Himachal Pradesh is famous for its traditions, kullu shawls, art , weaving and tea plantations. Languages spoken in Himachal Pradesh  are pahari and hindi.

some of the famous festivals Himachal Pradesh of  are pori, fulaich festival 

Its state animal is snow leopard, state bird is western  tragopan, pink rhododendron is a state flower and deodar is state tree

shimla  is the capital of Himachal Pradesh . Its famous tourist attraction are kulu, dharamsala, manali,shimla and shimla was the summer capital of british india.

pin valley NP,Greater himalayan NP,chail WS, renuka WS are some of the wildlife santuaries in Himachal Pradesh

                                  ravi, beas, sutlej,chenab are some of the rivers in Himachal Pradesh            

                   FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

                                    APRICOT

                                  Apricot are an important fruit produce of Himachal Pradesh. Wild apricots, popularly known as zardalu, are indigenous to India, while cultivated apricots originated in North – eastern China. According to historical accounts, apricot were introduced in Greece by Alexander the great. Later, the roman general Lucullus (106 to 57 BC) imported apricot and cherry trees to Rome. These plants finally found their way to the Himalayas by traders that visited India.

                                      Apples

                                  Apples are said to have come in India via a doctor couple, Mr. and Mrs. Carleton, who were working with the leprosy mission of India. During a visit Philadelphia , USA, the couple had been asked for donations at local church in India. A young man named Samuel Evan Strokes met with couple and volunteer for the mission in India. Stokes came to Shimla with lepers with intension of working with lepers.he ended up playing an active role in india’s freedom struggle and was even jailed  by british. In 1961, Stokes is said to have planted a few Apple saplings in his barobagh orchard in thanebar.some also thank captain R C Scot of the British army for introducing apples to the kullu valley in 1870.

   KANGRA TEA

 According to historical accounts,the superintendent of the botanical tea gardens in Peshawar, dr. jameson,visited Kangra in 1846. He discovered that the lower slopes of the dhauladhar mountain range were ideal for tea cultivation. The commercial plantation was thus established at holta near palampur in 1852 at an elevation of 1260 m above sea level. The seeds  were obtained from china and by 1892 tea was planted across 9000 acres in Himachal Pradesh. These tea gardens were looked after by Europeans and local proprietors. Kangra tea reached European markets through London ,Barcelona and Amsterdam. It won gold and silver medals in tea exhibitions in Europe between 1886 and 1895.

Sanskrit

Names of fruits in sanskrit

  सीताफलम् - custardapple

कदलीफलं - banana

सेवफलम् - apple

नारिकेलम् - coconut

नारङ्गम् - orange

 द्राक्षा - grapes

  जम्बीरं - lemon

आमलकः 

 कलिङ्गम - watermelon

आम्रम- mango

Ayurveda Elements

The Indian subcontinent has been a land of great medical advancements from ancient times. Most of our healing techniques are based on the resources of nature and not on chemicals and artificial remedies. One such natural method of is the Ayurveda. Ayurveda is a form of medicine and health care practiced in India since almost 5000 years. Ayurveda is said to origin from the Atharvaveda, which contains 114 hymns and incantations described as magical cures for diseases. The system has now evolved to become one of the most trusted forms of natural healing processes.
Ayurveda, along with Yoga, talks about maintaining good health in general rather than fighting diseases only when you fall sick. This could be done, according to Ayurveda, by taking a healthy diet and maintaining an appreciated balance between mind, body and soul.
The followers of Ayurveda believe that the five basic elements of the universe are:
Ether, Air, Fire,Water and Earth. These five elements are believed to form the balance of the human body as well as the rest of the universe. These five elements, in turn, operate the three basic flows of your body: vata, pitta and kapha. If your body goes out of balance with the rest of the universe, then, Ayurveda says, you would be suffering from diseases.
Agni (Fire) : It is for transformation and metabolism. It predominantly manifests as the fire of intelligence and comprehension, balance of body temperature, the absorption and assimilation of food and the transformative power of the liver.
Vayu (Air) : Movement is signified by Vayu. This element has more to do with the electrical energy in the nervous system, movement of all tissues and cell functions, and the formation of gases. It governs all of the senses due to its affinity with the nervous system.
Prithvi (Earth): Earth or Prithvi is synonymous to stability, permanence and rigidity. Within the body it predominantly manifests as the solid structures such as bones, muscles, cartilage, nails, hair, teeth and skin.
Jal (Water): Jal is for transportation. It is one of the two elements that flow. In the body, the plasma and lymph which transport nutrients to the cells, and toxins away from cells are made up of it.
Akash (Ether): Akash is what makes up the entire universe. The ether element is dominantly represented by the empty spaces within atoms and the ethereal body. It governs the sense of hearing and the action of the mouth and vocal cords which both move through the ether element and subtle vibrations.

