The Indian Panorama

Month: November 2012

  • Kamala Lakshman to perform in NY on Nov 24

    Kamala Lakshman to perform in NY on Nov 24

    NEW YORK (TIP): One of the greatest exponents of Bharathanatyam and considered living legend Padma Bhushan Kamala Lakshman is to give a dance performance in New York on Nov 24.

    Sri Bharatha Kamalalaya, the dance school of the renowned guru, is to present a dance drama on Lord Rama “Jaya Jaya Sree Rama” with live orchestra at PS 115 Auditorium, 80-51 261st Street, Floral Park, Queens, at 3:30 PM.

    Kamala Lakshman Narayan is among the important iconic figures in dance in modern India. After Balasaraswati and Rukmini Devi Arundale, it was Kamala who was responsible for making Sadir the national art of Bharatanatyam. The leading exponent of the Vazhuvoor bani of Bharatanatyam, she has been associated with the dance scene for over six decades.

    At age 78, Guru Kamala will be giving a special performance in the show. Guru Kamala’s students will be participating in the drama such as Pooja Aier from Westchester will be playing the role of Rama, Shreya Desikan as Lakshmana, Komal Keerthy as Sage Viswamitra, Ambika Venkatakrishnan as King Janaka and Pallavi Moorthy will be playing the role of Sita in the drama. Rucha Acharya will be playing the role of Ravana.

    Planned as a tribute to the living legend, in addition to the dance drama, Mala Desai and dancers will be performing a Odissi piece; guru Sadhana Paranji and her students from Sadhanalaya School of Dance will be performing in Kuchipudi; and Sowmya Viswanath of Kathak Ensemble & friends will do a number in Kathak.

    According to the organizers, delicious Indian snacks and dinner will be available at the venue. The last time Kamala presented this drama was some 25 years ago in New York.

    She literally took Bharathanatyam to the silver screen, and still brings a misty eyed look to the eye of the rasika. ‘Kottu Murase’ you can hear them think, ‘Naadhar mudi mel irukkum nagapaambe.’ And she is still the sprightly, beautiful ‘Kumari’ Kamala to them.

    belongs to the Vazhuvoorar style and was a disciple of Kattumannar Kovil Muthukumarappa Pillai in Bharathanatyam. She started learning Kathak when she was 5 years old at Bombay. Later she shone as a Bharathanatyam artiste, whose dance sequences in Tamil films like ‘Naam Iruvar’, were a vehicle for patriotic messages during the freedom struggle.
    The foremost exponent of the Vazhuvoor tradition of Bharata Natyam Kamala is the ideal combination of Dancer and Guru. Her career in dancing has been a long and illustrious one. She has performed extensively in India and abroad, serving as cultural ambassador of international acclaim. She performed at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 and enthralled many dignitaries including Jawaharlal Nehru, S. Radhakrishnan, President Eisenhower, Prime Minister Chau Enlai and Marshal Tito, and the King of Jordan.

    She established a dance school, “Sri Bharata Kamalalaya.” Kamala has more than 120 compositions of her own covering the entire margam and including several dance-dramas. She has received many honors including the Kalai Sigamani title given by the Tamil Nadu Eyal Isai Nataka Manram in 1967, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1968 and the Padma Bhushan in 1970.An exemplary teacher, she conducts classes in New York and New Jersey, where she has introduced many fine young artistes to Bharata Natyam and given them a special appreciation of Indian culture. She is also an Adjunct Professor of Indian Classical Dance at the Center for India Studies, Stony Brook University. She teaches an undergraduate course in Bharatanatyam (Theatre 353) every fall.

  • IL&FS Engg bags Rs 135.50-cr contract from Emaar-MGF

    IL&FS Engg bags Rs 135.50-cr contract from Emaar-MGF

    Hyderabad (TIP): IL&FS Engineering and Construction Company Ltd has bagged a letter of intent (LoI) from Emaar-MGF for a construction project worth Rs 135.50 crore.

    The contract is for construction of the ‘Palm Terraces Select Housing Complex’ in Sector- 66 in Gurgaon.

    The project involves the civil structure, finishing and low-side services works of the residential towers (G+9 to G+13 storey buildings), basements, compound wall, and other miscellaneous works. The project duration is 27 months.

