The Indian Panorama

Month: July 2016

  • AIR INDIA ANNOUNCES NEW DIRECT SERVICE FROM NEWARK TO AHMEDABAD, STARTING AUGUST 15, 2016

    AIR INDIA ANNOUNCES NEW DIRECT SERVICE FROM NEWARK TO AHMEDABAD, STARTING AUGUST 15, 2016

    New York, NY, June 30, 2016 – Starting August 15, Air India will begin service from Newark Liberty International Airport to Ahmedabad, with a stop in London. The flights will operate three times a week – Monday, Thursday, and Friday – with new Boeing 787 Dreamliners.

    air india
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    In addition to its new one-stop service from Newark to Gujarat’s largest city, Air India has convenient connecting service to Ahmedabad at Mumbai for passengers on their daily Newark-Mumbai non-stops. Connections are also available to Ahmedabad at Delhi in conjunction with the airline’s non-stop flights from New York’s JFK, Chicago and San Francisco.

    Newark passengers can also stop over once in London en route to or from Ahmedabad at no additional charge. Similarly, Air India passengers traveling to Delhi, Mumbai or other points in India can take advantage of a free London stopover.

    The new flights depart Newark at 10:30 pm on Mondays and Fridays, and arrive in Ahmedabad at 2:00 AM Wednesday and Sunday mornings, respectively. Departures on Thursdays are at 12:20 am, and the arrival time in Ahmedabad is 3:30 AM the next day. Return flights leave Ahmedabad on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 5:00 AM and arrive in Newark, via London, at 3:30 PM the same day.

    The 787 Dreamliner flights feature a best-in-class Economy class service and a state-of-the-art Business Class service with 180-degree reclining flat beds. As in on all Air India flights to India, superb Indian cuisine, including vegetarian meals, is served in both cabins.

    In addition to its new flights to Ahmedabad, Air India has daily nonstop service from Newark to Mumbai that will continue to Delhi startingAugust 14th – providing one-stop service from Newark to Delhi, with customs and immigration formalities at Delhi. Along with its current daily non-stops to Delhi from JFK, the carrier will be offering an unmatched total of 17 flights to India from the New York metropolitan area each week.

    Commenting on the new direct flights to Ahmedabad, Air India’s Regional Manager-Americas, Ms. Vandana Sharma, said, “The large NRI community in New Jersey whose roots are in Gujarat, and who fly there to visit family and friends on a regular basis, constitutes a sizeable market. Our new flights from Newark to Ahmedabad will enable Air India to serve that market much more efficiently.”

    About Air India
    Air India, India’s national airline, has been in operation since 1932. Today, the airline serves 35 international destinations on four continents, and 66 cities across India. The airline’s fleet of 118 aircraft, including B787 Dreamliners and B777LR’s and ER’s, is one of the world’s youngest. Air India is also a member of the Star Alliance. For more information about the airline, visit www.airindia.in.

     

  • MAKE YOUR OWN TINY GARDEN IN A BIG CITY

    MAKE YOUR OWN TINY GARDEN IN A BIG CITY

    Most of us grew up amid lush green lawns, some even running into water bodies that were not polluted back then. But gone are those days, and along with them, those gardens which were once a big part of our childhood. And, if you’ve always wondered how to give your children if not the same, but a similar childhood in the cramped city apartments, here’s some help!

    Kiddie Pool GardenIf there is no yard to use, an old plastic kiddie pool provides the perfect raised garden bed. It is really easy to make and a great idea because one can use the pool during the winter and then put it back when it gets close to planting season again. Just fill the pool with soil or compost and then begin adding the plants. This would be a great way to have a combination of herbs, lettuce and some smaller vegetables. This kiddie pool garden can be kept on a deck, driveway or simply the
    balcony/verandah.

    Vertical Garden To build a vertical garden, all one needs is a shoe holder. Fill each pocket with soil and plant seeds in it. For this, an area much be chosen where there is enough space to hang these plants and for the plants to grow easily as well. The area must be covered to protect the plants from rain, however it must receive abundant sunlight. This garden looks great hung on the wall and saves space. By doing so, the plants are also protected by the critters and pets.

    Hanging Garden Boots Boots that are no more in use can also be turned into a garden, in fact a very exclusive and a beautiful one. Take few old boots and make drainage holes in each of the boots so that excess water can escape after watering. Then for hanging the boots, drill another hole on the backside of the boot up at the top and hang them on the fence using a regular nail and just hammer the end crooked so it turns up a bit on the end to prevent the boot from slipping off.

    Windowsill Garden Old tins can be recycled to be used in the gardens as pots. Drill a couple of drainage holes in the bottom and fill these pots up with soil and plant the seeds. Paint the cans so that they look beautiful and artsy. Living space instantly gets brightened by lining these cans on the window sill. These hang nicely from fences, decks or even the side of the house.

    Vertical Bottle Garden A neat vertical garden can be made from recycled PET bottles. The gist of the garden is really simple. Just cut the side out of the bottles and then use that space to plant whatever you want. This is a great idea for herb gardens. These bottles can be hung on walls or fences using ropes.

    TOI

  • WHY WOMEN LIVE LONGER THAN MEN

    WHY WOMEN LIVE LONGER THAN MEN

    It’s queer but true – women have a longer lifespan compared to men.

    Researchers Steven Austad and Kathleen Fischer of the University of Alabama explored this riddle in their latest perspective piece.

    “Humans are the only species in which one sex is known to have a ubiquitous survival advantage,” the researchers write in their review covering a multitude of species.

    “Indeed, the sex difference in longevity may be one of the most robust features of human biology,” they added.

    Though other species, from roundworms and fruit flies to a spectrum of mammals, show lifespan differences that may favour one sex in certain studies, contradictory studies with different diets, mating patterns or environmental conditions often flip that advantage to the other sex.

    With humans, however, it appears to be all females all the time.

    “We don’t know why women live longer. It’s amazing that it hasn’t become a stronger focus of research in human biology,” said Austad.

    One of the evidences of the longer lifespan for women includes ‘The Human Mortality Database,’ which has complete lifespan tables for men and women from 38 countries that go back as far as 1751 for Sweden and 1816 for France.

