this place.
The Kolayat Fair of Bikaner has a great importance in the life of the people of Bikaner. They eagerly wait for this fair throughout the year.It also has... a great religious significance. A large number of devotees also visit the fair to take a holy dip in the Kolayat Lake. It is believed that a holy dip can provide them respite from all the sins they have done.The most palpable element of the Kolayat Fair is wh...en all the devotees gather at one point at dusk to put several lit oil lamps on the leaves and leave them to float on the tranquil lake.
Thousands of tourists visit this fair and take a dip on the holy lake Ther. Ther is a lake with 52 ghats and surrounded by banyan trees. The lake also finds mention in the Puranas. A temple with a marble statue of the saint is dedicated to Kapil Muni. Though people visit this place all round the year, it is considered highly auspicious to visit Kolayat and take a dip in the holy lake. It is believed that a day’s stay at Kolayat is equivalent of spending 10 years at any other holy place. Sewag Brahmins perform the daily rituals in the temple.
On Kartik Purnima, Deep Malika is performed in the evening where devotees float lamps in the sacred lake as part of the ritual. Offerings consisting of sugar drops, coconut and dry fruits are given at the temple.
An interesting and an important part is the cattle fair that is held on the same day. Kolayat Fair is the largest cattle fair of Bikaner.
However, if you are visiting the fair without any such interest in its historical as well as religious significance, then also a visit to the fair will be a great experience. During the Kolayat Fair all the 52 ghats are beautifully decorated. Attractive lights impart a great look to these ghats. On visiting the fair, you will also be able to witness the various rituals performed by the devotees. These devotees also offer prayers along with sweetmeats, milk pudding and sugar drops to the deity.
There are a number of other features of Kolayat Fair that impart a lot of attractiveness to the fair. The Kolayat Fair Bikaner boasts a mesmerizing view when all the devotees gather at a common point and leave oil lamps to float in the calm waters of the lake. It will be a great sight for the tourists to see hundreds of lighted lamps floating in the water of the lake.

Source: www.festivalsofindia.in

Image : Google

THE BEST (AND TASTIEST) FOOD FOR YOUR HEART

A heart-smart lifestyle starts with the foods on your plate. Improve your diet with these tasty choices that contain the top nutrients your heart needs, from vitamins and minerals to antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids.

Opt for Brown Rice Instead of White
The difference between brown and white is the difference between whole and refined grains. When grain products like rice, pasta, and bread are refined, the outer kernel of the grain is removed, and so are most of their heart-healthy food benefits. The outer capsule of the grain is where most of the vitamins and fiber are. Think of that capsule as a slow-release pill — grains with their capsule are always better for heart health.

KARELA / BITTER GOURD - BENIFITS

• Bitter gourd tea has been used in Asian traditional medicines for treating diabetes since a long time.
... • Latest research states that bitter gourd tea elevates blood sugar levels, stimulating digestion and increasing insulin sensitivity.
• Bitter gourd tea is highly recommended to people suffering from sluggish digestion, dyspepsia and constipation.
• Since ages, bitter this tea has been used to prevent and treat malaria. Studies have also indicated that bitter melon contains anti-malarial properties.
• Bitter gourd contains compounds that are known to treat HIV/ AIDS infection.
• It contains compounds that help in regulating fuel metabolism and enabling glucose uptake.
• Fruits and leaves of bitter gourd are a good source of vitamins B and minerals such as iron, calcium and phosphorus.
• The extract of leaves is also known to shrink hemorrhoids.
• They also help in preventing and lessening cough and fever.
• Due to its antimicrobial properties, bitter gourd tea is useful for treating infected wounds. It also works well for treating roundworms.
• One research has indicated that bitter gourd tea can be used for treating sterility in women and alleviating liver problems.

"ICE" (In Case of Emergency) Campaign

We all carry our mobile phones with names & numbers stored in its memory but nobody, other than ourselves, knows which of these numbers belong to our closest family or friends.

If we were to be involved in an accident or were taken ill, the people attending us would have our mobile phone but wouldn't know who to call. Yes, there are hundreds of numbers stored but which one is the contact person in case of an emergency? Hence this "ICE" (In Case of Emergency) Campaign

The concept of "ICE" is catching on quickly. It is a method of contact during emergency situations. As cell phones are carried by the majority of the population, all you need to do is store the number of a contact person or persons who should be contacted during emergency under the name "ICE" ( In Case Of Emergency).

The idea was thought up by a paramedic who found that when he went to the scenes of accidents, there were always mobile phones with patients, but they didn't know which number to call. He therefore thought that it would be a good idea if there was a nationally recognized name for this purpose. In an emergency situation, Emergency Service personnel and hospital Staff would be able to quickly contact the right person by simply dialing the number you have stored as "ICE."

For more than one contact name simply enter ICE1, ICE2 and ICE3 etc. A great idea that will make a difference!

Let's spread the concept of ICE by storing an ICE number in our Mobile phones today!

BENEFITS OF STAR ANISE

• The star anise is botanically known as Illicium Verum. It is dark brown in colour with eight segments.It has a sweetish licorice taste.Besides the culinary uses, star anise also has health benefits.
• In traditional Chinese medicine, star anise is prescribed as a digestive aid, promoting health of female reproductive organs and for lactating mothers to increase breast-milk secretion.
• The anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties of star anise is useful in the treatment of asthma, bronchitis and dry cough. For this reason some cough mixtures contain star anise extract.
• Star anise can also be used for its sedating properties to ensure good sleep.
• The oil of star anise is useful in providing relief from rheumatism and lower back pain.
• Star anise also can be used as a natural breath freshener.
• Shikimic acid, a compound present in star anise is used for preparing drug for curing influenza or the flue virus.
• Linalool, a compound present in star anise contains anti-oxidant properties that are very good for one's overall health.

Image source : Gardenseeker.com
Information source : Bombay Times

TULSI VIVAH

 

 

Tulsi Vivah is the ceremonial marriage of the Tulsi plant to the Hindu god Vishnu or his Avatar Krishna.It is celebrated on the next day of Karthik Ekadashi. On this day Tulsi is married to Saaligram.
The tulsi plant is held sacred by the Hindus as it is regarded to be an incarnation of Mahalaxmi who was born as Vrinda. Tulsi was married to demon king Jalandhar. She prayed to Shri Vishnu that her demon husband should be protected, with the result no God was able to harm him. However on the request of the other Gods, Shri Vishnu took the form of Jalandhar and stayed with the unsuspecting Tulsi. When the truth emerged after Jalandhar’s death, Vrinda cursed Shri Vishnu and turned him to stone (Saaligram) and collapsed. From her body emerged the tulsi plant. That is why Vishnu puia is considered incomplete without tulsi leaves.

The very name Tulsi, that which cannot be compared, the "incomparable one", has spiritually uplifting qualities. Tulsi has been found to possess extraordinary powers of healing.