  • Four-year-old kid mowed down in Jersey City

    Four-year-old kid mowed down in Jersey City

    JERSEY CITY (TIP): A four-year old Indian-American child Dhyanesh, son of Balaji Jeyakannan working for Con Edison Company was fatally struck by a speeding car and killed on the spot at the junction of Jefferson Avenue and Central Avenue in Jersey City, New Jersey last week.

    The mishap happened when the child, holding her mother Nagarani Nagarajan’s hand, was crossing the road after the stop signal for motorists. Ms. Eisa Templo who was at the wheel first hit the mother and in the impact she fell down and let loose the kid who was later moved down by the car. Balaji Jeyakannan is a native of Madurai and is working as an IT consultant. The Police have arrested Eisa Templo and have remanded her to custody. The Consulate General of India in New York is helping the parents to transport the body of the child to India

  • Obama becomes 14th US Prez to win a 2nd Term

    Obama becomes 14th US Prez to win a 2nd Term

    NEW YORK (TIP): President Obama won a second term November 6 night and became the 14th US President to win a second term. He promised his thrilled supporters at the victory celebrations in Chicago that for the United States of America “the best is yet to come.” He congratulated his opponent Mitt Romney and said, “In the weeks ahead I am looking forward to sitting down with Gov. Romney to discuss how we can move this country forward.”

    In a victory speech studded with the soaring rhetoric that first drew voters to him in 2008, Obama reminded the electorate what was still on his agenda — immigration reform, climate change and job creation.
    “Tonight, you voted for action not politics as usual.” he told supporters in Chicago. “You elected us to focus on your job, not ours.”

    Obama told Romney supporters that “I have listened to you… you have made me a better president.” He added, “I return to the White House more determined, more inspired than ever.

    The election is a validation, if not an overwhelming mandate, in support of the president’s policies of the last four years, which included a major overhaul of the healthcare system and a drawdown of troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
    Top Republican lawmaker John Boehner said on Thursday he would not make it his mission to repeal the Obama administration’s healthcare reform law following the re-election of President Barack Obama.

    “The election changes that,” Boehner, speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, told ABC news anchor Diane Sawyer when asked if repealing the law was “still your mission.”

    “It’s pretty clear that the president was re-elected,” Boehner added. “Obamacare is the law of the land.”
    Obama built a coalition of young people, minorities, and college educated women and won by turning out supporters with a carefully calibrated ground operation to get out the vote in crucial states like Ohio, Iowa and Wisconsin.
    He thanked those who voted “whether you voted for very first time, or waited in line for a very long time — by the way we have to fix that,” he joked.

    He thanked Vice President Joe Biden, whom he called “America’s best happy warrior” and first lady Michele Obama.
    “Sasha and Malia,” he said addressing his two daughters. “You’re growing up to be two strong, smart, beautiful young women…I’m so proud of you. But I will say for now, one dog is probably enough,” he said riffing on his promise of a puppy four years ago.

    Prior to the president’s speech, Mitt Romney conceded gracefully in Boston.

    “I so wish that I had been able to fulfill your hopes….but the nation chose another leader,” Romney told heart broken supporters at his Boston headquarters.

    “I pray the president will be successful in guiding our nation,” Romney said before running mate Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin and their families joined Romney on the podium.

    Obama’s lease on the White House was renewed with a crucial victory in Ohio.

    Celebrations erupted in Obama’s home town of Chicago, in New York’s Time Square and outside the White House, while Romney’s Boston headquarters went mournfully quiet.

    “We’re all in this together. That’s how we campaigned, and that’s who we are. Thank you,” Obama tweeted even before formally announcing his victory.

    After a campaign for the White House and both houses of Congress that cost more than $6 billion, the make up of all three branches remains very much the same as it was before the election. Obama remains in the White House, Democrats retain control of the Senate and Republicans continue to control the House.

    The participants were themselves history making, the first black president running against the first Mormon presidential nominee to make it the general election. But for the most part the election turned not the politics of identity but of the economy.

    The election took place against the backdrop of a slow economic recovery. From its outset, both campaigns knew the race would come down to the economy, and both tried to tailor their appeals to middle class families struggling with inflation and unemployment.

    Obama routinely reminded voters he had inherited the worst economy since the Great Depression and pointed to policies he led, including the auto bailout, and signs of improvement including a drop in the unemployment rate.

    Obama portrayed Romney as an out of touch millionaire intent on helping the rich at the expense of the middle class when they were hurting the most. That impression seemed to stick with voters who nationally said by 55 to 40 percent that they believed the economic system favors the wealthy rather than being fair to most people, according to exit polls.