    Again, longer female survival expectancy is seen across the lifespan, at early life (birth to 5 years old) and at age 50. It is also seen at the end of life, where Gerontology Research Group data for the oldest of the old show that women make up 90 percent of the super centenarians, those who live to 110 years of age or longer.

    Longevity may relate to immune system differences, responses to oxidative stress, mitochondrial fitness or even the fact that men have one X chromosome (and one Y), while women have two X chromosomes.

    But the female advantage has a thorn.

    “One of the most puzzling aspects of human sex difference biology,” write Austad and Fischer, “something that has no known equivalent in other species, is that for all their robustness relative to men in terms of survival, women on average appear to be in poorer health than men through adult life.”

    This higher prevalence of physical limitations in later life is seen not only in Western societies, they say, but also for women in Bangladesh, China, Egypt, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malaysia, Mexico, the Philippines, Thailand and Tunisia. But this is just one of several plausible hypotheses for the mystery of why women live longer, on aver age, than men.

  • NOW, A MAGNET THAT MAY MAKE SURGICAL STITCHES HISTORY

    NOW, A MAGNET THAT MAY MAKE SURGICAL STITCHES HISTORY

    A magnetic doughnut-shaped device has been developed that could be the end of stitches and staples.

    It’s being tested in a trial in the U.S. after results from animal studies suggested it could be highly effective, the Daily Mail reported.

    Researchers leading the California trial say the device could be suitable for tens of thousands of procedures and will “revolutionise this area.”

    Surgery often involves tying the ends of blood vessels or other structures together until they naturally fuse. This connection is called an anastomosis and is usually done with staples or stitches. Anastomoses are most commonly used in bowel surgery and weight-loss procedures for obese patients.

    The new device holds the two ends with a strong magnetic bond that researchers believe leads to a more secure anastomosis and faster healing and it is safer than standard techniques, as it can be done using less invasive surgery, meaning a lower risk of complications such as leaks. It’s also said to be cheaper.

    The new device, the Magnamosis, is a method of connecting the pieces using the attraction between two magnets, rather than staples or stitches. It consists of two ring magnets, each 23mm in diameter, which have concave or convex surfaces so that they fit snugly against each other.

    So far, this process has been shown to take less than a week using the magnet. It then automatically loosens its magnetic hold and is naturally removed from the body.

    A series of animal studies have shown that it is reliable and effective, and it is now being used in a clinical trial with patients for the first time.

    Ten patients who have planned intestine surgery which requires an anastomosis will have it done using the Magnamosis device. They’ll be monitored for two years to check how good the connection is and to look for side-effects such as fevers and leaks.

  • FOOD CAN ACTUALLY SLIM YOU DOWN

    FOOD CAN ACTUALLY SLIM YOU DOWN

    If you know how to eat right, food can actually help you lose weight. There are many myths surrounding topics of dieting and weight loss. And there are numerous unhealthy misconceptions about it. Of course, if you are looking for some magical foods and ways that can melt away excess body fat, you will be disappointed. In order to reduce weight, you need to make small, achievable changes to your lifestyle, increase your physical activity and eat smart.

    Potatoes don’t make you fat Getting rid of carb-rich foods is not the key to weight loss, say experts. Rather, carbohydrates are the body’s main source of energy. So banning potatoes, rice, pasta etc will not make you magically slim. Of course, you can have potatoes but in a healthy way — following basic rules like not frying them, not using butter and full cream for your mash, etc, work.

    A healthy mix of foods is necessary People feel that mixing and combining foods does not work. Experts however negate it. Most diets are naturally a healthy mix of carbs and proteins and the enzymes in our digestive system break it all down well. You should have different food groups in your plate to get a healthy mix of it all. When you are having orange juice, the vitamin C in it can help boost the iron absorption from legumes, lentils and beans that are fortified with plant-based iron.

    Having only fruits won’t help Just having a fruit plate for breakfast is not ideal at all, say nutritionists. Post your all-night fast, your body needs fuel in the form of complex carbohydrates for breakfast, and just fruits cannot provide that. They are a great source of fibre and vitamins, and you could consume fruits with or before your breakfast of wholegrain cereals, multigrain muffins and breads. They can add to your breakfast but they cannot replace breakfast, say dieticians.

    Magic foods can’t help you slim down Gorging on superfoods cannot help
    you to lose weight. There are no magical fruits or vegetables that can burn your fat and give you a slim body, if you do not undergo a strict exercise regime and a healthy balanced diet along with it. Nutritionists say that dietary fibre could help you feel full for longer and thereby reduce your hunger pangs, and help you stop overeating.

    Your daily diet should consist of foods like whole fruits (avoid juices), vegetables, wholegrain breads and cereals, and legumes that are low in fat but high in fibre.

    Source: TOI

  • INCLUDE SALMON, WALNUTS IN YOUR DAILY DIET TO CUT HEART DISEASE RISK

    INCLUDE SALMON, WALNUTS IN YOUR DAILY DIET TO CUT HEART DISEASE RISK

    Eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon, trout, walnuts and flaxseed oil may significantly cut the incidence of developing a heart disease, finds a new global study.

    By pooling findings from diverse large studies that had measured blood or tissue levels of omega-3 fatty acids, researchers evaluated relationships with heart disease events over time.

    They found that blood levels of seafood and plant-basedomega-3 fatty acids are moderately associated with a lower risk of dying from heart attacks.

    “These new results, including many studies which previously had not reported their findings, provide the most comprehensive picture to-date of how omega-3s may influence heart disease,” said Liana C Del Gobbo from Stanford University in the US.

    “At a time when some but not other trials of fish oil supplementation have shown benefits, there is uncertainty about cardiovascular effects of omega-3s,” said Dariush Mozaffarian from Tufts University in the US. “Our results lend support to the importance of fish and omega-3 consumption as part of a healthy diet,” he added.

    Fish is the major food source of omega-3 fatty acids, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), researchers said.

    Fatty fish such as salmon, trout, anchovies, sardines, and herring contain the highest amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, although all fish contain some levels.

    In addition to omega-3 fatty acids, fish provide specific proteins, vitamin D, selenium, and other minerals and elements, researchers said.

    Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is the plant-based omega-3 fatty acid found in walnuts, flaxseed oil, and canola oil and some other seed and nuts and their oils, they said.