Ayurveda is regarded with a lot of respect by both the believers of science and the non-believers of modern day medicinal techniques. Since it derives most of its healing techniques from the nature itself, it is believed to have minimum or no side-effects. The better implementation of the valuable knowledge that Ayurveda has, combined with the technology that the modern world has, might lead to an even more effective health care system

tourist spots in Kanyakumari

 KANYAKUMARI

this is picture of bathing place at seashore in rameshwaram and gopuram

amman temple in Kanyakumari

gandhi memorial

 vivekananda rock

suchindrum temple

triveni sangamam

light house

USES OF BASIL

In traditional Indian medicine system called Ayurveda, Tulsi (Holy Basil) is considered an important herb to cure disorders and sickness.

Tulsi is an erect sweet -scented pubescent herb, 30-100cm in height , growing in abundance near cultivated field gardens and waste lands. Its leaves, seeds and whole plant is useful.
Tulsi is cultivated for religious and medicinal purposes, and for its essential oil. It is widely known across the Indian subcontinent as a medicinal plant commonly used in Ayurveda. Tulsi leaves, stem flowers and seeds are used in ayurvedic preparations.

Ayurveda describes the properties of Tulsi as follows:

1. Tulsi has anti-inflammatory properties. Hence its external application on swollen parts helps to diminish swelling and pain.

2. Tulsi helps in many skin sicknesses. It is effective in skin rashes, insect bites and itching. Leaves of this plant are effectively used in ring worm infections.

3. Fresh juice of Tulsi leaves is to get rid of headache and diseases of head and neck. Tulsi leaves help to sharpen memory.

4. Paste and Juice of Tulsi leaves help to decrease acne, pimples and scars.

5. According ayurveda, preparations of Tulsi are beneficial in indigestion, intestinal parasites and constipation.

6. Crushed leaves of tulsi are very effective in fever, cough, bronchitis and other diseases of lungs. It helps in expectoration of excess mucous secretion.

7. Consuming 10 – 12 leaves of Tulsi per day helps to decrease stress.

8. Apart from these researches have shown that Tulsi is very effective in reducing blood sugar and blood cholesterol.

Traditionally, Tulsi is taken in many forms: as herbal tea, dried powder, fresh leaf or mixed with ghee. Essential oil extracted from Tulsi is mostly used for medicinal purposes and in herbal cosmetics.

The intake of Tulsi can be in several forms. In the form of cream , oil , ointment etc. The scientific name for Tulsi is Ocimum tenuiflorum.

ENVIRONMENT

THE GREEN CALANDER
Important environmental dates to celebrate :
2 february  -  World wetlands  day
20 march   -   World sparrow day
22 march   -   World water day
22 april      -   Earth day
3   may      -    International migratory bird day
22 may      -    World biodiversity day
5  june       -    World environment day
8 june        -    World ocean day
15 june      -     global wind  day
11 july       -     World population day
29 july      -     International tiger day
16 september - International day for the preservation of the ozone layer
18 september - World water monitoring  day
28 september - green consumer day
4 october       -   animal welfare day
22 october     -   World habitat day
5 december    - World soil
2 december    -bhopal gas tragedy day 
11 december      -   International tiger day
1-7 october       -    world wildlife week

TOP 10 MOST ENDANGERD SPECIES
Black Rhino
Giant Panda
Tiger
Beluga Sturgeon
Golden Seal
Alligator Snapping
Turtle
Hawksbill Turtle
Big Leaf Mahogany
Green Cheeked Parrot
NEW SPECIES

The carnivorous olinguito: These tree dwelling mammals of amzon cloud forest are distant relatives of raccoon. This reddish brown nocturnal animal looks like cross between a slinky cat and a wide eyed teddy bear and lives secretively in cloud forests of the andes mountain in Columbia and Ecuador.