    The candidates also tangled over health care, abortion, and taxes, leading to a bevy of negative ads.
    The campaign was the most expensive in history, with each candidate raising nearly $1 billion a piece.

  • Yoga postures for Pregnant Women

    Yoga postures for Pregnant Women

    Yoga: It is this ancient form of exercise that has contributed in the holistic living of individuals in the most natural and trusted way since years. Yoga is like a spiritual route to a relaxed mind and healthy body.

    In times of pregnancy, when women are battling mood swings at varying levels, fatigue and sickness, painful leg cramps and breathing problems; yoga exercises, techniques and postures ease all such conditions ensuring a period of relieved nine months followed by an easier labour and smooth delivery.

    Former Miss Universe and Bollywood actress Lara Dutta who recently became a mother of a baby girl launched her prenatal yoga DVD titled ‘Heal with Lara’ under pre-natal yoga expert Tonia Clarke. Her initiative is just another example of stating the significance of pregnancy yoga that is developing as an important fitness trend among would-be mothers.

    Women who are regulars would require minor modifications to their yoga routine during pregnancy months when the body is undergoing hormonal changes. The aim of pregnancy yoga is to help the mother bring the unborn into the world with minimum hassle and completely no health complications. Positions and exercises practiced across the three trimesters of pregnancy differ with every phase. It isn’t just about yoga; it is about doing it under expert supervision and favourable environment.

    A pregnant woman must take into consideration her health history before beginning with the exercises. For those who are doing yoga for the first time and have not been following a regime otherwise should not rush into the same without prior medical consent. The first three months are the most crucial and chances of miscarriage are high; therefore utmost caution is paramount during this time.

    With all clauses and health tips in mind, let us now move forward to the ‘asanas’ most recommended for would-be-mothers. Yoga postures mentioned below focus on strengthening the pelvic muscles that help enhance the womb space for the healthy growth of the foetus. Yoga teacher and nutritionist Abhilasha Kale believes that, “The benefits of asanas are many. By doing regular exercises, a lot of happy hormones are released called ‘endorphins’ that keep a mother energetic and positive sans the deterring and erratic mood swings coming in way.”

    Here’s a list of the top exercises that Abhilasha suggests women to attempt during pregnancy months. She also guides us on doing them correctly:

    Vakrasna (Twisted pose):

    Sit erect with feet stretched in front (parallel).
    Inhale and raise your arms at shoulder level, palms facing down.
    Exhaling, twist your body from waist towards your right moving head and hands simultaneously to the same side. Swing arms back as much as possible. Do not bend your knees.
    Inhale and come back to original position maintaining your hands shoulder level and parallel to each other.
    Repeat on other side.
    Benefit-Your spine, legs, hands, neck are exercised along with gentle massage to abdominal organs.

    Utkatasana (Chair pose)

    Strengthens thigh and pelvic muscles
    Stand erect with feet 12 inches apart. Keep your feet parallel to each other.
    Inhale for 2 seconds and raise your heels and arms at shoulder level, palms facing down simultaneously.
    Exhale slowly; sit in squat pose, on your toes. If not comfortable standing on your toes, stand normally keeping feet flat on the ground.
    Keeping your hands in the same position, inhaling, get up slowly and stand on your toes.
    Exhale, hands down and heels down simultaneously.

    Konasana (Angle pose)

    Flexibility of waist and fat remains under control in the waist region
    Stand erect with feet 24 inches apart. You can do this asana with the support of wall.
    Raise your right hand up keeping elbow straight. Give a nice upward stretch and while you inhale, bend sideward towards your left. Exhale and come back and put your hand down.
    Repeat the same with other side.

    Paryankasana (Ham’s pose with one leg)

    Strengthens abdominal, pelvic and thigh muscles
    Lie down on your back. Straighten your legs. Keep your knees together.

    Hast Panangustasana (Extended hand to big tow pose)

    Strengthens pelvic and thigh muscles
    Lie down on your back. Straighten your legs. Keep your body in one line.
    Your hands in T-position, palms facing down.
    Slide right leg towards your right side. Don’t try very hard. Hold toe with your right hand if possible.
    Sliding your leg come back to original position.
    Repeat the same on left side.

    Bhadrasana (Butterfly pose)

    Strengthens inner thighs and pelvic region
    Sit on the mat with legs fully stretched.
    Keeping the legs in contact with the mat, form ‘Namaste’ with your feet. -Sit erect, without leaning forward. Place your hands on knees or thighs. Hold the posture till the time you feel comfortable.
    Straighten your legs and repeat again.

