Chittirai Celebration

Tamil New Year

Tamil New Year

The month of Chitthirai or Chittrai also called as Varushapirapu i.e. from mid-April to mid-May is the first month of Tamil calendar (Kara year). The month usually starts from 14th April, the day known as Tamil New Year.According to Hindu Mythology, this is the day on which Lord Brahma (the creator of the universe) started the creation of the world.It is also said that on this day, Goddess Meenakshi got married to Lord Sundareswarar.

The first day of Tamil calendar starts with some popular beliefs and faiths. People rise early in the morningand go for 'kanni' – the auspicious sight. The belief is that this brings good fortune throughout the year. The auspicious things for kanni might be Gold and silver jewelery, betel leaves, nuts, fruits and vegetables,flowers, raw rice and coconuts etc. The auspicious sight is then followed by a ritual bath and visiting temple to pray for a prosperous and happy New Year. After which, the Panchangam (almanac) is read. Sometimes, a decorated lamp kuthuvillakku is placed in the center of colorful Kolam to bring light to the house.People greet each other "Puthandu Vazthukal" which means Happy New Year.

The women decorate the entrances of their houses with ‘Kolam’ (design made with rice flour) and the doorway with mango leaves. Another highlight of this festival is the preparation of ‘Maanga Pachadi'. It is a dish made of raw mangoes, jaggery and neem flowers, tasting sweet, sour and bitter one at the same time. This signifies all aspects of our life and tells us to face happiness and sorrow with equal ease. 

On this day several fairs and cultural programs are organised at different places all over the state. A grand Car Festival is held at Tiruvadamarudur near Kumbakonam every year on April 14. Also in Madurai witnessesmarriage of Goddess Meenakshi (Parvati) to Lord Sundareswarar (Lord Shiva) in the form of ‘Chitthirai festival’ with great grandeur. Offerings to the deities, comprising of food, flowers and fruits is an important component of the festival.

FLOWERS BY COLOUR THEORY

1.        Yellow-dispels gloom,bringing forth a cheerfulness that is happily optimistic

2.        Orange-flowers mix the passion of red with the cheerfulness of yellow to radiate a feeling of warmth,pride and gratitude

3.        White-is the colour of cleanliness and purity,and white blooms indicate innocense or starting a new.

4.        Green ties in nature and health,symbolising fertility,well being and balance.

5.        Purple-incorporates the passion of red hues and the cool of blues to result in a colour favoured by royals and creative souls.

6.        Red- burns with bold passion,seeking attention from its beholder

7.        Blue-invokes peace(like in clear blue skies and seas)to represent calmness and tranquility.

8.        Pink-offers a feeling that is fun,lighthearted and joyous)

BY:  Rajeswary, Kuganesh , Nageswarie,Anita Raj

A SNEEZE IS JUST A SNEEZE

Recent  research has shown that everyday behavior, such as sneezing can cause others to overreact out of the basis fear, even for unrelated health stress.

Physical symptoms are cues that tell us whether our health is good or endangered in some ways. These cues or signals are very important to keeping us healthy, but they are also easy to misinterpret and are easily influenced by social context.

Researchers found that a nearby sneeze can raise fear of health threats not linked to germ transfer, such as having heart attack before the age of 55.

Other symptoms are the awareness of our own vulnerability that activate both conscious and unconscious fear and sense of danger. When someone overreacts to another’s behavior, inherently they are doubting their physical well-being.

So how do we not overreact? Proper steps to minimize danger of bacteria transmission through sneezing- such as washing your hands often and stay hygiene.

Ring is connected to one’s personality

Round (Brilliant)

Many people go for this simple deign because it is very easy to wear. It’s almost always flattering, and this feature of brilliant cut is probably what Marilyn Monroe had in mind when she sang of diamonds being “a girl’s best friend”.

This is for the traditional at heart. Most likely, this was the first shape you ever saw and fell in love with. Because it’s one of those classics that always look good.

Celebs who favor this: Emily Blunt and John Krasinski.

Heart- Shaped

There are some who shy away from this design, thinking it a little too obvious  and a trite cheesy. But if you like what you want, then by all means, go for it.

If this is your choice, you’re probably the romantic kind who always wears your ticker on your sleeve. And now you’ve got his heart too- on your finger, that is.

Celebs who favor this: Joan Collins and Percy Gibson.

Princess-Cut

Carrie’s reaction to the engagement ring with this cut made sales go through the roof overnight! And with good reason- it’s definitely one of the prettiest styles.