    A total of 19 studies were involved from 16 countries and including 45,637 participants. Of these, 7,973 people developed a first heart attack over time, including 2,781 deaths and 7,157 nonfatal heart attacks.

    Overall, both plant-based and seafood-based omega-3s were associated with about a 10% lower risk of fatal heart attacks, researchers said.

    In contrast, these fatty acids biomarkers were generally not associated with a risk of nonfatal heart attacks, suggesting a more specific mechanism for benefits of omega-3s related to death, they said.

    Source: PTI

  • THE BIRTH OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE

    THE BIRTH OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE

    When the initial battles in the Revolutionary War broke out in April 1775, few colonists desired complete independence from Great Britain, and those who did were considered radical. By the middle of the following year, however, many more colonists had come to favor independence, thanks to growing hostility against Britain and the spread of revolutionary sentiments such as those expressed in Thomas Paine’s bestselling pamphlet “Common Sense,” published in early 1776.

    On June 7, when the Continental Congress met at the Pennsylvania State House (later Independence Hall) in Philadelphia, the Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee introduced a motion calling for the colonies’ independence. Amid heated debate, Congress postponed the vote on Lee’s resolution, but appointed a five-man committee-including Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, John Adams of Massachusetts, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania and Robert R. Livingston of New York-to draft a formal statement justifying the break with Great Britain.

    On July 2nd, the Continental Congress voted in favor of Lee’s resolution for independence in a near-unanimous vote (the New York delegation abstained, but later voted affirmatively). On that day, John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail that July 2 “will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival” and that the celebration should include “Pomp and Parade…Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other.” On July 4th, the Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence, which had been written largely by Jefferson. Though the vote for actual independence took place on July 2nd, from then on the 4th became the day that was celebrated as the birth of American independence.

    EARLY FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATIONS

    In the pre-Revolutionary years, colonists had held annual celebrations of the king’s birthday, which traditionally included the ringing of bells, bonfires, processions and speechmaking. By contrast, during the summer of 1776 some colonists celebrated the birth of independence by holding mock funerals for King George III, as a way of symbolizing the end of the monarchy’s hold on America and the triumph of liberty. Festivities including concerts, bonfires, parades and the firing of cannons and muskets usually accompanied the first public readings of the Declaration of Independence, beginning immediately after its adoption. Philadelphia held the first annual commemoration of independence on July 4, 1777, while Congress was still occupied with the ongoing war. George Washington issued double rations of rum to all his soldiers to mark the anniversary of independence in 1778, and in 1781, several months before the key American victory at Yorktown, Massachusetts became the first state to make July 4th an official state holiday.

    After the Revolutionary War, Americans continued to commemorate Independence Day every year, in celebrations that allowed the new nation’s emerging political leaders to address citizens and create a feeling of unity. By the last decade of the 18th century, the two major political parties-Federalists and Democratic-Republicans-that had arisen began holding separate Independence Day celebrations in many large cities.July 4th fireworks

    JULY 4TH BECOMES A NATIONAL HOLIDAY

    The tradition of patriotic celebration became even more widespread after the War of 1812, in which the United States again faced Great Britain. In 1870, the U.S. Congress made July 4th a federal holiday; in 1941, the provision was expanded to grant a paid holiday to all federal employees. Over the years, the political importance of the holiday would decline, but Independence Day remained an important national holiday and a symbol of patriotism.

    Falling in mid-summer, the Fourth of July has since the late 19th century become a major focus of leisure activities and a common occasion for family get-togethers, often involving fireworks and outdoor barbecues. The most common symbol of the holiday is the American flag, and a common musical accompaniment is “The Star-Spangled Banner,” the national anthem of the United States.

    (Source: History.com)

  • July 4th, India and the USA

    July 4th, India and the USA

    Upon declaration of our independence on July 4, 1776, the first three states in the world to recognize the sovereignty of the United States were; the Kings of Dutch Republic, Morocco and Mysore (India).

    According to Dr. Range Gowda, Tipu Sultan’s historiographer, the congratulatory letter to America is preserved in a French Library and in 1776; there is a record of celebration of America’s independence through fireworks in the capitol of Mysore; Sriranga Patna.

    It was a coincidence, that General Cornwallis who surrendered to George Washington in the battle of York Town in 1781 was a hired gun to defeat Tipu, the Sultan of Mysore through deceit in the 4th war of Mysore against colonialism.

    One of the folk stories about Tipu Sultan was that he supported the freedom struggle of America; indeed, the British were the common enemy for both the nations. Lord Cornwallis and Lord Wellesley ruled both the nations. We hope to search for the documents for authenticity, right now it is a folk tale.

    Tippu Sultan of Mysore is one of the few rare heads of the states in the world who adopted pluralistic form of governance and humbly signed the documents as citizen of the state.

    July 4th means everything to Indians and Americans, and the biggest one is the freedom. One is the oldest democracy and the other one is the largest democracy. Both the people are inherently secular in nature despite the expression of bigotry from a handful of men and women on both sides.

    Both the nations have chosen the path of separation of Church and State, even though a few fanatics on both sides want their nations to go back to the dark days of dictating others what they can eat, drink, wear or believe on the one hand, and push the others to conformity in the other land.

    Both the nations are collectively made up of Adivasis/ Native Americans, Atheists, Bahai’s, Bos, Buddhists, Christians, Dalits, Hindus, Jains, Jewish, Muslim, Sikhs, Tribals, Zoroastrians and every possible grouping.

    Both India and the United States are represented by every race, nationality, ethnicity, language, culture and religion. We see God as one, none and many; and in every form; male, female, genderless and non-existent, being and non-being, nameless and with innumerable names.

    We are proud of our heritage – a multi-faith, multicultural, multi-regional and multi-linguistic society, where we have come to accept and respect every which way people have lived their lives. For over 5000 years, India has been a beacon of pluralism – it has embraced Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Baha’i and Zoroastrianism to include in the array of the indigenous religions; Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism, and America has become a beacon of freedom of faith and it has embraced all the diversity God has created.

    We may want to consciously start thinking and acting as one people, one people within a nation and a community and one people globally. It’s like home when we are conflict free. I do hope each one of us purges any bias towards the other, there is joy in being free from ill-will. Try to be free from it this day forward… free from anything that prevents you from being a part of the whole.

