NOVA GOKULA ( Brasil)

Nova Gokula ( Hare Rama Hare Krishna Temple) is located in a beautiful valley, in the region of Ribeirão Grande, in the municipality of Pindamonhangaba, São Paulo, 150 Km from the capital and 270 km from Rio de Janeiro.


In the midst of a true ecological paradise, flora and fauna, with waterfalls that descend from high peaks and form the river which bisects the fazenda ( farm ) Nova Gokula. The air is pure, without any trace of pollution.


These are shops in the fazenda, which sell religious books, photos, idols, agarbathis, Bhajan CD's and casettes, Indian clothes, jewellery etc. etc.


Main entrance to the Temple.



Inside the Temple

Mataji doing the Aarti.
She is a staunch devotee of Lord Krishna and lives in the premises of the temple. She is addressed as Mataji by everyone. Pooja and Aarti is performed 4 times in a day .

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Devotees singing bhajans


Snack Bar " Jagannatha "
Veg sandwiches and snacks are served here.


Cafeteria " Govinda-Ji "
Devotees enjoying their refreshments. Amazing to see the Brasilians dressed up in sarees and having names like Meera and Yashoda.


Restaurant/ Pizzaria
You can get a simple meal of Vegetarian pizza or Indian Thali ( salad, rice, dal/beans, vegetable curry ) Most of the fruits and vegetables are grown in the farm. Cows are reared for the diary products.


The serene atmosphere with cows grazing and peacocks dancing around really makes it look like a real " Gokul Dham" The sight of a peacock opening it's feathers to dance is really amazing...could't capture it though..

CACAO FRUIT

The cacao tree is small and comes from the forests of Central and South America.The cacao fruit is a huge berry called cacao pod, usually egg or melon-shaped, 5 to 12 inches long and 3 to 5 inches wide. The cacao pod contains 30 to 40 seeds. It takes 20 to 25 pods to get 2 pounds of cocoa. Once the tree reaches maturity, fruit pods will sprout from its trunk and branches. The golden-red to purple fruit pods turn brown at maturity, at which time they are split open and the insides scooped out. Each pod generally produces 20 to 40 almond-shaped cacao beans.

After the cacao beans are removed from the fruit, they undergo fermentation, a process that reduces their bitterness and helps develop their heady aroma. After they are dried the beans are ready to be cleaned, graded, packed, and shipped for processing into chocolate products.

Information Source - http://www.chocolate.org/choctree.html

Mellow Yellow Monday

THE BIG BANYAN TREE

The Big Banyan Tree of Adyar ( Chennai - India)
It measures 238 ft. from North to South and 250 ft. from East to West. The total area exceed 59,500-sq.ft. This tree is a unique specimen.
This is believed to be the largest Banyan tree in the world. Some say that the largest one is in Kolkata (Calcutta-India).
About 10 years ago, a devastating cyclone uprooted this tree. To bring back the tree to its original position, huge cranes were brought to the scene. A vast pit was dug and the tree was kept back in its position. But all these efforts went in vain. The aerial roots of this tree have become well rooted and the entire tree appears like a bunch of several trees.

Information Source: Tamilnadu Guide

Wordless Wednesday Link

Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida ( Brazil)

The Basilica of Nossa Senhora Aparecida (Our Lady Aparecida) is in a small town of Aparecida, about 180 Kms. away from the city of Sao Paulo. It is currently the largest Marian temple and the second largest Basilica in the world. According to recent estimates, about 8 million pilgrims visit every year. Architect Benedito Calixto designed a building in the form of a Greek cross, 173 meters long and 168 meters wide; the tower is 100 meter high, the naves have 40 meters and the dome is 70 meters high, covering a surface area of around 18,000 square meters. It can hold up to 45,000 people. The 272,000 square meters of parking hold 4,000 buses and 6,000 cars.
The statue of Nossa Senhora was supposed to be found by the fishermen.The image has a dark brown color, as it was sculpted in clay (resulting in many of its replicas being painted black) and it is covered by a stiff dark blue robe of richly embroidered thick cloth with golden clasps, and wears an imperial crown which was added in 1904. Only her face and hands can be seen.
( Information Source : Wikipedia)

The image of Nossa Senhora.

Inside the Basilica

The room where devotees light the candles.

Wax images of the body parts are offered by people suffering from any ailments.

Children dressed up as Angels.

Outside the Basilica

Food Court and shopping for souveniers.

BENEFITS OF MUSIC THERAPY

Studies have shown that music tends to have a profound effect on the body. Thus, music therapy is a form of healing where music is used to enhance one's physical, emotional and mental health.

Here are some benefits of music therapy.

• Music therapy is beneficial in treating depression. Research has shown that people who suffered from depression and received music therapy showed a decrease in depressive symptoms as to those who did not indulge in music therapy.
• Pregnant women can benefit from music therapy as it has the power to ease their stress and reduce anxiety levels.
• Research has shown that cancer patients tend to cope better with their illness.
• Children suffering from learning and development problems can benefit from music therapy as it helps to stimulate learning and their creative abilities. It helps in controlling aggression and helps them to sleep better.
• Music has the ability to lower blood pressure, slower the heart rate, reducing muscle tension and improvement in breathing.

Source- Bombay Times.

THE RIGHT FOUNDATION FOR YOUR SKIN TONE

• Identify your skin tones. you should determine your skin tone before going foundation shopping.
• Don't try to change the colour of your face by opting for a foundation that does not match your skin tone at all.
• Look for a foundation that will sit well on your skin. For example, if you have oily skin then look for foundations that have words like OIL-FREE , OIL-CONTROL or MATTIFYING on the labels.If you have a dry skin , then look for words like HYDRATING and MOISTURE-FREE and MOISTURE-RICH.
• Go to the makeup counter with a clean face. If you go with an 'already loaded with makeup face', it will be impossible to determine whether a foundation goes well with your complexion or not.
• Try at least three shades of foundation closest to your original skin tone.

Information Source - Bombay Times

Image source - Photobucket

SALT - (Tips)

1. If you drop a whole egg on the floor, pour salt all over the egg, let it sit for awhile, then use dustpan, the egg will come right up, without all that mess.

2. Soak stained hankies in salt water before washing.

3. Sprinkle salt on your shelves to keep ants away.

4. Soak fish in salt water before descaling; the scales will come off easier.

5. Put a few grains of rice in your saltshaker for easier pouring.

6. Test the freshness of eggs in a cup of salt water; fresh eggs sink;bad ones float.

7. Add a little salt to your boiling water when cooking eggs; a cracked egg will stay in its shell this way.

8. A tiny pinch of salt with egg whites makes them beat up fluffier.

9. Soak wrinkled apples in a mildly salted water solution to perk them up.

10. Rub salt on your pancake griddle and your flapjacks won't stick.

11. Soak toothbrushes in salt water before you first use them; they will last longer.

12. Use salt to clean your discolored coffee pot.

13. Mix salt with turpentine to whiten you bathtub and toilet bowl.