    Parvatasana (Mountain pose)

    Improves body posture, relief in backache
    Sit on the mat in sukhasna, padmasana or ardhapadmasana.
    Sit straight and while you inhale, raise your arm and join your palms in ‘Namaste’ position. Keep your elbows straight. Hands are near to your ears. Hold the position for a few seconds and come back to normal position again.
    Repeat 2-3 times

    Yastikasana (Stick pose)

    Corrects posture, body gets stretched, relieves body tension
    Lie down on your back. Straighten your legs. Keep your body in one line. Knees and feet are together. Feet point upward. Hands rest on the sides.
    Inhale and raise your hands; rest them on the floor and stretch upward. Push your toes out simultaneously.
    Exhale, raise your hands and come back into normal position.
    Repeat 3-4 times with in between breaks.
    safety measures

    Mothers with condition of asthma can try the above mentioned asanas but shouldn’t hold or suspend breath during the practice of pranayams/asanas.
    On the basis of pregnancy trimesters there are certain exercises that cannot be carried throughout all
    pregnancy months. Konasana (angle pose) for instance should not be continued post seven months of pregnancy. Once the mother feels uncomfortable doing an asana, it is advisable to stop immediately without further straining the muscles.
    Avoid forward bending asanas (strong back bends, such as the boat pose), inverted poses and exercises that might put pressure on the abdomen.
    Asanas that require lying down on the weight of your stomach should be strictly avoided.
    Exercises involving balance should be done with utmost care.
    Please avoid hurrying into weight-loss exercise regime immediately after delivery. Post-natal yoga (post six weeks after birth) and exercises should be practiced only when the mother’s body is fully ready and relaxed.
    Simple stretching exercises encourage circulation, help fluid retention, and relieve stress
    If mothers feel pain or nausea doing any of the exercises, then they should stop immediately and consult doctor.

  • Nor’easter adds to the Woes of Sandy battered NY, NJ

    Nor’easter adds to the Woes of Sandy battered NY, NJ

    NEW YORK (TIP): The nor’easter that stymied recovery efforts from Superstorm Sandy pulled away from New York and New Jersey Thursday, leaving hundreds of thousands of new people in darkness after a blanket of thick, wet snow snapped storm-weakened trees and downed power lines. From Brooklyn to storm-battered sections of the Jersey shore and Connecticut, about 750,000 customers in the region were without power in temperatures near freezing, some living for days in the dark.

    Throughout Staten Island’s beach area, the storm had blanketed growing piles of debris with several inches of snow. By mid-morning, it was starting to melt, filling the streets with filthy sludge. Roads in New Jersey and New York City were clear for the morning commute but there were traffic snarls on many roads. And rail lines into New York were not running smoothly. The nor’easter, as anticipated, brought gusting winds, rain and snow, but not the flooding that was anticipated

  • 15 Ground-Breaking Documentaries premiered at SAFF’s 9th Annual International Film Festival

    15 Ground-Breaking Documentaries premiered at SAFF’s 9th Annual International Film Festival

    NEW YORK,NY (TIP): Despite the Hurricane Sandy onslaught, a large number of people attended the Sikh International Film Festival at the Asia Society to celebrate and commemorate Sikh art, culture, leadership, and films on Saturday, Nov. 3. Presented by the Sikh Art & Film Foundation (SAFF), the film festival premiered 15 short films and documentaries featuring Sikh stories from across the globe, from both established and emerging filmmakers. Short films were shown from noon to 2 p.m.; short documentaries from 3 to 5 p.m., and premiere documentaries from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. The event culminated with an after-party and awards ceremony from 9:00 p.m. to midnight. The winners were:
    Brendan Nehmias for “Humble the Poet” – Best Short Film Michael Singh for “Visionary” – Best Short Documentary

    Winning films in the category of Best Short Film and Best Documentary were recognized with cash prizes that totaled $15,000.

