Traditional Indian Delicious Foods for the Winter Season

Winter is unequivocally hailed as the most pleasant season by Indians- and when we say that we eagerly await this season every year, we are not only hailing the soothing wintry vibes but the fact that we can gorge on some mind blowing delicacies this season as well. Winter, for Indian remains the most ideal season to binge owing to more than just one reason. Firstly, we aren’t really required battling the scorching heat of summers – often held responsible for draining our energy and appetite as well. So, there is basically a lot more freedom to explore different palates as well. Secondly, there is a lot more variety available as well. How can we forget? There are so many fruits and vegetables grown during this season – way more than what happens during the summers. Today, we will be zeroing in on the top Indian delicacies that you must try out this winter (2016)!

Which foods should you taste this winter without fail?

Here is a rundown on the top delicacies that you must try out this winter. You might as well have already tasted a few of these but this particular list will definitely help you broaden your horizon.  So read on.

Gajar ka Halwa: Starting off with the most loved Indian cuisine- this sweet dish laced with ghee or butter is preferred as a dessert by some as well. Let us tell you that it promises more than just yum. Carrots are known for their beneficial attributes. Backed by copious degree of Vitamin A, carrots can actually help you fight infections thereby minimizing risk of flu and cold. Ghee, on the other hand, is also known to nourish mental and physical health. 

Famous Indian Winter Food Gajar ka Halwa

Sweet Potatoes Spiced Up: Have you tried out this combination before? Sweet potatoes are available in abundance during winters. And, let us tell you that there is no dearth of takers as well. You can either roast it or boil it or have it properly cooked with spice and consume the same with chapattis. Don’t forget that sweet potatoes are very rich in minerals and vitamins accompanied by high amount of fiber.

Sarson da saang: We can bet that there are so many people who have heard about it but have never really tasted it. It goes without saying that it is a very popular Punjabi dish prepared with makki ki roti, jaggery and butter. This particular dish, once agin, besides being tasty, is packed with nutritional benefits as well. The dish is actually full of protein and iron. Plus it is also known for its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Gaund ke laddoo: It is prepared with edible gum which is secured from the bark of a tree. It is easily available in the market. Gaund is actually known to offer warmth to the body during winters. Once again, it is prepared with limited amount of ghee, which is beneficial for health. Gaund ladoos are traditional winter specials.

Though it is not exactly a winter special but green tea is particularly recommended during winters owing to its antibacterial and antiviral properties. Drinking around 3 to 5 cups a day keeps your immune system in order and also helps you fight cold and flu during the winters as well.

Any of your favorite food we have missed out here? Have you tasted all the foods listed here? If not, then make sure you are dedicating separate days in the month of December to taste each of them and yum--- you are never going to miss them in the coming winters. They are a great combination of health and taste. Try them now!

Why Mehndi Design is an Indispensable part of any Festivity?

Be it a wedding or Karva Chauth, mehndi remains a very significant part of Hindu rituals. It’s not merely an embellishment but a “tradition”. To start off with – let us tell you that mehndi is an important pre-wedding ceremony, whereby an entire day is dedicated to an episode of fun, revelry, song and dance with the mehndi being applied on the bride’s as well as her friends and relatives’ hands. In fact, the bride adorns herself with the stunning designs of henna on both her arms and legs.

Mehndi: Not only for brides!

Even the groom applies a bit of mehndi both on his arms and feet and the entire Mehndi ceremony is generally remembered as a toast to friendship and to every other bond that the bride and the groom goes on to forge in their lives. However, it should be noted that “mehndi” is not only about fun, frolic and adornments. It has deep-rooted cultural significance as well.

First of all, mehndi is regarded as auspicious. That’s why whereas even though it’s the girls who love applying mehndi on diverse occasions-- during weddings, the grooms also add touches of henna as has been mentioned above– just as a token of good omen. 

Indian Bride with beautiful Mehndi Design

Mehndi, for many, is the manifestation of the bond shared by the bride and the groom as well. Often dubbed as “shagun” or the sign of good luck, mehndi is associated with variant beliefs – a few of which are mentioned below:

• Mehndi remains one of the oldest wedding rituals in some parts of India and countries like Bangladesh and Nepal. It is believed that darker the colour of mehndi appears on the bride’s hands, the deeper would be the bond shared by the couple. Likewise, if the color fails to assume a fairly dark shape, the elders of the family often end up fearing an “apshagun” or bad luck.
• It is also believed that the longer the mehndi retains its hue, the stronger the bond will be – between the two.
• The hue of henna is also regarded as a sign of understanding between the bride and her would-be-mother-in-law
• What more? This beautiful art of adorning brides is also treated as the symbolic representation of fertility.