The girl who likes this one just laps up attention and loves to be pampered-and why shouldn’t she? Inside every girl is a little princess.

Celebs who favor this: Hillary Duff and Mike Comrie 

   BY:  Rajeswary, Kuganesh, Anita Raj, Nageswarie

Unusual Christmas Traditions Around the World

Catalonia

While Americans gather around the Christmas tree to open presents, in Catalonia, families gather around the “caga tio,” a log that’s decorated with a cartoon face and plied with treats in the weeks before Christmas. On Christmas day, the children sing a song and beat the log with sticks until it “poops” out presents (caga is the Catalonian equivalent of “caca,” and literally means “pooping log”). The log’s backside is covered with a blanket, and when the song is done and the presents have all been pooped out, parents pull back the covers to reveal the log’s scatological bounty. It’s a Christmas miracle!

Austria

 Nothing says Christmas like mortal terror, right? In Austria, the Christmas season kicks off on Dec. 5 with Krampusnacht Krampus, St. Nick’s demonic polar opposite, is a goat-horned devil that shakes fistfuls of rusty chains and sticks at passing children. While American children fear little more than a lump of coal in the stocking, Austrian youth are kept in line by a legion of masked men, many of whom have taken a little inspiration from a bottle of schnapps to help them get into character. According to legend, naughty kids are snatched by Krampus and dragged to his mountain lair. In more recent years, the custom has morphed into a sort of Halloween in December, giving people a chance to dress up and parade around in their ghoulish costumes.

The Netherlands

The Austrians aren’t the only ones that see Christmas as a time to celebrate the dark side. In the Netherlands, the Dutch add a little fear to their holiday celebrations with Zwarte Piet. In a rather racist custom that has persisted to this day, Zwarte Piet, or Black Peter, is Santa’s slave who abducts Dutch children that misbehave, taking them back to Spain, where it is said that Santa and Peter spend their off-season. In a scene many Americans would find shocking, the Dutch dress up as Black Peter, donning black face and Afro wigs, in order to accompany Santa. In response to protests against the racist symbol in recent years, Peter’s backstory has changed, with some saying his blackface is merely the result of chimney soot.

Japan

Christmas in Japan means one thing: Fried chicken from KFC. Poultry is a rarity in Japan, and the custom of ordering from the fast food chain likely started when Americans on the prowl for a traditional Christmas bird had to settle for the Colonel’s golden-fried alternative. In the 1970s, noticing an uptick in sales around the holidays, KFC saw an opportunity to start a new Christmas tradition and began to advertise its chicken as an integral part of the holiday season in Japan. Now, several decades later, the Japanese have embraced fried chicken at Christmas with an almost maniacal devotion. Customers reserve their buckets months in advance, and those foolish enough to wait until Christmas Eve have to wait in lines that snake for blocks to get a taste of the Colonel’s secret blend of 11 herbs and spices. But I’m sure the wait is worth it, because there’s nothing more magical at this time of year than gathering the family around the chicken bucket.


 BY:  Rajeswary, Kuganesh, Anita Raj, Nageswarie

 

5 Mind-Bending Facts About Dreams

Dreams are meaningful

If you dream about winning the lottery or having an accident, should you prepare? If you answered "yes," you’re not alone, according to a study published in the February 2009 issue of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. The researchers ran six experiments, finding that not only do we put stock in our dreams, we also judge dreams that fit with our own beliefs as more meaningful than ones that go against the grain.

"Psychologists' interpretations of the meaning of dreams vary widely," study researcher Carey Morewedge, an assistant professor at Carnegie Mellon University, said in a statement. "But our research shows that people believe their dreams provide meaningful insight into themselves and their world."

Violent dreams can be warning sign

As if nightmares weren't bad enough, a rare sleep disorder causes people to act out their dreams, sometimes with violent thrashes, kicks and screams. Such violent dreams may be an early sign of brain disorders down the line, including Parkinson's disease and dementia, according to research published online July 28, 2010, in the journal Neurology. The results suggest the incipient stages of these neurodegenerative disorders might begin decades before a person, or doctor, knows it.

