10 natural medicinal kitchen ingredients

When you have some minor ailment you would like to use some natural cure. Some of the ingredients available in your kitchen have great health benefits.Not only these ingredients useful in our cooking, it also helps to solve various health issues without any side effects.

Following are the ten ingredients useful as medicines.

1) Turmeric

source: wiki

One of the common spices used in cooking, turmeric has antiseptic, antibacterial and anti inflammatory properties. You can use this to cure common cold, cough, pimples,bruised skin etc. A teaspoon of  turmeric mixed in warm milk cures cold slowly but effectively.

2) Ginger

source: wiki

Ginger has amazing quality to improve digestion. Eating fresh ginger just before lunch fires up the appetite. If you are feeling sick and nauseous chew on a piece of ginger. Ginger also helps in reducing flatulence. Adding piece of ginger in tea helps in nose and throat congestion as well as giving enjoyment in cool weather. Ginger is added in many recipes for its digestive properties and amazing taste.

3) Cinnamon

Cinnamon is widely used as spice in cooking but it is often used to treat cold, indigestion, heartburn and menstrual pains. It also helps lower cholesterol but it should be always taken in mild quantity.

4) Garlic

Garlic is best known as adding flavour to the food. But it is also known for its medicinal usage. It helps lower cholesterol and  prevent heart strokes. It can be used to cure cough, asthma, indigestion, toothache etc.

5) Lemon

Lemon has many medicinal uses as it can be used to treat headaches,throat infections, dental problems,dandruff,insect bites etc. It also helps to increase immunity system.

6) Honey

Honey is not only used  to flavor in cooking but it has got amazing qualities to treat cough,morning sickness, weight reduction etc.

7) Onion

Onion a very good source of vitamins, folic acid and fiber. It is very effective in the treatment of the common cold, cough, bronchitis, pneumonia, hay fever, and asthma. It is also effective in combating stomach infections, nausea, and diarrhea.

8) Cloves

Cloves are  high in various vitamins, minerals and fiber. Cloves are used to treat  toothache, oral ulcers, sore gums, joint inflammation, muscle aches, body pain, indigestion, nausea, vomiting, gastric irritability, and  flatulence, Excess use of cloves for some  may cause allergic reactions.

9) Cardamom

Cardamom is used as flavorings and cooking spices in both food and drink, .
For medicinal uses it is used  to treat infections in teeth and gums, to prevent and treat throat troubles, congestion of the lungs,  inflammation of eyelids, and digestive disorders.

10) Cumin seeds

Not only is  cumin seeds used in cooking  to enhance flavour it also has immense medicinal value. Cumin seeds have anti-inflammatory, carminative, antiflatulent, and antioxidant properties. Besides using it as herb in cooking, it is used to enhance appetite, treat  digestion, vision, strength, and lactation. It is used to treat diseases like fever, loss of appetite, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal distension, edema etc

In conclusion, the benefits of these and many more  kitchen ingredients work to keep us healthy and  treat illness. We should use them in our daily routine. However, if symptoms persist, doctor should always be consulted.


Sources for pics and information ( wiki)

10 things to do for woman's safety

Safety of women is very important when she travels alone. There has been many changes over the years and women travel at odd hours in many places. One act of violence and life is shattered. There have been many cases of women being attacked with or without company. Though lots of safety measures are in place, there are certain things to do when women feels unsafe in public and when she is alone.

1) If someone follows you
Instinct tells you to run to your home but that won't be right. Stay calm, try to call someone and let them know what is happening and your location. Try to reach to a place where there is lot of public and light. This is sure to distract the person who follows you with bad intentions. Be confident and if you are confronted make sure to create a lot of noise so people get attention and help you out.

2) Closed spaces
Many of us use public transport for travel and there is always a crowd doing lot of pushing. Some creepos try to take advantage of such situation to grope you or touch you. Be very much aware of surroundings and if  this happens create lot of noise as other people would help you to nab the culprit. Take care of your belongings to as they tend to get misplaced or stolen during such places. Even when you have to take lift and there seem some rowdys inside, do not take the lift. Wait for it to empty or use the stairs.

3) Best friend
If for some reason you have to travel to any area which might not be safe make sure to have a trusted company with you. Do not travel alone.  If you have to go to any area make sure to let your whereabouts known to your family of close friend. Some times when you are taking late night train, be sure the compartment you are travelling  in is not empty as people take advantage of such situation. 

4) Trust your instincts
Women always have their sixth sense on which tells them to be on their guard all the time. If your sixth sense tells you the person or the place you are going to is not right, do not try to be brave and go ahead. Instinct would tell you to move away from that place so always trust what your instincts tell you.

