World of Books and Travel

 As a part of our annual spiritual visits, we visited Chowalloor Shiva temple near Guruvayur.  When we reached there we realized that there was some special puja  going on there and  it must be a special and important day in the temple.  We noticed the board saying that the annual celebration of Thiruvathira Mahotsavam has begun.                                                                              (Photo by author) The place was quite crowded,  Thiruvathira Mahotsavam is a 12 day long celebration for the Thiruvathira festival and it was the first day there. January 3rd would be the concluding day and the most important day. is a vibrant annual celebration dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati , observed during the auspicious Thiruvathira star in the Ma...

Every weekend and holidays, parents wonder where to take their kids to spend their time intelligently. If you are in Bangalore you can take them to a wonderful place. Recently we had visited Prani which is a haven for rescued animals.  Prani Pet Sanctuary is home for many species of rescued animals. They are rescued pets, domestic and exotic animals and birds. The tour is well organized and well trained staff and volunteers are there to educate you about them in detail. They have more than  700 animals in their sanctuary. Usually, the visitors don’t get an opportunity to connect with animals and learn more about them interacting with them in the zoos and national parks. But it is different here. You get plenty of time with these animals. During this time, you can about these animals, interact with them, hold them in your hands, pat then, and even feed them. The children would enjoy these moments. At the same time, they can learn a lot about these animals who co-exist with huma...

 Aparajita is a popular herbal plant with several health benefits, as a nature's gift.  Its scientific name is  Clitoria ternatea .   It is also known as Asian pigeonwings, bluebellvine, blue pea, butterfly pea, cordofan pea, or Darwin pea,It is a climbing twiner.  In other languages -  Sanskrit Name: Vishnukranta, Yonipushpa, Girikarnika, Hindi: Koyala English : Butterfly pea Bengali: Aparajita Tamil: Kakkanam Telugu: Dintena, Sankupushpam Kannada: Oma, Omada kalu Malayalam:  Shankhapushpam Marathi: Gokarni Gujarati: Garnee Punjabi: Jabain The plant grows commonly in all parts of India, Egypt, Afghanistan, Persia, Mesopotamia & Iraq etc. Aparajita flower is conch shaped and has a bright blue colour. (White colour flower is also there) .  This holistic plant is coming with several health benefits. it thrives naturally in fields, meadows, and grasslands. According to e xperts ,  this flower is packed with antioxidants that f...

 Recently I had come to know that there is a Krishna temple dedicated to Lord Guruvayoorappan at a quaint village called Nettigere in Kanakapura Road, Bangalore south. It is a beautiful temple built in Kerala style, surrounded by greenery.  As you enter the temple you will get a divine feeling and experiences an infinite joy. Tulsi plants and betel leave plants are grown in abundance there.  The history of the temple goes like this - On the banks of River Swamamukhi, there was a spot where a 12 feet ant hill was growing.  In the dream, Lord Guruvayoorappan appeared and asked to build a temple on that particular spot, for the benefits of people there. Accordingly, the temple was built there and on Utthram nakshathram day, the idol of Lord Guruvayoorappan was installed in the month of Mesha. Guruvayoorappan is another form of Lord Vishnu.  As one enters the temple the idol of Lord Guruvayoorappa can be seen in the mandapam. Only oil lamps are there, no electric bu...

  Changalamparandi (Cissus Quadrangularis)  is an herbal plant used in many ayurvedic medicines. It is also known as Hadjod plant, Asthi Shrunkala, sannalam, nalleru, vajraveli, mangara valli, devil's backbone, adamant creeper etc.  This herbal plant has several health benefits such as good for fixing joint issues.  That is the reason it is known as Bone setter plant.  It has quadrangular-sectioned branches with internodes and grows with a height of 1.5 m.  Bone setter plant is native to India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, and also found in Southeast Asia and Africa. How does Bone setter (Changalamparandi) herb help us for our health? The leaves and branches of this herb have health properties. They are analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-osteoporotic, antioxidant, anti-ulcer, and bone-healing properties.  They can be used both internally and externally, but of course, with a consultation of an ayurvedic physician, to avoid any problems.  External use...

Gladioli flowers give extra beauty to the garden. There are different colours of gladioli flowers. My sister gave me some gladioli bulbs last year and I planted them. They are in different colours. Gladioli is usually grown in Asia, Mediterranean Europe, South Africa, and tropical Africa. It is sometimes called a ‘sword lily.’ Gladiolus should be planted on well-drained and even sandy soil. They also like sunny locations. It will be nice to plant the gladiolus deeper than usual (about 8 inches deeper) because they have a tall sheaf of leaves. This will help anchor them against strong winds that might blow them over to the ground. If it is not possible it will be helpful for them if a stick is provided to them, as a support. Proper watering is required in their early days and make sure to mulch the soil around them to keep them moist. Gladioli plants thrive if the bulbs are protected by a thick mulch throughout the winter. I grow them both in mud as well as on pots. They take 70 to 100 ...

Makhana is a type of seed commonly used throughout Asia.  They are   also known as Fox nuts and Lotus seeds, Euryale Ferox, Gorgon nut etc. What is so special about it? Any great benefits?  1. Makhana supports heart health. - Some animal studies show that makhana extract could reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels to improve heart health.  2. Makhana is rich in several micronutrients, including calcium, magnesium, iron, and phosphorus.  3. Makhana is high in antioxidants, which could protect against inflammation and chronic disease, which could be beneficial for conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, gout, psoriasis, and inflammatory bowel disease. Makhana is rich in antioxidants and micronutrients and may help slow signs of aging and support heart health, blood sugar management, and weight loss. 4. May help in blood sugar control - Several animal studies show that makhana extract could help improve blood sugar management,  5. May help in weig...