Dreams help us solve puzzles

Scientists have long wondered why we dream, with answers ranging from Sigmund Freud's idea that dreams fulfill our wishes to the speculation that these wistful journeys are just a side rapid-eye-movement, or REM, sleep. Turns out, at least part of the reason may be critical thinking, according to Harvard psychologist Deirdre Barrett who presented her theory in 2010 at the Association for Psychological Science meeting in Boston. She has found that our slumbering hours may help us solve puzzles that have plagued us during daylight hours."Whatever the state we're put in, we're still working on the same problems," Barrett said, adding that while dreams may have original evolved for another purpose, they have likely been refined over time for multiple tasks, including helping the brain reboot and helping us solve problems

Men dream about sex

No surprise here, men are more likely than women to dream about sex. And comparing notes in the morning may not be a turn on for either guys or gals, as women are more likely to have experienced nightmares, according to doctoral research reported in 2009 by psychologist Jennie Parker of the University of the West of England.

In her study of nearly 200 men and women, ages 18 to 25, Parker found that women's nightmares could be broadly divided into three categories: fearful dreams (being chased or life threatened), dreams involving the loss of a loved one, or confused dreams.

This doesn't mean women have no fun in their dreams. A study presented in 2007 at a meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies (APSS) revealed that of about 3,500 home dream reports about 8 percent contain some form of sexual-related activity. The most common sexual dream involved sexual intercourse, followed by sexual propositions, kissing, fantasies and masturbation.

You can control your dreams

If you're interested in lucid dreaming, you may want to take up video gaming. Both represent alternate realities, according to Jayne Gackenbach, a psychologist at Grant MacEwan University in Canada. Of course they aren't completely the same. While video games are controlled by computers and gaming consoles, dreams arise from the human mind.

"If you're spending hours a day in a virtual reality, if nothing else it's practice," Gackenbach told LiveScience in 2010. "Gamers are used to controlling their game environments, so that can translate into dreams." Her past research has shown that people who frequently play video games are more likely than non-gamers to have lucid dreams where they view themselves from outside their bodies; they also were better able to influence their dream worlds, as if controlling a video-game character.

Dreams can take the edge off

Taking the edge off may require, not a stiff drink, but a trip to la-la land. UC Berkeley scientists report in the Nov. 23, 2011, issue of the journal Current Biology that during the dream phase of sleep (also called REM sleep), participants' brains showed decreased levels of certain chemicals associated with stress.

"We know that during REM sleep there is a sharp decrease in levels of norepinephrine, a brain chemical associated with stress," study researcher Matthew Walker, associate professor of psychology and neuroscience, said in a statement. "By reprocessing previous emotional experiences in this neuro-chemically safe environment of low norepinephrine during REM sleep, we wake up the next day, and those experiences have been softened in their emotional strength. We feel better about them, we feel we can cope."

   BY:  Rajeswary, Kuganesh, Anita Raj, Nageswarie

Weird Traditions From Around The World

JAPAN: Warning to anyone that has friends or family living here. Never send red Christmas cards to anyone in Japan. Sending red Christmas cards constitutes bad etiquette since, in Japan, funeral notices are customarily printed in red. This is one mix up you do not want to get yourself into.

SPAIN: La Tomatina takes place in Valencia. It is a peculiar tradition that takes place annually on the last Wednesday in August. At the peak of the tomato season a wild battle develops as thousands of people pelt each other with ripe tomatoes. Rivers of tomato sauce run down the streets. After the tomato war is over, everyone gathers at the town square for food and wine festivities.

SPAIN: Yes, Spain again. It seems they really like their weird traditions. Goose Day, as the locals know it, takes place in Lekeitio. A goose is hanged from a rope over a harbour while men pass by on a boat and try to grab the poor animal. They are lifted up and repeatively plunged into the water until they successful pull off the neck of the goose. This is absolutely horrible and so cruel.

POLAND: According to beliefs in Poland, at Easter if you swallow a willow catkin from a branch that has been consecrated by a priest, it would bestow good health upon you. Hmmm… sounds enticing and tasty?

UKRAINE: In the Ukraine, it is customary to decorate a Christmas tree with an artificial spider and webs. It is believed that a spider web found on Christmas morning brings good luck. If they were mistaken as real, they may also bring heart attacks


SPAIN: Boy, Spain really is a crazy country! July 7-14th is the annual Running of the Bulls festival in the city of Pamplona. A herd of fighting bulls are let loose onto the streets after a crowd of young men. The aim of the runners is to try and feel the breath of the bull on their backs. Unfortunately, lots of young men get injured doing so. This is not my idea of fun!RUSSIA: The men get together and prepare a bottle of vodka for every three men. They then start to drink until one of the men falls. If you refuse to drink, this is an insult to the rest of the men. I recommend Smirnoff 

GREECE: This is not so much a tradition, but it is a weird and interesting thing to note. While traveling through Greece last year, we were informed not to give the thumbs up to anyone as it was rude and not accepted in this country. We just tucked our thumbs in and gave the fist… Wow, sounds… odd.