5) Safety on streets
Always be aware of your surroundings where ever you go. Avoid places like restroom, parking area or parks in dark and when you are alone. Do not wear or carry too much jewellery on you and avoid going to ATMs during late hours. If you are confident, there are less chances of being a victim.

6) Scream
Now this situation needs full awareness of situation and surroundings. Do not want to get some innocent in trouble. do we? If you encounter something unpleasant, don't get scared and scream the loudest to get attention. Stay calm and be smart. Use common sense to avoid anything harmful. 

7) Pepper spray
Very important thing to carry in your purse. Be sure to keep it with easy access and which can be removed fast. Spray it directly in the attacker's eyes. The effect wont be lasting long but it would give you enough time to run and get some help. This is very basic tool for self defense.

8) Cell phones
Keep your cellphone battery fully charged with enough credit to make emergency calls. If there is some unwanted situation, call up a friend or family and keep talking making them aware of your location and surroundings. Keep the call on till you reach your destination. Always carry the phone in your hand just in case you need to make quick call.

9) Self defense
The top most safety tactic is to learn basic self defense. Some people do not pay attention but it can turn out helpful when its needed. Judo, karate etc are the form of self defense. If someone jumps on you or attacks you suddenly your basic training in self defense comes in handy. Kick the person in the most vulnerable parts of the body. It is eyes, chest and genitals. Take some classes to learn the basics.

10) Women helpline
In India, 103 number was created to help the women.  Once the call is received, an attendant will take down the area name and intimate the nearest beat marshal. Keep the number on speed dial to ensure fast access. Not many are aware of this number and many measures are being planned to ensure safety of women.


Remember, stay calm, confident, aware and smart but not over smart. Do not do things which can cause damage you. Do share this article if you like it.

Top free image editing softwares

I have rounded up 10  free image editing softwares which  really works great in enhancing our pictures. Most of bloggers professional or amateurs want their images to look real good. Though Adobe Photoshop is good but for beginners it can be a daunting task. Below is the list of some easy and good image editing programmes  in random order.


1) Pixlr

source: pixlr

This site not only helps you edit your pictures, but also give special effects. One of the best I came across with all the features and on top its free.

2) Fotoflexer

source: fotoflexer

The best online  image editor  which allows you to enhance your images which a normal photoshop can and its extremely easy to use it. You can use different fonts and create effects to make your image look astonishing.

3) Fotor

source: fotor

  Fotor allows you to edit and enhance your images, make collages, do a retouch on the pictures and much more. It is simple and easy to use program online and since I have used this on my blog, I know it works wonders for the pictures.

4) Pho.to

source:pho.to

 Edit your photos with multi functional editor of pho,to. Redo the pics to remove any imperfections in the photos.  Create fun photos and use fun frames and collages. One of the best sites I have come across is this.

5) Picmonkey

source: picmonkey

Easy to use and edit, touch up, make collage or redo the pictures. However it has basic features but good for amateurs.

6) Gimp

source:gimp

  GIMP is the GNU Image Manipulation Program. It is free software which can be downloaded and it works as good as adobe photoshop.  It is used to enhance picture quality or do touch ups. It can be used in any operating system.

7) piZap

source: pizap

Easy to use  for editing your pics and using props. You can also make collages from this site.

8) Picadilo

source: picadilo

 Picadilo's choice of editing tools consists of many different and unique instruments to help you in getting the results you want:  It has brushes, selections, effects and much more that has the power to enhance photographs. It is free and no need to register. You can make nice collages too from here.

9) Befunky

source: befunky

 BeFunky Photo Editor lets you apply photo effects, edit photos and create photo collages with collage maker. It is free and  easy to use program online. The effects you can create on your images is amazing.

10) Lunapic

source: lunapic

 This is one of the site I have used a lot in the past. It has many features to create many effects.animation and collages with wonderful backgrounds. Over the years the look has changed but it still remains favourite site.


I am sure you all have more favourite sites. Please share  in comments below what is your favourite.
Also in my previous post I had shared image hosting sites. Do check that too.

Top ten free photo hosting websites

You have loads of  pictures and photographs you want to save or share online. Maybe you have a blog or website and you need to upload high quality pictures but the data usage exceeds. So you need some place where you can upload your photos for storage and sharing. Below are top ten sites I found useful. What is more they are free and some of them have large capacity to store photographs.

1) Imageshack
Top of the list is Imageshack as it not only offers unlimited free space but also it has full support and no ads. You can sign up and save all your photos in this site and use them on blog or websites.