    Let me remind you how a Chinese man embarrassed me some 12 years ago. I volunteered to decorate one of the floats for July 4th parade in Plano, Texas. When we got it all ready and joined the parade with our truck he said, you will see my (Chinese) People along the roads and your (Indian) people will not show up. I did not like his statement, but was waiting to pounce on him. It was a three mile route and he was snubbing me all along, damn it there were no Indians. I eagerly wanted to see some Pakistanis or Bangladeshis to claim as Indians, every one disappointed, only 2 Indians and a Pakistani joined me in carrying our banner; we took turns in carrying it.

    I urge you to at least go out on July 4th and watch the parade. I will join the parade in Louisville this year with a Flag.

     

  • Eid-al- Fitr wishes from HAB Bank

    Eid-al- Fitr wishes from HAB Bank

    On behalf of HAB BANK, I would like to extend our warmest wishes as we celebrate Eid-al-Fitr throughout the U.S. Eid reminds us of the many achievements and contributions of Muslim Americans to building the very fabric of our nation.

    Saleem Iqbal President & CEO HAB BANK, New York
    Saleem Iqbal
    President & CEO
    HAB BANK, New York

    As we celebrate Eid-al- Fitr this year, we also can take pride in our achievements as a community despite the challenges that lie ahead. We have, in a short span of time, been able to establish ourselves as a community engaged at so many levels, culturally and economically, and determined to pursue our American dream of achieving success in our adopted homeland.

    HAB BANK, since its inception in 1983 as a New York State chartered bank, has played a vital role in nurturing communities through its network of branches in New York, New Jersey, and California. We are proud to be the first bank in the U.S. solely focused on meeting and serving the banking needs of South Asian community.

    We are honored to join in celebrating this blessed holiday and reaffirm our Bank’s commitment to South Asian community in the U.S.

    Saleem Iqbal

  • JAGANNATHA PURI RATHA YATRA

    JAGANNATHA PURI RATHA YATRA

    Ratha Jatra, the Festival of Chariots of Lord Jagannatha is celebrated every year at Puri, the temple town in Orissa, on the east coast of India. The presiding deities of the main temple, Sri Mandira, Lord Jagannatha, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra, with the celestial wheel Sudarshana are taken out from the temple precincts in an elaborate ritual procession to their respective chariots. The huge, colourfully decorated chariots, are drawn by hundreds and thousands of devotees on the bada danda, the grand avenue to the Gundicha temple, some two miles away to the North. After a stay for seven days, the deities return to their abode in Srimandira.

    Ratha Jatra is perhaps the grandest festival on earth. Everything is on a scale befitting the great Lord. Full of spectacle, drama and colour, the festival is a typical Indian fair of huge proportions. It is also the living embodiment of the synthesis of the tribal, the folk, and the autochthonous with the classical, the elaborately formal and the sophisticated elements of the socio-cultural-religious ethos of the Indian civilization.

    JAGANNATHA PURI RATHA YATRASanctity and Significance of Ratha Jatra

    The festival is also known as Gundicha Jatra, Ghosa Jatra, Navadina Jatra, Dasavatara Jatra and by a variety of other names. For the devoted and believers, it is considered the most auspicious occasion. Rathe tu vamanam drishtwa punarjanmam na vidyate A glimpse of the Vamana, the dwarf form, an incarnation of Lord Jagannatha, is sure to ensure emancipation, release from the cycle of birth and death.

    Jatra is an essential part of the ritual of the Hindu system of worship. Jatra literally means travel or journey. Normally, it is the representative deities of temples more popularly known as Utsava Murti in south and Chalanti Pratima or Bije Pratima in Orissa, partake in these journeys. It is rarely that the presiding deities come out of the sanctum for such ritual journeys. The Jatra for the Ritual Journey take two forms – one involving the short circumbulation around the temple and other involving a longer journey from the temple to some other destination.

    The Jatra is considered as an important part of festivities and ceremonies of each temple and is considered as a special and sacred occasion.

    Rath Jatra being unique among all Jatras is the grandest festival of the supreme divinity who has manifested himself in the Kali Yuga to emancipate humanity and to relieve them from their sufferings. Lord Jagannatha is identified fully with Vishnu and Krishna. In his original manifestation as Nilamadhaba, he was worshipped in a sacred Nyagrodha Briksha or banyan tree. The branches of the tree had spread for several miles and any one entering this area was instantly emancipated and was relieved of the travails of the birth and re-birth. In fact, the influence of Yama, the God of Death, is supposed to have been curtailed in the sacred city of Puri – Srikshetra on account of the presence of Lord Jagannatha and therefore it is also called the Yamanika Tirtha.

    A glimpse of Lord Jagannatha on the chariot is considered to be very auspicious and saints, poets and scriptures have repeatedly glorified the sanctity of this special festival.

    The sanctity of the festival is such that even a touch of the chariot or even the ropes with which these are pulled is considered enough to confer the results of several pious deeds or penance for ages. In fact, there is a famous Oriya song which says that on this occasion, the chariot, the wheels, the grand avenue all become one with Lord Jagannatha himself.

    Those who are fortunate to see the deities of the Srimandira in the Gundicha Temple, the final destination of the procession of the chariots, derive the benefits of a thousand horse sacrifices, an immensely pious deed. Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja in his famous Vaidehisa Vilasa mentions that the Lord comes out from his sanctum for participating in the Gundicha Jatra, another name of the Festival of Chariots, only for redeeming the fallen, the patita jana who get the opportunity to behold their dearest god at close quarters on this occasion. Similarly, saint poet Salabega waxes eloquent in praise of his dearest dark darling and says that the Lord swaying and moving like a wild elephant arrives at the Grand Avenue and rides his chariot and destroys in a flash all the sins of his devotees, even if these may be grave or unpardonable.

  • LEGEND OF TIRUMALA

    LEGEND OF TIRUMALA

    Tirumala Sri Venkateswara Temple at Tirupati in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh is one of the most famous Vaishnavite temples in the world. The presiding deity of Vishnu here is referred to as Venkateswara. There are many legends regarding this temple. Sri Venkatachala Mahatyam is the most accepted legend among these, which provides the history of the temple across the various yugas. This place had also been mentioned in many puranas.