  BY:  Rajeswary, Kuganesh, Anita Raj, Nageswarie,

Benefits of watermelon..

     

    Some foods are fun to eat, and watermelon is definitely one of them.  That triangular wedge of bright red/white/green, sweet juiciness forbids us to take life too seriously and shouts, “SUMMER!!!” As if that weren’t enough, watermelon is packed full of nutrition, hydrates and is low-fat. While many of us think of watermelon as a great snack option, when you tally up its nutritive value, you might consider making this all-star a feature player in your cuisine.

     Watermelons are an excellent source of several vitamins: vitamin A, which helps maintain eye health and is an antioxidant; vitamin C, which helps strengthen immunity  heal wounds, prevent cell damage, promote healthy teeth and gums; and vitamin B6, which helps brain function and helps convert protein to energy

      Tomatoes have been highly touted as a great source for lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that helps fight heart disease and several types of cancer — prostate cancer in particular.  Watermelon, however, has the highest concentrations of lycopene of any fresh fruit or vegetable.

     If your little ones don’t dig into their swiss chard, lima beans or spinach — all great sources of potassium — consider offering them a serving of watermelon instead.  It is a great source of potassium, which helps muscle and nerve function, helps maintain the body’s proper electrolyte and acid-base balance, and helps lower the risk of high blood pressure.

     Watermelon also contains the amino acids citrulline and arginine, which can help maintain arteries, blood flow and overall cardiovascular function.

      Alone or in a fruit salad are the most common ways many of us eat watermelon. While eating the meat of the fruit is the best way to take advantage of all of its nutrients, this is one of my favorite bits of summer refreshment. I get a version of this from my local burrito truck. The key to making this great: don’t oversweeten it. With just a touch of sweetness, it’s heavenly.

BY: Nageswarie, Rajeswary, Kuganesh, Anita Raj

8 Wonder ways for a flat tummy using YOGA...

1. Naukasana : A common yoga posture that works wonders on your abs. Method: Lie flat on the ground, with your back on the floor. Raise your upper body and legs to an angle of 30 degrees and hold the posture for 30-40 seconds, then relax. Repeat this asana for 10 times to begin with, graduating to 30 times. Breathe normally all through the work out.

2. Ushtrasana : It is the counter pose to naukasana . Method: Stand on your knees, with heels facing upwards. Arch your back, placing your hands on your knees one by one. Hold your head behind pushing your belly outwards. Hold this posture for 30 seconds and repeat 30 times.

3. Basic crunch : The good old crunch still remains the best exercise to bag the perfect abs. Method: Lie on the floor with your legs off the floor in a right angle. Keep your shoulders just above the floor. Breathe in and bring your knees in towards your chest, while lifting your upper body to an angle of 30 degrees and breathe out while you relax. Repeat this exercise 15-20 times to begin with.

4. Bridging: Stretch till you feel the burn! Method: Lie flat on the floor with your hands resting by your sides, feet flat on the floor, shoulder width apart and knees bent. Now, contract your abdominals, lower back and gluts and slowly lift your midsection to form a bridge from your knees, through your hips to your shoulders. Hold this position for a few seconds, and then slowly lower. "Avoid this exercise in case you are suffering from lower back problems."

5. Lying Torso Twists: Twisting motion stretches the oblique muscles. Method: Lie on the floor with knees pulled over your chest. Place a ball between your knees and stretch arms to the sides like an airplane, palms facing up. Contract your abs and twist your hips to the right, bringing knees towards the floor Don't touch the floor, but use your abs to bring your knees back to the start and go to the other side.

6. Cycling: Not on the cycle, but on the floor. Method: Lie on the floor and raise your legs. Make slow pedaling motions with both your legs alternatively. Keep breathing normally. Touch your left elbow to your right knee, then your right elbow to your left knee.

7. Side plank: targeted to your oblique muscles or side abs. Method: Lie down on your side with elbows supporting your body above the ground. Now lift your body sideways. This will make you feel the stretch on your oblique muscles giving them a good workout. 2-3 sets of 15-20 movements are ideal.

8. Dancing wonders: Feel the pulse : "Stomach muscles are core muscles involved in any kind of dancing. A toned stomach accentuates your moves, while dance movements make your stomach sexy.

BY: Nageswarie, Rajeswary, Kuganesh, Anita Raj