2) Imgur
This site has limited space but it is useful for sharing on social networking sites as well as blogs and websites. Register and store all your pictures in one place.

3) Photobucket
This is the best I found and it gives 2 GB of free storage or space available for your original photo files, or videos under 10min. It also gives free photo editor to enhance the quality of the pics.

4) Picassa
From  google, it offers free usage upto 1Gb.After that for additional usage the costs are :

10Gb: $20 per year
40Gb: $75 per year
150Gb: $250 per year
400Gb: $500 per year

It is the fastest and easiest sharing options from  google.

5)  Imagebam

It offers 10 MB File Size Limit,Unlimited Uploads, and it is easy to use. Read the FAQs on the site to know more.

6) Postimage

A good site to upload and store your images. It also gives link to embed in your blog posts.

7) Free image hosting
You can upload and store your images here and get a code to use on the blogs or websites.The site runs on several dedicated linux web servers. Registration is not required, but creating an account lets you manage your uploads and use other extra feature

8) Mejuba
A relatively new site, I  have not used this but when I was searching for stuff I found this one to be good. It has unlimited usage. It also lets you transfer your photos from other sites.

9) Photodekho
Another new site  which I found during my research. You can have an unlimited number of albums on PhotoDekho.com. Not only this, each album uploaded by you may have any number of photos. Adding more to this feature, every photo will get uploaded no matter how big it is (in other words, there is no limit to photo-size too). Hence you can keep on updating your collection with time without worrying about the availability of storage.

10) Tinypic 
Among the best is tinypic hosting site. Some years back tinypic had removed a lot of images from their sites. But  currently it is perfect to host and store images. You need to sign in to keep your images and share via link on the blogs, forums or websites.


Note: Personally I would prefer photobucket, imageshack and imgur over others. The above info is based on some of my own experience with some sites and some is plain research info. Try it as you find it fit.

Top ten uses and benefits of Microwave oven

In today's world the microwave has become a necessity for every household. Be it baking, defrosting, heating or cooking, the versatile microwave oven works great. We do not need many gadgets or cutlery to cook in microwave. There are many varieties available in market with various sizes. Below is the list I found useful when I bought my own Microwave oven.

1) It saves time:
In today's fast paced life, not all have time to cook and besides many ready to eat meals are available in market. You can cook, reheat or boil several things in short time. That is one reason microwave ovens are very popular in households.

2) It retains nutrients:
I think not all may agree but  food is cooked in oven using heat waves and hence it saves on lost nutrients which are essential for our health.

3) It is easy to clean:
The best thing about this is you do not need too many utensils to cook and you can use special oven proof  utensil. Choose time and mode and your food is cooked. The food does not stick to these vessels and hence cleaning is quite easy.

4) Steaming and boiling:
In any cuisine there is always boiling and steaming and the microwave oven does this job perfectly well. We can always boil on stove top but in microwave oven the boiling is done quicker and evenly.

5) Blanching:
When fresh vegetables are available,blanching and freezing them  for later use works great if blanching is done in microwave oven. It not only blanches fast but it also retains food nutrient value.

6) Roasting:
This is the best option to roast popcorn, garlic or maybe nuts. All you need is to set time on the oven and put whatever you need to roast. and its done. Indian cooking uses roasting method a lot and hence its helpful feature.

7) Grilling:
Almost every oven has the grill feature. You can grill sandwiches, pizzas or any food item. Buying a separate griller won't be necessary at all. Just set the time and your are done.

8) Defrosting:
Usually most people put the frozen item at room temperature to defrost. Or they put it under water to defrost faster. But with microwave oven you can defrost easily without wasting nutrients or water. Just put the frozen food in microwave safe bowl and set the defrost button. 

9) Baking:
Now a days almost everyone bakes a lot of dishes in microwave oven. Be it cakes, bread or any other dishes. Most ovens come with the oven safe kit and there are many other oven proof glass ware to use too. You have a craving for quick cake. Make 2 min cake in oven much faster than anything else. Cook simple cake or muffins or any fance cakes or bake variety of cookies. The microwave oven does it all

10) Re heating:
This is the best one again as with busy schedules, many people cook the food early and keep it. Those who come in late can always just re heat the food in jiffy. The food reheated on stove top may get soggy or spoiled but with oven it can be done in matter of few mins.


The above are few things I have found useful to do with my oven. I am sure many of you have known many useful things. Do share in your comments below.

Ten facts to know about Loksabha elections 2014

Come April, India gears for its biggest Lok Sabha  parliament  elections. The  elections would spread over 36 days from April 7th to May 12. The votes would be counted on May 16 and in next few days it would become apparent who forms the government. Below are some important points you should know about the coming elections.