    As per Varaha Purana, during Satya Yuga, Vishnu rescued Earth which was taken over by Hiranyaksha to Patala Loka (underworld) in the form of Adi Varaha – a wild boar with tusks. He fought a fierce duel with Hiranyaksa and killed him. He then slashed the water and brought up the Earth on his tusks. Brahma, the Devas and the sages extolled Adi Varaha’s virtues, by chanting the Vedic mantras. They prayed to Him to re-establish the Earth as before. Adi Varaha obliged them, and called upon Brahma to recreate the world. He expressed his desire to reside on the Earth to protect its people. He commanded his vahana, Garuda to fetch Kridachala (an extensive natural hill with lofty peaks, embedded with gold and precious stones, and which resembled Adisesha in shape) from Vaikuntam. Garuda brought Kridachala and deposited it on a sacred spot (to the East of Swami Pushkarini) chosen by Adi Varaha. Brahma and the other holy personages requested the fearsome-looking Adi Varaha to assume a tranquil and composed look, and rest on the hill to protect men and grant boons to people unable to reach God through Dhyana Yoga (meditation) and Karma Yoga (doing one’s own duty). Adi Varaha appeared with four arms and a white face. He was adorned with jewels and accompanied by Bhudevi. He resolved to stay at Venkatadri, under a divya vimana, to grant the prayers of men.

    It is believed that the origins of the Tirumala Hills (Seshachalam Hills) lies in a contest between Vayu (the wind god) and Adisesha (the first serpent). During Dvapara Yuga, Adisesha blocked Vayu from entering Vaikuntam as Lord Vishnu was in the company of his consort, Lakshmi. An incensed Vayu challenged Adisesha to a fight to decide the stronger between them, Vayu was tasked with trying to blow off Adisesha from the holy Meru mountain while adisesha was asked to protect the peak with his hood. After a long time, Vayu appeared to yield and Adisesha lifted his hoods assuming that he had won the contest. Vayu then blew away one of the peaks. The peak landed near the Swarnamukhi river and is currently known as Seshachalam hill

    A variant to the legend is that the contest created pandemonium on earth and Brahma, Indra and other gods pleaded with Adisesha to relent. When Adisesha obliged, the peak (Ananda hill) and Adisesha were blown off Meru and landed near the banks of river Swarnamukhi. When Adisesha was dejected with his defeat, the Gods converted Adisesha into the seven hills with the hood named as Seshadri hill or Seshachalam hill or Venkatadri hill. Another variant to the story is: Adisesha, fatigued by the contest was instructed by Lord Vishnu to rest on Earth in a place that he chose for his stay in Kali Yuga.

    In the Kali Yuga, rishis performing yagna sought the advise of celestial sage Narada on which of the Trimurti should be selected for offering the fruits of the yagna. Narada suggested that the wise sage Bhrugu should be allowed to decide after he met the Trimurtis. The sage who had an extra eye in the sole of his foot visited Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva and went un-noticed in both these locations. He cursed Brahma that no temple sans one will worship Brahma and cursed Shiva that temples on Earth will worship him as Lingam.

    When Bhrigu visited Lord Vishnu who was in a private meeting with his consort Goddess Lakshmi and failed to immediately receive and honour the sage, the sage felt humiliated and angry by this act. Sage Bhrigu kicked Lord Vishnu in the chest, to which Vishnu did not react and instead apologized to the Sage by massaging his feet. During this act, he squashed the extra eye that was present in the sole of Bhrugu’s foot. The extra eye is believed to represent the sage’s false egotism. The sage then realised his grave mistake and begged forgiveness from Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu’s chest is significant as the abode of Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess felt highly insulted at the sage’s misdemeanour and Lord Vishnu’s silence at the act and left Lord Vishnu’s heavenly abode (Vaikunta).

  • GRAVITATIONAL WAVES CAN TELL HOW BLACK HOLES ARE BORN

    GRAVITATIONAL WAVES CAN TELL HOW BLACK HOLES ARE BORN

    LONDON (TIP): Gravitational waves or ripples in space-time captured by space detectors could soon be used to discover when and how some of the universe’s largest black holes were born, scientists say.

    Scientists led by researchers at the Durham University in the UK ran the huge cosmological simulations that can be used to predict the rate at which gravitational waves caused by collisions between the monster black holes might be detected.

    The amplitude and frequency of these waves could unveil the initial mass of the seeds from which the first black holes grew since they were formed 13 billion years ago and provide further clues about what caused them and where they formed, the researchers said.

    The study combined simulations from the EAGLE project – which aims to create a realistic simulation of the known universe inside a computer -with a model to calculate gravitational wave signals.

    Two detections of gravitational waves caused by collisions between supermassive black holes should be possible each year using space-based instruments such as the Evolved Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (eLISA) detector that is due to launch in 2034, the researchers said.

    In February the international LIGO and Virgo collaborations announced that they had detected gravitational waves for the first time using ground-based instruments and this month reported a second detection.

    As eLISA will be in space – and will be at least 250,000 times larger than detectors on Earth – it should be able to detect the much lower frequency gravitational waves caused by collisions between supermassive black holes that are up to a million times the mass of our Sun.

    Current theories suggest that the seeds of these black holes were the result of either the growth and collapse of the first generation of stars in the universe; collisions between stars in dense stellar clusters; or the direct collapse of extremely massive stars in the early universe.

    As each of these theories predicts different initial masses for the seeds of supermassive black hole seeds, the collisions would produce different gravitational wave signals.

    This means that the potential detections by eLISA could help pinpoint the mechanism that helped create supermassive black holes and when in the history of the universe they formed.

    “Understanding more about gravitational waves means that we can study the universe in an entirely different way,” said lead author Jaime Salcido, PhD student in Durham University’s Institute for Computational Cosmology.

    “By combining the detection of gravitational waves with simulations we could ultimately work out when and how the first seeds of supermassive black holes formed,” he said.

    Gravitational waves were first predicted 100 years ago by Albert Einstein as part of his Theory of General Relativity.

    The waves are concentric ripples caused by violent events in the universe that squeeze and stretch the fabric of space time but most are so weak they cannot be detected.

