KONARK SUN TEMPLE

Konark Sun Temple is an architectural marvel built in 1250 and truly an amazing and astounding structure.  I was stunned by the level of detailing and the precision with which this structure has been built so many centuries ago.

This magnificent Sun Temple is designed in the shape of a huge chariot which is pulled by seven horses and has twelve pairs of wheels each 10 ft. height fixed on either side.  It is part of the World Heritage Sites.

The Sundial in the Sun Temple which is used to tell the time is a marvelous creation.  Watch this wonderful video on the Sundial:



I have seen the photos of Konark Temple and I have also had a glimpse of the temple in some of the movies.  The real impact was felt only when I visited the temple with my wife on 21st December 2014.  It was really stunning to stand in front of the Temple and quite bewildering to go around and see this architectural marvel from close quarters.  You can see the sculptures with such precision.  There was one sculpture where the teeth is clearly visible.  The images carved on the walls of the temple truly depict the day to day life with such precision and immaculate detailing.

Every single carving in the temple is so intricate and stunning that I was in a trance.  It is indeed a very rare monument and I was really foturnate to have looked at it in real.  The guide we engaged was really amazing as he explained each and every part of the temple.

There is a separate structure in front of the Chariot called the Natamandir.  There is a tradition of dance festival in December each year and the dancers perform in this Natamandir right in front of the Sun Temple.

The trip to Odhisha, West Bengal and Assam over the last couple of weeks has been an unique experience.  There is so much more to see in India and so much more to learn about the tradition, history and culture.

WISH YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR.

T.P.Anand
Guwahati, India
30th December 2014

HIMALAYAN ROCK SALT

Himalayan Rock Salt is the purest form of Salt and contains several minerals.  It is very good for health.  I remember my grandmother and mother using rock salt for cooking in those days.  I visited recently PME General Trading in JLT and was astonished to find that there are so many products that are made out of Himalayan Salt.  I am going to visit their outlet in Outlet Mall today evening and get some of these products.

All the products have their own specific application and every one of them is actually applied for Health and Wellness.

1. Cooking Salt:

This is the purest form of salt that is very healthy and is best for use as cooking salt.  There are no chemicals in the Himalayan Cooking Salt and hence it is healthy and keeps you in wellness.

2. Horse Salt Lick: 

Horses need intake of salt like human beings.  Whenever they feel the need for salt they would lick the salt block that is kept in the stable.

3. Salt Lamps: 

It's really quite simple... a heated crystal salt lamp...

• Attracts humidity causing the surface of the salt crystal to become moist
• Creates a buildup of ions and removes moisture from your air
• Binds excessive positive ions with their negative ions
• Helps to neutralize the "electro-smog" in your air and reduces allergens and irritants
• Creates potential soothing effects for you from multi-colored salt crystals

4. Salt Candle Holders:

Salt crystal candle holders can help relieve fatigue by reducing the electromagnetic pollution put out by office equipment and help improve your concentration. Because the negative ions released by the salt crystal calm the air around you, it can also help you sleep better at night. This will leave you refreshed in the morning instead of overtired from the reliving the stress of the day in your dreams.

5. Salt Bowl:

6. Salt Plates:

You can place the Salt Plate on the gas stove and cook the food on the plate.  It stays hot for a long long time and the food gets tastier.  You can even put ice cream on salt plate and it will not melt for a long time.

7. Salt Pipe Inhaler:

8. Salt Bath Soap:

9. Salt Massage Stones: 

10. Bath Salt: 

11. Salt Room:

An hour's relaxation in the Salt Room can do a world of wonders for your mind and body.

The Himalayan Rock Salt is coming from Pakistan where there is a 300km stretch on which the Rock Salt is available.

The Khewra Salt Mine is the second largest salt mine in the world, the first being Goderich, Ontario in Canada.  The Himalayan Salt is 250 million years old and has 84 different minerals and elements which are essential for our body.

Listen to what a renowned Physician says about the benefits of the purest form of Salt:



This is a natural product with no preservatives, no additives, no artificial flavours and is very healthy and is the purest form of Salt.  It is truly amazing to see how the Himalayan Salt has so many applications and use for the Wellness and Health.  Let us use the Himalayan Salt and stay healthy.

T.P.Anand
Dubai, U.A.E.
6th December 2014

SPECTACULAR MISSION

There are many many people in this world who have visual impairment and are unable to afford even a pair of spectacles.  There is a seventeen year old Indian Girl who is on a "Spectacular Mission".  She collect used spectacles and donates them to a Non Government Organisation, who in turn make these spectacles usable for the needy.

This Spectacular Mission is started by Aarushi Gupta who is a resident in New Delhi in India.  She says providing spectacles to the poor people can fill a is a very basic need as it will eliminate the avoidable blindness.  What a spectacular effort and noble thought.  Hats off to Aarushi for taking this unique initiative at that young age.

This young girl has collected more than 1500 spectacles and helped poor people to regain vision.  If a young girl can collect 1500 spectacles through her sustained efforts, I am sure each and every one of us can collect atleast 100 spectacles each year through our own known contact circles.

I am sure in every household there will be atleast couple of old spectacles which is catching dust in one of the corners of the house.  These old spectacles are of no use to the people living in that house but can be very very useful to a poor person in some corner of this world.  

Throwing the unwanted or used spectacles in the Dust Bin is not at all a good decision.  These spectacles can be probably used by someone in need.  Secondly, by throwing them in the dust bin we are only causing environmental hazard.  By donating the used spectacles to the poor we are not only helping someone with vision but we are also saving the environment.  Recyling the used frames would mean lesser amount of metals and plastics ending up in the landfills thus reducing the carbon emission.

Vision 2020 is a global initiative for the elimination of avoidable blindness.  This is a joint programme of World Health Organisation and International Agency for the Preventive Blindness.
According to some reports there are more than 285 million people in the world who are visually impaired.  Out of these 39 million are completely blind and the remaining 246 million have low vision.  These are people who need a spectacle to be able to see clearly but cannot afford to buy them.  I clearly understand the need for spectacles as my vision is very poor without the spectacles and I just cannot read if I do not wear them.

Vision 2020 is a great initiative to complete remove avoidable blindness by the year 2020.  It is a very small action at our end to donate used spectacles but it can made a very big difference as it will provide vision to a needy person somewhere in the world.

It is so amazing that many such small actions makes a big difference in life.



Let us start with some small actions - if not every day atleast one small action every week.  That would mean 52 small actions in a year making 52 very big differences in very many peoples lives across the globe.

T.P.Anand
Dubai, U.A.E.
1st December 2014