1)  Roughly 814.5 million people are registered to vote, an increase of more than 100 million since the last parliamentary election in 2009.

2) Of those, over 23 million are between 18 to 19 years old. A surge in enrollment in this age group means they now constitute 2.88 percent of total voters, against 0.75 percent in 2009.

3) Election dates in parliamentary constituencies were set taking into consideration extreme summer heat, monsoon rains, harvest seasons, religious festivals and most importantly, school exams. Most polling stations are placed in schools.

4) Voters will cast their ballots in about 930,000 polling stations, an increase of nearly 12 percent since 2009.

5) For the first time in a general election, voters will have a “None of the Above” option on the ballot papers and electronic voting machines. The option was brought in last year in response to activist groups who said voters were too often forced to choose between several candidates with criminal backgrounds.

6) To curb “the abuse of money power” during the elections, “flying squads” and static surveillance teams will guard against the distribution of cash or other bribes to voters. Committees will also keep their eyes peeled for illegal election advertisements and politically funded stories planted in the media.

7) The income tax department and the government’s financial intelligence unit have been instructed to keep watch on the movement of cash during elections. In previous elections, political operatives were caught driving with suitcases packed with cash in their car trunks.

8) The Election Commission will monitor production, storage and distribution of liquor during elections. Indian political parties are notorious for handing out alcohol and even prescription medication as bribes to voters.

9) Transgender persons can mark their gender as “Others” on the electoral rolls, a category that did not exist in 2009. 28,314 voters have listed their gender in this way.

10) Booth officers will do door to door surveys to prepare a list of voters found absent at their home in an effort to prevent impersonation. Dead voters and those who have moved from their homes will be added to a list to check against the rolls to ensure no foul play on voting day.


 Information source: Times of India

Top ten summer essentials

Summer is here now and with heat and perspiration everyone gets uncomfortable. If you are on the move you need things to keep yourself cool. Below is the list I found useful.

1) Sunscreen
Hot summer sun can cause lot of trouble for skin. Use good quality sunscreen to prevent sunburn and tanning. Take care not to let it go in eyes and wash with cold water in case it goes in eyes. Apply 20 minutes before going out in sun.  If you are sweating a lot, make sure to apply it again after two hours.

2) Sunglasses
Too much exposure to sun can cause damage to eye tissues. Over exposure to UV radiation can cause blindness. Invest in good quality sunglasses to protect the eyes.

3) Hat
I have seen personally lot of people use sun hat. It is essential to keep scalp cool to prevent heat strokes. Part of face where we cant apply sunscreen and the hat helps cover it. Most ladies use their duppatta or sari to  cover the heads when in high noon heat.

4) Cotton clothes
Soft cotton clothes are essential for everyone and best choice for summer wear. It allows sweat to evaporate quickly and it keeps skin dry.

5)Water bottle
When we sweat, we lose lot of fluid and minerals from body causing dehydration and muscle fatigue. We must take care to drink water at regular intervals.

6) Footwear
Good quality sweat absorbent footwear should be chosen. Sweating would make your feet swell and also make sure to use dry and clean footwear or dampness and unclean footwear may cause fungal infections leading to bad odour.

7)Face wash
Sweating is main reason for rashes and sun burns. During hot summers a good quality face wash would keep you clean and fresh a longer time. You may have to use it few times in a day to get rid of dirt and sweat in face.

8) Lip balms
The heat dries up the moisture from lips leaving us with chapped lips. Use good quality lip balms to ensure the moisture and prevent chapping and dry lips

9) Face wipes
You are walking down the road and its hot and sweaty. You take out your handkerchief but its still not clean. That is when handy perfumed face wipes work. They help to get rid of all dirt and sweat which causes black heads. 

10) Anti antiperspirant deo
I prefer this besides all the above items when I go out in hot sun. It keeps sweat and body odor away. Very handy item in our bags.

Hope you liked this article and I am sure you all have your own list of summer essentials. Do share in comments below.

Top ten things to carry while travelling

So vacations are about to start and you are planning to travel. But there are some essentials one need to pack while traveling. I know I always end up forgetting something, so first I make list of things which need to be done and then another list of things to pack. Below are some of the things  I make sure to carry.

1) Essential Medicines
Top most on my list is necessary medicines to carry. for example paracetamol or anti vomit tablets.Travel sickness can occur anytime. Along with it necessary items for cleanliness like  soap, santizer etc. Here, I do carry a small pack of needle, thread and scissors which can come in handy if there is tear in any garment.