  • Veggies grown on Mars-like soil found safe for humans

    Veggies grown on Mars-like soil found safe for humans

    LONDON (TIP): Four vegetables grown on soil similar to that on Mars have been found safe for human consumption, Dutch scientists say. In greenhouses at Wageningen University in the Netherlands, scientists have worked on growing crops on Mars and Moon soil simulants since 2013.

    The first experiment demonstrated that crops could grow on the soil simulants. Last year, the researchers mixed inedible parts of the 2013 plants into the simulant and succeeded to grow ten different crops, of which several were harvested. One remaining uncertainty was that heavy metals such as cadmium, copper and lead, which are present in the soils, could contaminate the crops.

    If too high levels of heavy metals from the soil are absorbed in the edible parts of the plants, the crops become poisonous. The researchers have now tested four of the ten grown crops for heavy metals: radishes, peas, rye, and tomatoes. No dangerous levels of aluminium, copper, iron, manganese, zinc, arsenic, cadmium, chrome, nickel and lead were found, meaning the four crops are safe to eat.

    “These remarkable results are very promising,” said senior ecologist Wieger Wamelink. “We can actually eat the radishes, peas, rye, and tomatoes and I am very curious what they will taste like,” Wamelink said.

    For some of the heavy metals the concentrations in the plants were even lower than in the crops grown in potting soil. “It’s important to test as many crops as possible, to make sure that settlers on Mars have access to a broad variety of different food sources,” he said.

  • GOOGLE MAKES MANAGING ADS AND PERSONAL DATA EASIER

    GOOGLE MAKES MANAGING ADS AND PERSONAL DATA EASIER

    Google is trying to make it easier for you to manage the vast pool of information that it collects about your online activities across phones, computers and other devices.

    Among other things, a new privacy tool will enable the more than 1 billion people who use Google’s search engine and other services to block certain ads from appearing on every device that they log into, instead of having to make a special request on each individual machine.

    Some users of Google’s search engine, Gmail and Chrome browser started receiving notices about the new option beginning Tuesday, but it will take several more weeks before it’s available to everyone.

    Google also is introducing a “My Activity” feature that will enable users to delete records of their online search requests and videos watched on YouTube in a single location instead of having to visit different websites or apps.

    Google’s business has been built on its longtime practice of monitoring its users’ online behaviour in an effort to learn about their interests so it can show ads most likely to appeal to them.

    Those customised ads shown alongside Google’s search results and the content on millions of other websites have turned Google’s corporate parent, Alphabet Inc., into one of the world’s most profitable companies.

    In an effort to minimise complaints about invading people’s privacy, Google has long allowed its users to impose limits on how much data is accumulated about them and how many customised ads they see.

    Last year, Google also opened a “My Account” hub to serve as a one-stop shop for setting privacy and security controls.

    If they choose, users will now be able to authorise Google to store their web browsing histories in the “My Account” center.

    Until now, Google had been keeping personal information in different digital dossiers that sometimes require users to take multiple steps to manage specific pieces of data.

    For instance, someone annoyed by a Google-generated ad on their personal computer can prevent it from appearing again by clicking on an “X’‘ in the corner. Taking that step currently won’t block the same ad from appearing on the targeted person’s smartphone a few hours later.

    Google says that will no longer happen if users allow it to stockpile web browsing histories in the “My Account” center.

    Source: AP

  • Facebook introduces new buttons and Chrome extensions

    Facebook introduces new buttons and Chrome extensions

    Facebook has introduced new ways to let people share and save content with two new Chrome extensions, as well as update to its suite of Social Plugin buttons — the Share, Comment and Like button for Facebook you see on other websites.

    “The Like and Share buttons both use the Facebook “f” logo today. Our hypothesis was that more people would understand the thumbs up icon on the Like button, so we conducted qualitative and quantitative tests to measure them side-by-side. The results revealed an increase in engagement, so we are switching the Like button from the Facebook “f ” logo to the thumbs up icon,” said Facebook in a blog post.

    Facebook is taking on Pocket and Instapaper with their new save button that lets you save articles and web pages that you find around the web with a nifty Chrome browser extension. “Sharing and saving great content are two things that people love to do when browsing the web. Improving this experience for people drives greater engagement and distribution of content for sites and keeps visitors coming back for more.

    Now we’re making it easier for people to both Share and Save with our new Chrome extensions, Share to Facebook and Save to Facebook.

    We want to help people connect with each other through sharing the things that matter to them. Share to Facebook will give people more options to share any link on the web with their friends to Facebook, Groups, and Messenger,” said Facebook on a blog post.

    Source: HT

  • Euro 2016 quarter-final: Portugal beat Poland in shootout to reach semis

    Euro 2016 quarter-final: Portugal beat Poland in shootout to reach semis

    MARSEILLE (TIP): A superb shootout save by Portugal’s Rui Patricio allowed Ricardo Quaresma to be the hero again as his spot kick against Poland sent them into the Euro 2016 semi-finals 5-3 on penalties after a 1-1 finish following extra time on June 30.

    Patricio dived full length to block Jakub Blaszczykowski’s penalty, Poland’s fourth, allowing substitute Quaresma, whose goal late in extra-time beat Croatia in the round of 16, to bang in Portugal’s fifth from the spot.

    Two hours earlier striker Robert Lewandowski had put Poland ahead in the second minute only for 18-year-old Renato Sanches to equalise with a superb shot 33 minutes into his first international start for Portugal.

    Precious little happened from then on but Portugal, beaten on penalties by Spain in the semi-finals four years ago, will not care as they advance to the last four at the Euros for the fourth time in five tournaments to face either Belgium or Wales.

    Poland, who had never won a European Championship match before this tournament and finished bottom of their group on home soil four years ago, will bemoan their early missed opportunities and probably backed themselves in the shootout having got past Switzerland that way in the last round.

    Defensive misjudgement
    They went ahead almost from kickoff when Portugal defender Cedric’s misjudgement allowed a long ball to bounce over his head to Kamil Grosicki. He drove on down the left and squared for Lewandowski to guide the ball in.

    It was the striker’s first goal of the tournament and, at one minute, 40 seconds, the second-fastest in European Championship history after Dmitri Kirichenko’s for Russia against Greece after 65 seconds in 2004.