    Five films made their World Premiere at Sikh International Film Festival 2012 including: Oak Creek: In Memoriam, from award-winning filmmaker Valarie Kaur (Divided We Fall), a recently completed short documentary commemorating the tragic shootings at Oak Creek; We Are Sikhs: a Poem, a short by Amardeep Kaleka, whose father was killed at Oak Creek; The Volunteers, British director Mark Hammett’s short feature about a young nursing home volunteer learning about Sikhs during World War II and the Burmese War; Injustice 1984, a film by Jarnail Singh which uncovers ugly truths behind the 1984 massacre from one family’s perspective, and The Sikhs of Kabul, a hard-hitting look at the minority Sikh population still living in Kabul, Afghanistan, where, during Taliban rule, they fell to the lowest rungs of society, and remain confined to a compound. Making its U.S. Premiere was Hola! The Mighty Colors, filmmaker Teena Kaur’s story about the Sikh celebration.

    Other titles shown were the short Humble the Poet about the tattooed hip-hop artist who is also a practicing Sikh in Toronto; Namrata, a true story of Namrata “Mona” Gil, an abused Sikh woman who becomes a police officer in Canada; The Visionary, a new film by controversial director Michael Singh; Sikhs@War, the story of the Sikhs who were recruited to fight for the Allies during WWI and WWII; #MyTurban, interviews with prominent Sikhs that were created from a social networking initiative; Beyond the Gardens’ Wall, about the harsh treatment of Sikh and Chinese immigrants who came to work in British Columbia in the early 1900s; Kartiviya, a short narrative film about a New York Sikh cab driver and grandiose promises made by a passenger; Remembrance: A Sikh Story about Sikhs in the Great Wars, and Five Folds, a narrative father-son drama.

    During the 7:00 p.m. documentary premiere series, the Sikh Art & Film Foundation premiered a multi-million dollar public service announcement campaign called Be Proud, created by Gurbaksh Chahal, Be Proud Foundation Founder and Founder & CEO of RadiumOne. The Be Proud campaign, created in the wake of the tragic Gurudwara shootings of six innocent Sikhs in Wisconsin in August, will begin airing nationwide in mid-November 2012, bringing its anti-hate, pro-unity message to Americans from all walks of life. The campaign, which is backed by renowned figures such as Sir Ben Kingsley, Deepak Chopra, Jay Sean, Gurinder Chadha, Kabir Bedi, Vikas Khanna, RDB, Anupam Kher, Lisa Ray,Priyanka Chopra, Eva Longoria, and Aamir Khan, is about eliminating hate with the “unifying truth that we are all a little different and we should be proud of what makes us unique,” according to Mr. Chahal. Be Proud will also be recording videos at the Gala that will be used on the Be Proud website, www.beproud.org.
    The Sikh International Film Festival was founded in 2003 to create awareness and pride in the diversity, culture and history of the Sikhs, a people rooted in the Punjab region of South Asia who practice the world’s fifth largest religion. Announcing the 2012 Film Festival and Sikh Heritage Gala, Tejinder S. Bindra, President of the Foundation, said, “In offering this year’s excellent lineup of films and events and sponsoring the Be Proud campaign, we renewed our mission to demonstrate Sikh culture and stand with our partners in declaring that intercultural understanding, fighting for the oppressed, and respect for each other’s differences are not just our core Sikh values, they are also our American values.”

    The Film Festival was sponsored by Habib Bank. The bank’s Senior Vice President Rizwan Qureshi, in his brief remarks extolled the work being done by the Sikh Art & Film Foundation and said Habib Bank was happy to associate itself with the organization.

    The Guest of Honor, Pratap Singh Bajwa, a Member of India’s Parliament was moved to see the plight of Sikhs in Afghanistan in the documentary ‘The Sikhs of Kabul’. He said he would take up the cause of Afghanistan Sikhs with the Prime Minister of India and make sure effective steps are taken by government of India to help them.
    Among the more prominent Sikhs present included hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal and Master Card CEO Ajay Banga.

  • More than 110 Perish-NY hardest hit with 48 lives lost

    More than 110 Perish-NY hardest hit with 48 lives lost

    NEW YORK (TIP): Hurricane Sandy will be remembered as one of the biggest in the history of the states located North of Washington D.C. It was eight hundred miles long and four hundred miles wide. The winds were gusting at 90 to 115 miles per hour, which is equal to 150 to 190 kilometers. Unprecedented rainfall ranging from 8 inches upwards was wreaking havoc with the communities falling in its unexpected route. The winds shattered doors and windows of several homes and blew off many roofs.

    It originated in the warm Caribbean Islands (West Indies) and its cyclonic rains took 69 lives in the tropical archipelago. Such storms, of smaller proportions have been hitting the Caribbean Islands and America before too, but the dimensions have never been so massive and these storms have never made landfall as far North as New Jersey.was not so much in the area of its eye. The worst damage was within a radius of hundred to two hundred miles around the eye.