Other significant benefits to be considered

The medicinal value of henna cannot be undermined as well. It is traditionally known to soothe a stressed mind, fever and headache. Plus, it promotes the growth of nails as well. Mehndi is applied to relieve the bride and the groom of their stress during their wedding. We all understand that wedding is a bond of a life time which is immediately associable with love plus a host of responsibilities that the husband and wife have for each other. We also understand that a wedding is as much as about nerves as it is about the excitement to experience the joy of new beginnings. So, the “stress relief” attribute of mehndi does have a crucial role to play here.

As is the case with any tradition, “mehndi”- rather its designs have evolved over time as well. The modern day brides have a growing tendency towards opting for more clutter-free minimalistic designs as against the more intricate designs of the past.

Brides-to-be, who are yet to zero in on the mehndi design for the D-Day can refer to the internet in order to be duly guided in this regard. Make sure you are browsing through the designs and selecting one of them- so that when the mehndi designer finally comes to your place, you are clear on your head as to what you want. You can select from among old or new trends as per your choice. 

Why Kanchi Cotton and Silk Sarees are famous among the South Indians?

India has a rich tradition of saree making that has developed over the country’s extensive history of thousands of years. This simple and elegant piece of clothing has created the identity of the Indian women for the longest time and has evolved greatly over the years. Numerous types of sarees are produced in different parts of the country, each unique in its own way. The reason for the widespread popularity of these sarees is that gifted craftsmen and artisans put in a great deal of effort to make sure that only the richest quality of cotton and silk threads. They then use these silk threads to make the sarees that stand out for their rich quality and finish.

Among the types of sarees that have become immensely popular over the years, one that deserves special mention is the Kancheepuram sarees or Kanchivaram sarees. Originating in the Kancheepuram region of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, these sarees come in two important variations and are known for their elegance and gorgeousness. Made from cotton and silk fabrics, Kanchivaram sarees are widely worn by women in India for their wedding ceremonies as well as many other special occasions. They are also loved by celebrities in India, who wear them frequently for their own weddings, press meetings and other important events. 

Beautiful Kanchi Cotton and Silk Sarees Online

Although known to be costlier than many other types of sarees that are made in India, these sarees are loved almost universally by women in this country. The reason for this is that they look extremely luxurious and are made out of gold borders and threads. While the pattern of the saree itself may differ greatly, special motifs, dots and gold zari threads are used to create these sarees that make them highly unique in appearance. These sarees also come in different types of vibrant colors, which naturally increase its energy and appeal. In fact, Kanchivaram silk sarees are known to be some of the best silk sarees in the world. The Kanchivaram cotton sarees also enjoy widespread popularity among women of different age groups and fashion preferences.

One of the main reasons why women in South India really love to dress up in the finest Kanchivaram sarees is that they love their garments to be dynamic and energetic. It is therefore in the very essence of women in South India to choose clothing that would allow them to stand out in the crowd. The use of gold threads in Kanchivaram sarees have also led people to associate these garments with royalty since gold is something that not everyone can afford. While the amount of gold used in these sarees may differ from one piece to another, it is a known fact that Kanchivaram sarees rank higher in their status and appeal than other types of sarees. Any woman who loves to feel special and the life of a party or gathering would love to have a nice collection of these sarees. It is therefore no surprise that women in all parts of India simply love to get these sarees in a wide range of colors and designs.

With the advent of online shopping in India, women in this country can now easily get the finest Kanchivaram sarees from the comfort of their own homes. Even saree shops and manufacturers are taking to ecommerce stores to reach out to a wider customer base and increase their sales. This has certainly boosted the prospects of the Kanchivaram sarees manufacturing industry than what it was in the past. Such improvements in the Kanchivaram saree market trends will help the artisans to come up with even better quality products in the near future. 

Why Indian Ethnic Saree is always a hot item among the women?

Women in India have a strong liking for clothes that would accentuate their physical beauty and enable them to express their truest selves. Due to this reason, they love to experiment with the various types of clothing items that would in turn help them to choose their looks for different occasions. While women in this country love to flaunt their beauty in Western outfits from time to time, they still do have a strong fascination for the ethnic Indian clothing that is popular in this country for centuries. This is due to the fact that Indian clothes are rich in diversity and design and offer greater opportunities to look beautiful.

 

One of the main reasons why even modern women love to wear Indian ethnic sarees is that over hundreds of years, different styles of sarees have evolved in this country, each having its very own characteristic features. For instance, the sarees from Bengal have unique artwork of their own along with a signature style of using colors. Likewise, the sarees from Rajasthan also have their distinct characteristics but they are very much different in style and content from those that are made in Bengal. Every type of Indian ethnic saree takes on the nature and style of the place in which it originates. Since there are numerous states and regions in India, the women of this country can choose from a wide range of saree types when she goes for shopping.