    Poland looked the more confident team for the next 20 minutes but Portugal settled and began to make inroads. Sanches, on his first international start, played a neat 1-2 with Nani and found time to shift the ball onto his left foot at the edge of the box and smash it past Lukasz Fabianski, with the aid of a deflection.

    Both sides came out for the second half seemingly under instruction to slow things down and the life bled from the game. The only really clear chance of the half came in the 85th minute when substitute Joao Moutinho lobbed a clever pass over the top only for Cristiano Ronaldo who, having taken the time to glance at the keeper’s positioning, failed to make any contact on the dropping ball with the goal gaping.

    Little changed in the additional 30 minutes, with the near-64,000 crowd drugged into a drowsy-near silence, knowing what was afoot almost from the restart.

    Poland had followed the same routine in their last-16 clash with Switzerland and won the shootout and, looking very weary on June 30, clearly had another in their sights.

    This time, however, the gamble backfired as Ronaldo, Sanches, Moutinho and Nani all scored before Quaresma’s coup de grace. (Reuters)

  • INDIAN MEN’S HOCKEY TEAM JUMPS TO FIFTH PLACE IN FIH RANKINGS

    INDIAN MEN’S HOCKEY TEAM JUMPS TO FIFTH PLACE IN FIH RANKINGS

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Following their silver medal winning performance at the Champions Trophy in London, the Indian men’s hockey team on June 29 jumped two places to fifth spot in the latest rankings, issued by the FIH.

    The Indian team, which played inspiring hockey throughout the tournament, leapfrogged Belgium and Argentina to enter among the top-five nations.

    World Cup holders and Champions Trophy winners Australia remained at the top of the men’s rankings while Netherlands, the Olympic and World Champions held on to top spot in the women’s rankings.

    There is no change in the men’s top three nations, with Netherlands ranked second and Germany third while England (and Great Britain) remain fourth.

    In the women’s rankings, Argentina’s stunning title success at the Champions Trophy keeps them in second place but has seen them narrow the gap with the top-ranked Dutch. Australia and New Zealand remain in third and fourth place respectively, but fifth place is now held by USA, who have moved up from seventh courtesy the brilliant bronze medal that they won at the Champions Trophy on Sunday. The next update of the FIH World Rankings will be published after completion of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.(PTI)

  • I’m eagerly waiting to knockout Kerry early: Vijender

    I’m eagerly waiting to knockout Kerry early: Vijender

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Indian boxing sensation Vijender Singh on June 29 said he is doing high intensity training ahead of his much-awaited title fight at home and hopes to “knockout” Australian Kerry Hope early for the WBO Asia Pacific Super Middleweight Championship crown on July 16.

    Undefeated in his six fights so far, Vijender is currently training hard in Manchester under globally acclaimed trainer Lee Beard.

    “With less than three weeks to go for my maiden title fight, am really excited to compete in front of my home crowd. Competing in front of my own people will be a very big moment for me and I don’t want to lose this chance,” the 30-year-old, who will face Kerry at Thyagaraj Sports Complex, said.

    “I have started high intensity training two weeks ago to compete in the first 10 rounder fight for Asia Pacific title and working hard to win this. I have seen videos of Kerry, he is a good opponent but I am training really hard to be ready for what my opponent has.”

    His training regime includes — shadow boxing in front of a mirror which helps to perfect technique, and practice both offensive and defensive exercises, sparring between 12 rounds which enhances all facets of boxing skills and techniques, Floor Work that builds up strength, Pad Work which increases speed, coordination and timing.

    His rival Kerry Hope, a former European champion, has openly challenged Vijender before this title fight, terming the Indian as an amateur and not in his league.

    Vijender said: “If Kerry comes forward and throws shots then anyone who has done that in the past has got knocked out so if he leaves himself open my natural strength will play a big part. Every fight I go into I believe I will win. Doubt is the enemy. I believe he’s not as strong as me and he’s not training like I’m training.

    “I have read his statement but don’t want to react on this. All I can say is that I am preparing for 16 July and my punches will reply to overconfident Kerry Hope. I am confident of winning this game and making my countrymen proud.”

    Vijender said he wants to win this championship title not only for himself but also for his fans.

    “The audience will be sitting there and rooting for me, I want to play for them, I love the feeling of your own people cheering for you, it gives you a different kind of a boost and motivates you to keep hitting those punches.”

    Although Kerry is more experienced than Vijender with an impressive record of 23 wins from 30 fights, but the Indian is ready to give him a tough time in the ring.

    (PTI)

  • YAMI GAUTAM GETS HER OWN NEST

    YAMI GAUTAM GETS HER OWN NEST

    Yami Gautam has recently got her own space in Malad West, Mumbai and she loves it. The actress, who hails from Chandigarh, was earlier living in the Mumbai suburbs of Andheri (W). To find silence and peace, the ‘Badlapur’ actress shifted to her new spacious apartment.

    According to a source close to Yami, “Yami recently moved to a new flat, where she lives alone. The residents of the building find her to be extremely endearing. Yami makes it a point to always smile and greet whenever she comes across them. Despite being an actor, in barely any time, Yami’s has managed to create a rapport with her neighbours.”

    “She is extremely caring towards the senior citizens in her building as well. Since she does not live with her family, Yami believes in keeping in touch with those around her,” it added.

    On the work front, the ‘Vicky Donor’ actress is currently busy shooting opposite Hrithik Roshan for ‘Kaabil.’ When contacted, spokesperson confirmed the news and added, Yami is an ideal neighbour and is extremely friendly.

  • VIDYA BALAN LEARNS HORSE RIDING FOR HER NEXT FILM

    VIDYA BALAN LEARNS HORSE RIDING FOR HER NEXT FILM

    Vidya Balan is known for getting into the skin of her characters. She goes to great lengths to essay her roles with conviction – be it gaining weight for The Dirty Picture (2011) or putting on a fake baby belly to achieve the gait of a pregnant woman for her role in Kahaani (2012).

    VIDYA BALAN LEARNS HORSE RIDINGNow, the National award-winning actor will be attending horse riding lessons for her next project, a Hindi adaptation of film-maker Srijit Mukherji’s Bengali film, Rajkahini (2015), in which she plays the head of a brothel.