    This circular path of devastation included entire New Jersey and Long Island area of New York. Some areas of New York city, including Staten Island, Queens and Lower Manhattan were hit hard. The full moon high tides in the Hudson and the East River inundated the low lying areas. The hundred year tidal elevation in coastal New Jersey ranges between ten and twelve feet, but the tidal surges of this storm exceeded those figures by several feet. As a result, there were massive power outages and some fires in the flooded regions. Days after the storm, a lot of communities all over New York and New Jersey are still without electricity. More than a hundred deaths have been confirmed so far. Some fatalities are still being found in houses. The worst property and infrastructure damages occurred in New Jersey. But New York suffered the highest death toll, after 9/11.

    There are hundreds of barrier islands in New Jersey. These barrier islands are a natural protection for the hinterland of the state. There are small bushes, wild grass and dwarf trees on these islands. During the coastal storms and Nor-Easters, the vegetation gets destroyed, but roots stay and the lost vegetation comes back. Before the European immigrants arrived in this country, these islands were practically uninhabited. Some of the adventurous Red Indians used to fish on these beauties during the day, but used to return home by nightfall. But the modern days Americans built communities with all modern facilities on some of these islands. During this hurricane, these barrier islands suffered the brunt of the fury. Some were wiped out in entirety and some were badly obliterated. It will be a gigantic task to restore normalcy on these islands. Some may have to be abandoned.

    Hurricane Sandy has done extensive damage to vital installations and properties in all states. Most heavily impacted municipalities are in the coastal regions of Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut and New York. On the first day, the financial losses have been roughly assessed at thirty five billion dollars. By now the losses have been revised to put the final figure at well past one hundred billion dollar mark. When final figures are tallied, the figures may increase substantially. This impact of the unprecedented storm is going to be harsh on the insurance companies. Most of them will ask for increased home insurance costs from their customers, when the next premium paying time comes. The FEMA has been very helpful with its generous financial and logistics help and so was the U.S. Army. Eight thousand electric experts from other states, along with their massive equipment, were in New Jersey alone. They have been working day and night to restore power in all affected states. Giant C-130 cargo planes have transported heavy electrical equipment from far flung areas like California.

    Considering massive damage to the properties and installations, the restoration of all electricity and other services shall need billions of dollars of new expenditure. Damaged home appliances, furniture, carpets and fittings shall have to be replaced. Hundreds of thousands of permanent gas operated generators shall have to be installed. Indubitably, Sandy has not only been the biggest storm in tears but also one of the most expensive.

  • Flaunt your bathroom

    Flaunt your bathroom

    You are having a party and have beautifully done up your living room. Basking in the glory of all the applause, you are a little taken aback when you realise that your not-so well-kept bathroom has spoiled the good-impression your living room decor had managed to make on your guests.Ideally, bathrooms should always (in bold, underlined and italics) be neat and clean, but especially so, if you have house guests or if you are throwing a party.

    Here are a few things you should keep in mind before you let the world in, to take a peek at how you live. Help your guests make themselves at home by outfitting the bathroom(s) properly. Begin by doing the basic cleaning, and make sure you do it thoroughly. Once the place is clean, start decorating it.
    You don’t need to spend big bucks on decorative and crystal ware, simple things can make a difference. Incorporate a vase of fresh flowers or a tiny pot of a green plant in your decor plan. Trust us, it can give a completely new look to your bath area.

    Replace your much-used soap bar with a fresh aromatic bar and place it in a clean (make sure the soap dish is clean and free of any residue from prior use), pretty soap box or holder. Make your bathroom as user-friendly as possible. Make sure you put extra bathing supplies — shampoo, conditioner, bath/shower gel, a disposable razor, a couple of barsoap options — in the bathroom cabinet and let your guests know they’re available.
    Set out air freshener, potpourri, and/or scented candles and matches. Place a small cassette or CD player in a concealed spot in the bathroom. Play soft music set at a low volume.