Andrill Anemone: A species of sea anemone, living under a glacier on the ross ice shelf in Antarctica, it is the first species of sea anemone reported to live in ice

Skeleton Shrimp: the smallest in their genus, these tiny Shrimps are found off  the coast of southern California. These crustaceans have eerie, translucent, bony bodies

Orange Penicillium: This brilliant orange fungus was named as a tribute to the dutch royal family specifically his royal highness the prince of orange. They grow in colonies,in Tunisia, and produce a sheet like extra cellular matrix that may function as protection from drought.

Leaf tailed gecko:  these extremely wide- tailed geckos have longer limbs, a more slender body larger eyes than their cousins,and a better ability to blend in with their surroundings.found in rainforests and rocky habitats,they hang out on the vertical surfaces of rocks and trees as they wait for their prey.

  

methods of Food preservation

 Food preservation is important to minimize the wastage.

We’ll learn about three commonly used methods of food preservation. Canning, freezing, or drying are the three techniques used for food preservation. These techniques can be used at home as well as for commercial purpose.

Canning:

Canning is a method of preserving food in which the food contents are processed and sealed in an airtight container. Shelf life of canned food can range from one to five years. In this process, heat is applied to food that’s sealed in a jar in order to destroy any microorganisms that can cause food spoilage. Proper canning techniques stop this spoilage by heating the food for a specific period of time and killing these unwanted microorganisms. During the canning process, air is driven from the jar and a vacuum is formed as the jar cools and seals.

The canning methods commonly used are water-bath canning and pressure canning:

• Water-bath canning: This method uses a large kettle of boiling water. Filled jars are submerged in the water and heated to an internal temperature of 200 Degrees Celsius for a specific period of time. This method is useful for items like high-acid foods, such as fruit, items made from fruit, pickles, pickled food, and tomatoes.
• Pressure canning: Pressure canning uses a large kettle that produces steam in a locked compartment. The filled jars in the kettle reach an internal temperature of 240 Degrees Celsius under a specific pressure on the pressure-canner cover. Use a pressure canner for processing vegetables and other low-acid foods, such as meat, poultry, and fish.

Pressure canner is different from a pressure cooker, which is used to cook food quickly. A pressure cooker does not have adequate room for both the canning jars and the water needed to create the right amount of pressure to preserve foods.

Freezing:

You can freeze most fresh vegetables and fruits, meats and fish, breads and cakes, and clear soups and casseroles. The keys to freezing food are to make sure it’s absolutely fresh, that you freeze it as quickly as possible, and that you keep it at a proper frozen temperature (0 degrees).

Properly packaging food in freezer paper or freezer containers prevents any deterioration in its quality. Damage occurs when your food comes in contact with the dry air of a freezer.

Important things to remember,

• Wrap food tightly.
• Keep the freezer closed as much as possible. Know what you want to remove before opening the door.
• Don’t overfill: An overly full freezer reduces air circulation and speeds freezer damage.
• Drying:
  Drying is one of the oldest methods known for preserving food. In this method, you expose the food to a temperature that’s high enough to remove the moisture but low enough that it doesn’t cook. Good air circulation assists in evenly drying the food.
  Electric dehydrator is the best and most efficient unit for drying, or dehydrating, food. Today’s units include a thermostat and fan to help regulate temperatures much better. Although sun drying is very cost effective, it takes longer time.