    A source says, “Vidya plays the titular character in her next film and has been preparing for the role. Earlier in the year, she worked on her voice as her character required her to sound hoarse. Later, she started reading Urvashi Butalia’s 1998 book, The Other Side Of Silence, which is based on the Partition. Now, she will start horse riding lessons in two-three weeks.” The shoot for the movie started earlier this month in Jharkhand, and Vidya has a horse riding coach who will train with her for an hour every day.

    “While horse riding does not form a major part of the movie, a few scenes will require Vidya to ride a horse. She wants to be completely prepared for it,” adds the source. We tried reaching the star, but she was unavailable for comment.

    Source: HT

  • DREW BARRYMORE MIGHT DEBUT AS TALK SHOW HOST

    DREW BARRYMORE MIGHT DEBUT AS TALK SHOW HOST

    Actress Drew Barrymore is said to be discussing a talk show development deal with Warner Bros and popular TV host Ellen DeGeneres’s A Very Good Production banner.

    According to sources, there is no deal in place for Barrymore on the talk show front yet, but the conversations have been ongoing. If a deal is made, DeGeneres would be an executive producer on the project, reports variety.com.

    Barrymore, meanwhile, will be the narrator of the upcoming unscripted series “First Dates”, which is made from from DeGeneres’s banner. The show trains cameras on couples who are going on first dates at the same Chicago restaurant.

    On the acting front, Barrymore is gearing up for a starring role in upcoming comedy “Santa Clarita Diet,” in which she will star opposite Timothy Olyphant.

  • DIANE KRUGER: I’VE BEEN LEBELED FOR SPEAKING ABOUT GENDER EQUALITY

    DIANE KRUGER: I’VE BEEN LEBELED FOR SPEAKING ABOUT GENDER EQUALITY

    Inglourious Basterds star Diane Kruger has revealed that she was called difficult for speaking up about gender pay disparity in Hollywood.

    “I have yet to be paid the same amount as a male costar,” the 39-year-old actress told Town & Country in an interview.

    “I’ve been labeled…. Or difficult to work with, when I’ve spoken up about something. Or it’s ‘She doesn’t really know what she’s talking about’,” Kruger said about her experiences.

  • MOVIE REVIEW – Independence Day : Resurgence

    MOVIE REVIEW – Independence Day : Resurgence

    STORY: There has been no conflict on earth for the past 20 years after the aliens last attempted to invade our planet and destroy mankind. The humans have now adopted the alien inspired technology to beef up their defence in space and on earth. However, a bunch of experts soon discover that another alien attack on a bigger scale is on its way. Can humans fight back once again?

    Independence Day- Resurgence
    CAST: Bill Pullman, Liam Hemsworth, Jeff Goldblum, Brent Spiner
    DIRECTION: Roland Emmerich
    GENRE: Sci-Fi
    DURATION: 2 hours 2 minutes

    REVIEW: A quintessential Roland Emmerich film, this disaster epic is a sequel to smash hit Independence Day (1996), that follows its predecessor’s template diligently.

    While the basic plot stays similar to the previous film, this time around the alien Queen gets into picture making the enemies seem invincible. Those who survived the earlier attack must rise to the occasion again. Thus enter the original cast members – U.S. President Thomas Whitmore (Bill Pullman), satellite engineer David Levinson (Jeff Goldblum) and eccentric scientist Dr Brackish Okun (Brent Spiner).

    Also leading the resistance are the younger generation of brave pilots like lieutenant Jeff Morrison (Liam Hemsworth), who are stationed on moon base. Liam and a few others are new addition to the franchise and do a decent job.

    In times when superheroes have been ruling the roost, Emmerich’s old-school storytelling, buzzing with characters exuding bravado is engrossing no matter how cheesy.

    Call it a conscious effort, the characters display patriotic enthusiasm and cocky heroism that manage to manipulate your mind. You smirk when they spout silly one-liners like, ‘Let’s kick some serious alien ass’ or ‘Lets make them pay’.

    The special effects used for destruction scenes are spectacular and enhance the visual experience. 3D viewing is avoidable as the perpetual dark hues on screen strain the eyes. The film also drags towards the end.

    Nonetheless, if you enjoy formulaic chaos and are fine with cliched celebration of human resilience, this one’s quite engaging. We wish there was at least one iconic scene though. The stuff that Marvel offers you in abundance.

  • HINDU PRIEST HACKED TO DEATH IN BANGLADESH

    HINDU PRIEST HACKED TO DEATH IN BANGLADESH

    DHAKA (TIP): A Hindu priest was hacked to death on July 1 at a temple in Bangladesh, police and senior administrative officials said.

    Bangladesh, a Muslim-majority nation of 160 million people, has seen a surge in violent attacks in few months on liberal activists, members of minority Muslim sects and other religious groups by Islamist extremists.

    Police said they did not know the motive behind the killing of the Hindu priest and no one had been arrested.

    Shaymanonda Das, 45, was hacked to death in front of a temple in Jhinaidah district headquarter, 300km(188 miles) south west from the capital Dhaka.

    “He was preparing morning prayers with flowers at the temple early in the morning and that time three young people came by a motor bike and killed him with machetes and fled away,” said Mahbubur Rahman, the chief of Jhenaidah district administration.

    “The nature of killing was similar with the local militants, but we can not say more at the moment,” Mahbubur told Reuters by telephone.

    Islamic State has claimed responsibility for some of the recent killings although the government denies the Sunni militant group has a presence in the country, saying homegrown extremists are behind the attacks.

  • IMF clears payment of $500 million to Pakistan

    IMF clears payment of $500 million to Pakistan

    WASHINGTON (TIP): The International Monetary Fund cleared payment of $501 million for Pakistan taking the total amount given to the country to $6.1 billion in the last few years.

    In a statement, issued after the conclusion of 11th review of Pakistan’s economic performance under a three-year program supported by an Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement, the IMF said the decision enables the immediate disbursement of about $501 million to Pakistan.

    This brings the total disbursements to $6.01 billion, the IMF said. In September 2013, the IMF had approved the 36-month extended arrangement under the EFF in the amount of about $6.64 billion at the time of approval of the arrangement.