    Must-haves

    A bottle of mouthwash
    A set of clean hand towels
    Facial tissues (in a decorative dispenser if possible)
    A tube of hand-lotion and moisturiser
    A nonskid mat in the tub or shower area
    A night-light so that guests don’t have to fumble for the light switch in the dark.
    A hair dryer and an assortment of clean hair brushes
    Apart from the regular wall mirror, place a mirror with one magnified side and one regular side on the bathroom counter
    Clean unused towel in the towel bar
    A fresh new roll of toilet paper and a back-up roll in the cabinet
    A small supply of feminine hygiene products should be stored out of sight, but in an easy-to-find place
    Extra unused toothbrushes
    At least one wastebasket.
    A one-size-fits-most wrapstyle robe on the door hook
    Remove any potentially embarrassing items from the bathroom’s medicine cabinet. Some guests will always look! Store these items out of sight, as well.

  • Scrubs and face packs for a glowing skin

    Scrubs and face packs for a glowing skin

    Shine and glow like a festive diva in this season of light and celebration, and get glowing with lustrous skin. This time illuminate your skin not with make-up but with a natural glow.Get that flawless looking skin at home with ease as beauty expert Richa Agarwal of Cleopatra Day Spa & Salon, brings forth a quick festive skin makeover regime.
    Clean that dirt:

    Oatmeal is the most common non-soap cleanser. It is very gentle and is especially useful to those with sensitive skin or problematic skin conditions. Grind the whole oats into fine powder and apply a thick paste by mixing in lukewarm water. You can also add the powder to bath water for a full body treatment.

    Oatmeal cinnamon scrub:

    Suitable to all skin types this organic scrub rich with antioxident and protein benefits is very good for the cells of your skin and can give you instant glow . Mix 1 tbsp of dark brown sugar, oatmeal flour, ½ tbsp milk and a pinch of cinnamon. Make a thick paste and massage it well onto your face for a smooth skin. Leave it on for 20 minutes and then wash your face with cold water.

    Green tea scrub:

    This scrub is suited for dry, normal and combination skin types. To exfoliate your skin to ward off dead cells and get a fresh glowing skin you need to mix 3 tbsp of green tea, 2 tbsp of brown sugar and 1 tbsp of a nourishing cream. Apply this paste and leave it on for 15 minutes. Scrub your face in gentle circular motions while removing the paste and then wash it off with cold water. See yourself transformed with this scrub.

    Get that fresh look:

    Mix 1 egg white, ¼ cup of whole milk, 2 tbsp of baking soda and ½ a cup of water in a small bowl and blend well. Refrigerate it for a short while and then take a small amount onto a wet washcloth; gently massage it on your skin. After 10 minutes rinse well with warm water and pat dry your skin.

    Jojoba oil moisturiser:

    Jojoba oil has some very distinguishing properties which will result in a beautiful glowing skin. Natural oils like Jojoba often contain anti-ageing nutrients that help repair damaged skin and prevent further damage. Apply the oil as a moisturiser with deep circular motions and let your skin absorb the smoothness of it.

    Buttery delight:

    Shea butter is a thick, creamy oil that comes from the shea tree; it is widely used as a moisturiser. Get the buttery smoothness by rubbing shea butter onto your skin as it forms a barrier between the elements and your skin while sealing the moisture inside your skin. Shea butter is widely recommended by natural therapists for its ability to heal scar tissue produced by stretch marks and hyper-pigmentation.

    Almond facial mask:

    Soak almonds overnight and take their skin off the next morning and grind them into a paste; while making the paste add rose water to it. Apply onto the skin and let it dry for 20 minutes. Gently wipe off the mask with a damp wash cloth or rinse with lukewarm water.

  • Like animals, we too can smell fear: Researchers

    Like animals, we too can smell fear: Researchers

    NEW YORK: Humans can sniff fear and disgust, and the emotions are contagious, a new study has found, suggesting we communicate via smell just like other animals.

    “These findings are contrary to the commonly accepted assumption that human communication runs exclusively via language or visual channels,” researchers led by Gun Semin from Utrecht University in the Netherlands said. Most animals communicate using smell, however, because humans lack the same odour-sensing organs, scientists thought we had long ago lost our ability to smell fear or other emotions, the Live Science reported.

    To find out, a team of scientists collected sweat from under the armpits of 10 men while they watched either frightening scenes from the horror movie ‘The Shining’ or repulsive clips of MTV’s “Jackass” . The researchers asked 36 women to take a visual test while they unknowingly inhaled the scent of men’s sweat. When women sniffed ‘fear sweat’, they opened their eyes wide in a scared expression, while those smelling sweat from disgusted men scrunched their faces into a repulsed grimace.