Rajasthan-tourist places, arts,traditions

Rajasthan-tourist places, arts,traditions

Rajasthan is famous for its traditions, culture, art , forts and mahals. Really this place is full of amzing and beautiful monuments. Languages spoken in Rajasthan are rajasthani and hindi.
some of the famous festivals of Rajasthan are teej, gangaur festival,bikaner festival and marwar festival and ghoomar, kalbeliya , bhopa are folk dances

Its state animal is chinkara, state bird is Great indian bustard which is on the verge of extinction , rohira is a state flower and khejri is state tree

Jaipur is the capital of rajasthan. Its famous tourist attraction are mount abu-hills station , jaipur palace, hawa mahal, jaisalmer fort, pushkar city and ranthambore.
Sariska tiger reserve,ghana NP, ranthambore NP are some of the wildlife santuaries in Rajasthan
luni,chambal, banas,sindh are some of the rivers in rajasthan

Umaid bhavan palace
Umaid bhavan palace is one of the world's largest private residences. this palace has been named after maharaja Umaid singh, the grandfather of the present owner of the palace. The palace has 347 rooms and is the principal residence to the royal family of jodhpur . Due its location on the chittar hill , the highest point in jodhpur ,the  is also referred to as chittar palace.

LALGARH PALACE OF BIKANER

This palace was constructed by maharaja ganga singhji in 1902 and reflects a wonderful blend of Rajput,Mughal and European architecture. The regal red sandstone building,with its elaborate balconies and refined lattice work, exudes beauty

Now it is heritage hotel

CITY PA    CITY  PALACE, UDAIPUR

         The city palace in Udaipur showcases a fusion of Mughal and rajasthani architectural styles.The palace was built when Maharana Udai Singh II established the city of Udaipur in 1559. This palace is considered to be the largest royal complex in rajasthan 

this palace is on the lake pichola

Dilwara temple in mount abu

Marb

Marb

       

                  Marble inlay work

              

inlay  inlay work, is one of the most attractive works of art created using marble,is a traditional art form that was brought to india by mughals.To create this a predefined  like a floral design or a geometrical design is engraved on a Marble slab. The delicate process involves cutting and engraving  Marble shapes manually. Small pieces  of stone of different shades are then precisely cut to fit into the grooves.when the inlay work is completed,it is dried and the surface edges are polished. inlay work began in florence, Italy, around the end of the 16^th  centuary.At that time this art    form  was known as pietra dura (‘pietra’ meaning ‘stone’ and ‘dura’  meaning ‘hard’)

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  BLUE POTTERY

    The use of  Blue glaze on was first developed by Mongolian artisans who combined chinese glazing technology with Persian decorative arts. the  muslims rulers of the 14^th centuary brought this technique to india. In ancient times, this art  form was used to make tiles to decorate mosques,tombs and palace in central asia. Later the mughals started using it in india. Gradually, the technique was mastered by Kashmiri potters with whom it travelled to the plains of delhi and in 17^th centuary to Jaipur

jaipur's elephant festival has a tug of war between humans and elephant.

bikaner has a karni mata temple in which rats are worshipped.

MINIATURE PAINTING

Miniature paintings from rajasthan are mix of mughal and indigennous indian styles. The indian style dates back to the Jain manuscrips of western India which are now preseved in temples of Rajasthan and Gujrat. These manuscripts are inscriped  on palm laeves and are illustrated with style stylised miniatures. In thse miniatures,human forms arenot proportionate as the figures were squeesed in to the fit,long , narrow format of the leaves . with the advent of paper in 12^th century,thanks to Arab traders, the miniatures were freed from the awkward size of the leaves.

                            Tie and die

                                      Different types of  tie and dye techniques have been practiced in India, Japan and Africa for centuaries. It is believed that the art flourished in china during the T’ang dynasty and in Japan during the nara period. The term ‘bandhani’ is derived from word ‘bandhan’ that means ‘tied up’. Bandhani work in india was started by muslim khatri community of kutch. The earliest reference to Bandhani sarees is seen in banabhatta’s ‘harshacharita’,the biography of emperor harsha by banabhatta-sanskrit writer of 7^th centuary.Rajasthan is also known for its lehariya pattern, which symbolizes waves of water. Traditionally only 2 colours are used in rajasthani lehariya that form an alternate pattern of stripes.