2) Mobile and charger
You do not want to end up with no means of communication and dead battery in your cell phone. Must have these fully ready.

3) Snacks
If you have kids with you, make sure to carry sufficient snacks while travelling along with extra pair of clothes for them. It is good for everyone to avoid acidity and uneasiness and time also flies while munching on something light and easily digestable.

4) Camera
You do not want to miss out on beautiful memories or any lovely scenery you see on the way. You get to preserve a life time memory of wonderful places you visit and the fun you had.

5) Towels
Always needed when travelling. When on the move, health and hygiene play important role and to have a clean towel is a must. 

6) Water bottle
People tend to forget handy water bottle when travelling. People think we can get water anywhere but its always safe to carry our own bottle from home to avoid expensive or unhealthy water to drink.

7) A diary or a journal
So you have gone to a lovely place and seen wonderful things. You may like to note down details of customs, traditions or even cuisine. A diary comes in handy for this.

8) Money
Ahaa- the most important part of travelling. Carry enough money or credit or debit cards which come in handy. Don't want to get stranded with no money for anything.

9) Torch
I always carry torch with batteries, just in case there is power cut or black out. Along with it matches and candles for emergency use.

10) A padlock
Security and safety comes first. A small padlock to lock your bags and belongings. Mind gets diverted to safety of things and won't let us enjoy the moments. Must have item on the list while travelling.


Hope you all liked this article. I am sure everyone has their own list of things to carry while travelling. Do share what you like to carry when you travel.

Top ten chat slangs

Chat slangs or short form of some words which we use while chatting are funny and mostly based on popular usage. There are symbols which can convey any emotions like :) ( smile) etc or some short form words to help reduce time on sending long text message. Same things are used in sms also. Below I found during my internet chat time the common words used.


1) ASL ( AGE,SEX, LOCATION)
The very first thing I saw was this. People you met via chat rooms or through any social sites, would first ask this question. It is asked to know who the person on other hand is and its advisable never to disclose real facts to strangers like this.

2) BRB ( BE RIGHT BACK)
I am sure many people still do while on chats. It means while chatting if a person has to get up for few minutes or is busy then BRB is used to convey to other person that he or she would return back soon.

3) ASAP (AS SOON AS POSSIBLE)
It shows the urgency  for the work done and even in mails or sms we end up the message by saying Please reply ASAP.

4) ILY ( I LOVE YOU)
Most common used between friends and lovers or showing affection towards other person.

5) XOXO ( HUGS & KISSES)
This had me in splits and I was wondering where does hug and kiss start in this form. It is used along with ILY. But not to be used in any formal relations.

6) MYOB (MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS)
Hmm bit harsh I would think but it generally means not to interfere. Usually used in middle of sentence to explain-- Please MYOB.

7) SOS ( SOMEONE OVER SHOULDER)
I used to think its used in emergency like save our ship till I came to know it also is used to stop private conversation when someone is around. Very interesting. Don't you think so???

8) OMG ( OH MY GOD)
Oh my god this is so widely used now a days. It is used to express surprise, shock or fear. Awesome, I would say to OMG.

9) TTYL ( TALK TO YOU LATER)
It is used to end conversation when we have to leave mid way or something comes up and we can say talk to you later in short form.

10) LOL ( LAUGH OUT LOUD)
Finally, the most loved short form. Laugh out loud to something funny, hilarious and amusing. It can also be used in sarcastic way.

Beside these, there are Rofl ( rolling on the floor laughing), cya ( see you),Fyi ( for your information). Now TTYL. Keep on Lol-ling.. Have a nice day.

Ten national symbols of India

Did you know what are national symbols of India. They are pride for all Indians. Below is the list with the pictures.

1) Indian National Flag

A horizontal tricolour of saffron at the top, white in the middle, and green at the bottom. In the centre is a navy blue wheel with twenty-four spokes, known as the Ashoka Chakra. It was designed by Pingali Venkayya. The saffron color represents courage and sacrifice; white – truth, peace and purity; green – prosperity; and the Ashok Chakra represents the Laws of Dharma (righteousness)

2) National Emblem

The emblem of India is an adaptation of the Sarnath Lion Capital of Ashoka. It was adopted as the National Emblem of India on 26 January 1950, the day that India became a republic. The emblem forms a part of the official letterhead of the Government of India, and appears on all Indian currency as well. The Emblem also consists the motto of India - "Satyameva Jayate" in Devanagari Script, which means "Truth Alone Triumphs".


3) National Anthem of India- Jana gana mana

"Jana Gana Mana" was officially adopted by the Constituent Assembly as the Indian national anthem on 24 January 1950. It was composed by Rabindranath Tagore.