  How to make green tomato chutney - In a pan, add a spoon of oil. - Chop an onion and saute it for 2 minutes. - Add 2–3 green tomatoes, chopped. - Add 2–3 green chillies, 2–3 garlics, 1 piece of ginger, a few chopped green coriander leaves (optional). Saute them for 3 minutes. - When cooled grind with salt. -Finally, temper it with mustard seeds, red chillies and a cluster of curry leaves. Health Benefits of Green Tomatoes Improves gut health  — Green tomatoes are rich in dietary fiber. Fiber helps in keeping your digestive system healthy by aiding in the multiplication of good gut bacteria. Vitamin E found in green tomatoes helps  prevent hemolytic anemia. Beta carotene found in green tomatoes  promotes healthy skin . Prevents Premature Ageing -  As green tomatoes are rich in Vitamin C, which helps produce skin cells, may make you look younger and wrinkle-free. Helps in hydration  — green tomatoes are 94% water, which helps to keep you hydrated when exerc...

In this summer, I decided to make some Green banana powder. What is the use of green banana powder, you may wonder.  Green banana powder (raw banana powder) has several health benefits. I was shocked to know the humble banana's health benefits and why we should include it in our diet.  I usually make main curries and side dishes with raw bananas, without knowing its numerous health benefits.  I, of course, knew it was good for health.   When I came to know its health benefits I decided to make the powder and keep ready at home for immediate needs.  First, let us see how to make the Green Banana Powder. Select good variety of raw banana. Wash it. Peel the skin. (If you wish you can remove the whole skin instead of peeling it.) Cut it into small pieces and dry it in the sun or use a drier, if you have one at home. The dried raw banana pieces can be preserved in an airtight container as it is, or powder it and keep, for months together.  How to use the po...

 Hair may fall due to various causes. If it is not due to some serious issues, we can control them at home to some extent.  Photo by  Paul Siewert  on  Unsplash There are so many commercial products available in the market for reducing hair fall and promoting healthier hair growth. But we all know natural remedies are the best to try first. Six methods are given below with the things easily available at home. These are methods passed on from elders who believed in natural remedies. I have tried all of them on different occasions and I found each one useful to me. No need to try all of these, just any one method will do which is easily available with you, to control the hair fall.  1. Coconut oil  — Many people use coconut oil for hair. It is packed with fatty acids that penetrate the hair shaft, reducing protein loss and strengthening hair. Then leave it for at least an hour and wash with a mild shampoo. You will have to try this for a few days regularly to...

  More and more people are opting for millet food, realizing its amazing health benefits.  As you know, the year 2023 was named as International day of Millets.  I use millets almost on a daily basis, for various recipes. I am sharing a foxtail millet pongal recipe with you. Foxtail millets are tiny seeds covered in a thin, crispy hull and are available in a light yellow-brownish colour.   Ingredients required Fox Millet - 1 cup Moong dal - 1 cup Wash these two and keep aside.  1 piece of ginger -chopped 1 tsp. cumin seeds  1 tsp. black pepper 1/2 tsp. asafoetida powder 1 tablsp. cashew nuts - broken 2 green chillies - chopped curry leaves 1 tsp. mustard seeds Preparation Keep a cooker on the stove, add 1 1/2 tablespoon cooking oil When it is heated add half of the cumin seeds, half of ginger pieces, half of black pepper and the chopped chillies.  When it is ready, add 4-5 cup water, add salt and bring it to boil.  Add the millet and moong dal int...

 Recently I came to know that betel leaf  has several health benefits.  Betel leaves have got many health benefits, if used in the right way. It is widely used in Ayurveda treatments. Betel leaves do not have any harmful effects when used alone.  But if betel leaves are used with betel nut (areca nut) or tobacco,  it can cause cancer since they are carcinogenic. Nutrients in Betel Leaf In a 100g serving of Betel leaf, the nutrients are Calories: 61 Fat: 1g Carbohydrates: 6g Fibre: 1.8g Protein: 3g Betel leaves have numerous  health benefits. Betel leaves are good source of calcium. Additionally, they also contain vitamins like vitamin C, thiamine, niacin, riboflavin, and riboflavin. Betel leaves possess analgesic, antibiotic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic properties. H ealth Benefits  1. Helpful for Diabetes - Betel leaf can help reduce glucose levels in your blood.  2. Reduces cholesterol - The eugenol content in betel leav...

  Nutritious and delicious Mulberry leaves Recipe                                                                     Mulberry leaves recipe Mulberry leaves are used in traditional medicines as a natural medicine for a variety of sicknesses because of their high nutritional values. They  are rich in plant compounds like polyphenol antioxidants, as well as vitamin C, zinc, calcium, iron, potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium.  In traditional Chinese medicine, mulberry leaf is used to treat inflammation, colds, and antiviral illnesses.                                               Mulberry leaves Health benefits Compounds found in mulberry leaves may help lower blood sugar, cholesterol, and...

  Last week,   during my morning stroll in my garden, I saw the shallot spring onion ready to be harvested. Immediately, I had an idea to make an easy recipe with it, when it is fresh.  As we all know spring onion comes with several health benefits. It is used in various ways. Usually, I use them in noodles, salads, etc. “Cookery is not chemistry .  It is an art. It requires instinct and taste rather than exact measurements.” —  Marcel Boulestin Today I had a different idea. I tried with tur dal. Cooked some tur dal well in the cooker. Later, I added one medium-sized tomato chopped, turmeric powder, chili powder, and 2 green chilies slit, salt and cooked for 3 minutes. By then, I had ground 2 tablespoons of coconut with cumin seeds ready and added it to the curry. When it was almost ready to boil, I added the chopped shallot spring onions and cooked for about 1 minute. It should not be cooked for more time, to avoid its nutrition loss. Finally, I seasoned it wit...