    The team chose men as the sweat donors and women as the receivers because past research suggests women are more sensitive to men’s scent than vice versa. The findings suggest that humans can communicate at least some emotions by smell, which could prove useful in crowded places, researchers said. “Our research suggests emotional chemo-signals can be potential contributors to emotional contagion in situations involving dense crowds,” the authors said.

  • Skeleton of 1,400-yr-old ‘vampire’ dug out

    Skeleton of 1,400-yr-old ‘vampire’ dug out

    LONDON (TIP): A 1,400-year-old ‘vampire’ skeleton with metal spikes through its shoulders, heart and ankles, has been discovered in Britain, a new report has claimed. The skeleton dating from 550-700 AD found buried in the ancient minster town of Southwell, Nottinghamshire has shed light on rare ‘vampire’ burials in Britain.

    Long dismissed as myth and legend, the vampire is associated with spooky stories, the ‘Daily Mail’ reported. It is believed to be a “deviant burial”, where people considered the ‘dangerous dead’, such as vampires, were interred to prevent them rising from their graves to plague the living. Only a handful of such burials have been unearthed in the UK till now. The discovery is detailed in a new report by Matthew Beresford, of Southwell Archaeology. The skeleton was found by archaeologist Charles Daniels during the original investigation of the site in Church Street, which revealed Roman remains. Beresford said when Daniels found the skeleton he jokingly checked for fangs.

    “Throughout the Anglo-Saxon period the punishment of being buried in water-logged ground, face down, decapitated, staked or otherwise was reserved for thieves, murderers or traitors or later for those deviants who did not conform to societies rules: adulterers, disrupters of the peace, the unpious or oath breaker,” said Beresford. “Which of these the Southwell deviant was we will never know,” he said.

  • Diwali day solar eclipse to spare India

    Diwali day solar eclipse to spare India

    MUMBAI (TIP): A total solar eclipse will envelop parts of the US, Australia and New Zealand on Diwali day. Festivities in India will continue as usual given that the celestial event will not be visible in this part of the world.
    Scientist Bharat Adur who heads the Akash Ganga observatory Mumbai says the solar eclipse will begin at 1.08am IST on the intervening night of November 13-14 and end at 6.15am. Diwali Amavasya falls November 13, while Lakshmi puja will be performed the following day.

    Acharya Ravindra Nagar of New Delhi says, aœThe total solar eclipse will not affect Lakshmi puja in India since its shadow will not span our country. Where it is visible people may defer the rituals until it passes.a

    Adur points out that the western world will have the opportunity to see two eclipses this November. A fortnight after Diwali Amavasya, a lunar eclipse will occur on Purnima day, November 28.

  • ‘Terminator’ robotic arm comes to ’man s rescue

    ‘Terminator’ robotic arm comes to ’man s rescue

    LONDON (TIP): A UK man has been fitted with a ‘Terminator-like’ carbon fibre mechanical hand which he can control with movements in his upper arm. Nigel Ackland, 53, from Royston, Cambridgeshire lost his arm in an accident six years ago and has now been given a new lease of life by a hi-tech bionic hand which is so precise that he can type again. The Bebionic 3 Myoelectric hand, made from aluminium and alloy knuckles, moves like a real human limb by responding to Ackland’s muscle twitches , the Telegraph reported.

    The twitches in his upper arm are detected by sensors that trigger one of 14 pre-programmed grips, mirroring human movements . They include a clenched fist, a pointed finger and a pincer and a lighter and heavier depending on how the user tenses his upper arm.

    The robotic arm is so sensitive that he can touch type on a computer keyboard , peel vegetables and even dress himself.

  • Superman just got to know home truth

    Superman just got to know home truth

    NEW YORK (TIP): Now, Superman knows where exactly he came from.

    A noted astrophysicist claimed to have determined the actual location of Superman’s fictional home planet — Krypton.
    Krypton is found 27.1 lightyears from Earth, in the southern constellation Corvus, said Neil de-Grasse Tyson, director of the American Museum of Natural History’s Hayden Planetarium in New York. Krypton, which is cooler and smaller than our sun, orbits the red dwarf star LHS 2520, Tyson said. According to the Superman mythos, the superhero was born on Krytpon but was launched toward Earth as an infant by his father, Jor-El , just before the planet’s destruction . After touching down in Kansas , Superman was raised as Clark Kent by a farmer and his wife.

    “This is a major milestone in the Superman mythos that gives our super hero a place in the universe,” said DC Comics, the publisher of the Superman series.