4) National Song- Vande Mataram

"Vande Mataram"  composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterji. It is a hymn to the Mother Land. It played a vital role in the Indian independence movement, first sung in a political context by Rabindranath Tagore at the 1896 session of the Indian National Congress. In 1950 (after India's independence), the song's first two verses were given the official status of the "national song" of the Republic of India, distinct from the national anthem of India, Jana Gana Mana.

5) National Flower- Lotus

Lotus is a sacred flower and occupies a unique position in the art and mythology of ancient India and has been an auspicious symbol of Indian culture. It is the flower of goddess Laxmi and symbolizes wealth, prosperity, and fertility.

6) National Fruit- Mango

 Mangoes have been cultivated in India from time immemorial. The poet Kalidasa sang its praises. Alexander savoured its taste, as did the Chinese pilgrim Hieun Tsang. Mughal emperor Akbar planted 100,000 mango trees in Darbhanga, Bihar at a place now known as Lakhi Bagh. The king of fruits has rightly earned its prestige in form of national fruit of India.

7) National Animal- Royal Bengal Tiger

The  Royal Bengal tiger is the national animal of India which symbolizes power.

8) National Bird- Peacock

In 1963, the peacock was declared the National Bird of India because of its rich religious and legendary involvement in Indian traditions. The  choice was made because the bird is present all over  the country. Even the common man recognises it . It must not be confused with the bird emblem of any other nation. It should be associated with Indian myths and legends. The peacock fit the bill.

9) National tree- Banyan tree

The branches of Indian Banyan tree root themselves to form new trees and grow over large areas. Because of this characteristic and its longevity, this tree is considered immortal and is an integral part of the myths and legends of India.

10) National River- Ganges/ Ganga

The Ganges or Ganga, is a trans-boundary river of India and Bangladesh. The river rises in the western Himalayas in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, and flows south and east through the Gangetic Plain of North India into Bangladesh, where it empties into the Bay of Bengal. The Ganges is the most sacred river to Hindus and is also a lifeline to millions of Indians who live along its course and depend on it for their daily needs It is worshiped as the goddess Ganga in Hinduism. . In November 2008, the Ganges, alone among India's rivers, was declared a National River.



So how many of you did remember all this? Of course, there are rules to follow when National Anthem is played and national flag hoisted. One must respect all the national symbols and preserve them.

pic & information source; wiki

Top ten things India taught the world

My title would create curiosity but history suggests there are things which happened in India before the whole world came to know of it and adapt it. According to great writer Mark Twain-- India is the land of dreams and romance, of fabulous wealth and fabulous poverty, of splendor and rags, of palaces and hovels, of famine and pestilence, of genii and giants and Aladdin lamps, of tigers and elephants, the cobra and the jungle, the country of hundred nations and a hundred tongues, of a thousand religions and two million gods, cradle of the human race, birthplace of human speech, mother of history, grandmother of legend, great-grandmother of traditions. Read to discover great facts about India.

1) Unity in diversity-
India is incredibly beautiful country. The diversity is seen in dress, culture,cuisine, geographical locations, art and festivals. People from all religions follow their own customs but under everything the sense of being Indian is above everything.

2) The number 0 ( zero)-
When I think of this number my mind goes to the song from Indian film Purab aur Paschim, which depicts a lot about what India gave to the world. The song goes thus, Jab zero diya mere Bharat ne, duniya ko tab ginti aayi ( when my India gave zero, then the world learnt to count). According to wiki,
in 498 AD, Indian mathematician and astronomer Aryabhata stated that "sthānāt sthānaṁ daśaguņaṁ syāt" i.e. "from place to place each is ten times the preceding," which is the origin of the modern decimal-based place value notation. The value of “Pi” was first estimated in India.

3) Sanskrit and vedas-
The Vedas are among the oldest sacred texts. According to wiki, Rigveda is one of the oldest extant texts in any Indo-European language. Philological and linguistic evidence indicate that the Rigveda was composed in the north-western region of the Indian subcontinent, roughly between 1700–1100 BC. Sanskrit is considered the mother of many languages. It has its origin in India.

4) Ayurveda-
Ayurveda or the 'Science of Life' is an ancient,system for diagnosis and treatment, perhaps the oldest system of medicine known to humanity.Ayurveda consider its origin over 5,000 years ago in India.(ayurvedatips )
The history of Ayurveda starts from the time of the Holy books, the Vedas. Ancient mythology contends that the concept and essence of Ayurveda was revealed by the creator of the world himself. Lord Brahma(medindia.net)

5) Yoga-
Yoga is the physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines which originated in ancient India with a view to attain a state of permanent peace of mind in order to experience one's true self. Yoga is used to reduce health problems, stress and increase stamina and keep body fit.