Ethnic Sarees of India

Unlike western wear that offers limited opportunities to experiment with personal style, the traditional Indian ethnic sarees offer far greater chances to play with different colors, embellishments, embroideries and effects which allow a woman to express her beauty in a better way. It is therefore hardly surprising that women who have a strong penchant for style would definitely love to dress themselves up in traditional Indian sarees that perfectly blend with their sensibilities. The best thing about these sarees is that they are extremely versatile and can be worn by women for a wide range of occasions. Whether a woman is going to an office party or a family gathering or being a part of a Puja festival, the Indian ethnic sarees can be the perfect attire for her.   

In the recent times, there has been a lot of experimentation as regards to the style and design of these clothing items. Numerous fashion designers have come forward to add their very own touch to the ethnic Indian sarees. While they keep the actual design principle of the sarees intact, they still add new elements that would extend the range of what can be achieved with these clothing items. This has surely expanded the scope of Indian ethnic sarees. Even women living in other parts of the world now share a strong fascination for these sarees. The artisans and craftsmen in India leave no stone unturned to create unique pieces of sarees that are not only rich in their color combination but are also adorned with the most elaborate embroideries and designs.

With the growing demand for Indian ethnic sarees in India as well as the rest of the world, there is now greater scope of earning profitable revenues for the artisans of India who work on these clothing items. These sarees are not only available in the traditional saree shops but also in various online stores. This has also made it much easier for women in this country to find the most gorgeous Indian ethnic sarees from the comfort of their own homes. The online stores have not only made shopping easier for modern women but have also popularized these sarees among a new range of customers.     

What are root causes of never ending tension between India and Pakistan?

One of the most persistent political problems that India deals with on a regular basis is its strife and conflict with the neighboring country of Pakistan. Since the time India attained independence from British Rule in 1947, India and Pakistan have engaged in wars for four different times, in the years 1947, 1965, 1971 and 1999. The recent uprisings and regular tension within the political circles in these two countries along with regular discussions held by experts about the mutual relations between India and Pakistan forces people to ask the question as to what are the root causes of these never ending tensions between these two neighboring countries.

For many people, the basic cause of friction between India and Pakistan lies in the “Kashmir issue”, which has been a constant nagging problem ever since India attained independence and Pakistan became a separate country with its own governing system. However, one should keep in mind that this is just an externalization of a much deeper problem. To get to the root of the matter, careful attention should be given to the nature and ideologies of the two dominant religions of these countries, i.e. Hinduism and Islam. In this connection, one needs to understand that every religion has two dimensions; one is purely theological and the other deals with sociological systems. The sociological aspect can also be divided into two parts; one part deals with the ideologies and practices that impact only the members of the particular faith and the other part focuses on the way it interacts with people who are not a part of that faith or in other words belongs to a different faith.

Indian Soldiers at India-Pakistan Border

It is this second aspect that mostly gives rise to conflicting interests. As long as a religion remains completely unconcerned about the acts performed by people of other religions, there is no need for conflict but if it aims to determine how much freedom other people are liable to get then it certainly induces a lot of problems. India, from the very beginning, had a pluralistic worldview, much like that of the Americans. Therefore, India’s preamble stated that it is going to provide equal opportunities and status to all people and also offer liberty to all to express their own thoughts and follow their own beliefs. However, from the very beginning, Pakistan has a very different approach to its people and considered that it is the task of the official religion of Islam to interpenetrate every aspect of people’s lives and dictate the way they should conduct their lives.

Pakistan was cut off from the mainland of India during its struggle for independence and ever since then it is trying to form its identity as a nation. However, this is something that they find difficult to do because they are ideally trying to create an ideally that is decidedly un-Hindu. To do this, they would have to completely reject the past as most of the recorded history has a strong Hindu influence. This naturally makes Pakistan very much uneasy about its own identity and position in the world. They would rather align themselves with the Arabic civilizations of west Asia, but they also find it difficult to deny the fact that the very land of Pakistan had a strong Indian or Hindu influence due to thousands of years of history. The whole attempt to bring Kashmir under its fold is nothing but an attempt on Pakistan’s part to spread its own divisive cultural belief systems. This naturally means that they need to propagate an anti-Indian sentiment to hold the whole nation of Pakistan together. Had it been that Pakistan would have formed a cultural and national identity of its own without any antagonistic sentiment towards India to begin with, then Pakistan would have had a much secure self image and thereby felt less inclined to get into a political strife with India at all times.