6)  Namaste-
 It is form of greeting by folding both hands.Excavations for Indus-Sarasvati civilization has revealed many male and female terracotta figures in namaste posture.It means showing respect and warmth and this is what India showed to the world. 

7) Saree-
A sari or saree, is a Indian female garment that consists of drape varying from two to nine yards in length and two to four feet in breadth that is typically wrapped around the waist, with one end draped over the shoulder, baring the midriff. The sari is associated with grace and is widely regarded as a symbol of Indian culture.

8) IT Industry-
Past two decades has seen great growth in field of Information technology. The Indian IT industry has become globally competitive.We have an edge over everyone else, when it comes to skills, products and services.

9) Model of  Democracy-
With population of over a billion, India is considered a role model in democracy. The electoral process in India is remarkable . Also, the active involvement of the public in the country’s affairs are praiseworthy.

10) Chess- the game of kings-
The history of chess spans some 1500 years. The earliest predecessor of the game probably originated in India, before the 6th century AD. From India, the game spread to Persia, then to Arabs and then to Europe where the present form was developed.

Top free best antivirus programs

In day to day life, our computers get prone to virus and malware attacks, causing system halts and at times loss of data too. In order to save that we need to install good antivirus programs.  There are lots of free  available anti virus software and  I have listed them in random order.


1) Avira Antivirus-
One of the best programs I have seen online and my personal experience of it makes me put this on top of my list. It has the best features and easy to use interface. It also protects against many known and unknown malwares.
 Download  Avira

2) AVG Antivirus-
Another one which has all the features to protect the system. Though I found the interface bit difficult but no doubt it has got the best protection for all the Windows operating system.
Download AVG 

3)  Avast free antivirus-
Avast gives high amount of security and protects the pc from many spyware and malware. The interface shows lots of options which at times are too much for a novice but otherwise it  is a great antivirus to use.
Download Avast 

4) Bit defender antivirus-
I found this antivirus when I was searching for some malware to remove from my computer and I installed this antivirus. User interface is quite simple and its very lightweight. The issue I had was that it removed the Avira antivirus I had on my system and installed itself which I personally did not like.  But it does remove loads of malwares and virus which otherwise are hidden.
Download Bit defender

5) Baidu antivirus-
Though I have not used it but a friend of mine recommended me to try this one. I asked about its features and he told me that it is very light weight and scans usb drives too and detects malicious sites.  
Download Baidu antivirus  

6) Panda cloud antivirus
Based on some reviews I got from people I am associated with, they recommended Panda compared to other expensive chargeable antivirus. Accordingly when I checked this, I found this is light weight and works on all windows OS. Make sure to click on free version when you install this program.
 Download Panda  

7) Spyware terminator-
In my research I found out about this new antivirus which removes the spywares and also gives complete protection. The file size is about 5Mb. 
Download Spyware terminator  

8) Ad-Aware Free Antivirus+
It combines antispyware with free antivirus. Ad-Aware Free Antivirus+ enhances them with real-time protection, download protection and continuously updated filters against malicious URLs, providing top-of-the-line anti-malware protection for the casual computer user. 
Download Ad-Aware

9) Malwarebytes anti Malware-
With easy interface it works on all the malwares fast and effectively. It offers a quick scan, a full scan, and a flash scan to analyze memory and autorun objects.
Download Malwarebytes

10) USBFix-

Finally, I have included this program as I had a recent virus attack which was infecting all the USB drives and after much search I found this useful tool. The virus affecting files was shortcut virus and with this Usbfix  I was able to remove it without much hassle. The only problem was I had to boot my computer in safe mode to properly remove the infection. It detects hidden infected files and safely removes it. Light and easy to use.

Download USBFix

All the above information is based on my personal experiences plus reviews from my friends. Personally I would go for Avira or avast and usb fix is a must for all external drives. Hope you liked this.

Top ten benefits & uses of Banana

I am sure almost everyone loves bananas, and those who do not like them, would surely change their mind on reading the various benefits it gives. Banana is simple fruit which  contains three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and  glucose combined with fiber gives instant energy.. Listed below are some of the benefits I myself have tried.

1) Bananas are great to have in breakfast as it provides required energy through out the day. The natural sugars convert them to energy and hence even sports people have banana to regain the energy.

2) Bananas have high amount of fiber which works well for constipation and restores normal bowel movement.

3) If you have morning sickness, eating banana, keeps the blood sugar level up and avoids morning sickness.

4) For Anemic people banana help  as they contain high levels of iron which help correct the haemoglobin levels in the body.

5) Blended with honey and yoghurt banana cures hangover.

6) Combined with milk, banana is helpful in weight gain.

7) Since banana helps to regulate the bowel movement, it also cures piles.

8) Banana is a natural moisturizer for skin.. To instantly moisturize dry and dull skin, mash a ripe banana and apply it on your face. Avoid contact with eyes. Leave it on your skin for 20-25 minutes and then wash it away with lukewarm water. You will instantly feel skin looking soft and supple.

9) Banana contains potassium and magnesium which helps in keeping blood pressure under control.

10) Finally,  make banana icecream. 

Hope you all liked this. For me personally  I have tried some of the things mentioned here and however if there are other symptoms with diarrhea  and constipation, please consult the doctor.

Top ten inspirational quotes

These are some of the things which I personally found inspiring.   Hope you agree with the choice of these quotes.

1)   No one can ruin your day without YOUR permission. 

2)  Others can stop you temporarily, but only you can do it permanently. 

3)  Success stops when you do.

4)   Life is a journey...not a destination. Enjoy the trip! 

 5) The best way to escape your problem is to solve it. 

6)  I've learned that ultimately , 'takers' lose and 'givers' win. 

7)  Life's precious moments don't have value, unless they are shared. 

 8)  If you don't start, it's certain you won't arrive. 

 9) He or she who laughs...... lasts. 

10)  Look for opportunities. .not guarantees. 

Top ten places to visit in India

India is amazing country with rich heritage and culture. Whenever I have talked to friends or relatives, I found the most visited places list amazing. Let me share with you the best places to visit when in India. Below list is in random order and I have been to most of the places. The rest would visit when chance comes.


1) Agra-

The most visited city in India is Agra, known for the world famous Taj mahal ( the greatest symbol of love) and the top wonders of the modern world. Tajmahal, Fatehpur sikri, agra fort etc are also worth visiting when on trip to Agra.


2) Kashmir-

Truly Kashmir is called paradise on earth, with its breath taking beauty, flower gardens, lake and famous shikaras. Other places to visit is Gulmarg, Sonmarg, Pehalgam  etc.


3)  Goa-

Known for its famous beaches, forts and watergames, its perfect place to unwind and enjoy.
Most famous beaches are Baga beach and Calungate beach.

4)  Kerala-

Located in Southern part of India, Kerala is known for its amazing backwaters, waterfalls, lagoons and lakes. Munnar, Thekkady and Varkala beach are many other destinations to visit in Kerala.

5) Delhi-

The nation's capital, which has world famous heritage sites like, Qutab Minar, Red fort and many others. It also has parliament house and Rashtrapati Bhavan, home to Indian President. India Gate is war memorial for Indian soldiers who lost their lives fighting for British Army during World War 1.


6) Ajanta-Ellora

Located in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra, they are protected monuments under the Archaeological survey of India. It has about 30 rock cut Buddhist cave monuments. Ellora is known for Hindu, Buddhist and Jain cave temples.

7) Simla/Shimla

 The capital city of Himachal Pradesh is located in north India. The mall is the main shopping street of Shimla. Owing to its scenic terrain, Shimla is home to the legendary mountain biking race MTB Himalaya. The event was started in 2005 and is now regarded as the biggest event in South East Asia.( wiki)


8) Kanyakumari

Also known as Cape Comorin, it is located in Tamil Nadu in Southern part of India. Kanya Kumari is mainly famous for pilgrimage and tourism. Though there are several places of tourist-interest in the town and district, Kanyakumari is especially popular in India for its spectacular and unique sunrise and sunset, thanks to its being nearly surrounded by waters.

9) Mysore 

Mysore is located in Karnataka state in Southern part of India. Mysore is noted for its palaces, including the Mysore Palace, and for the festivities that take place during the Dussera  festival when the city receives a large number of tourists.

10)  Jaipur/ Udaipur

Jaipur is capital of Rajasthan in North India. It has number of forts like Hawa mahal, City palace, Jantar mantar, Ram bagh palace etc. Jaipur is known as pink city too.

Udaipur  in Rajasthan, is known as city of lakes. It has many palaces which are now converted into hotels. Apart from these, it has five major lakes. 

• Fateh Sagar Lake
• Rangsagar Lake
• Pichola Lake
• Swaroopsagar Lake
• Dudh Talai Lake
• Udaisagar Lake 

Hope you all found this post useful. Share if you liked this post.

( pic source: wiki)