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  • ~WISH YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY AND WONDERFUL MOMENT.~
Week's Proverb : A nod is as good as a wink.-(To a person who is ready to understand or undertake something, any subtle signalling of it is sufficient)

Theme of the Week

About Me

It is my first time to say hello and do some self introduction to everybody here online. My name is Ashis.P.Donthi, male, 27, from Bangalore, India. I like reading, and do some collections in my spare time.

About Me

It is my first time to say hello and do some self introduction to everybody here online. My name is Ashis.P.Donthi, male, 27, from Bangalore, India. I like reading, and do some collections in my spare time.

About Me

It is my first time to say hello and do some self introduction to everybody here online. My name is Ashis.P.Donthi, male, 27, from Bangalore, India. I like reading, and do some collections in my spare time.

About Me

It is my first time to say hello and do some self introduction to everybody here online. My name is Ashis.P.Donthi, male, 27, from Bangalore, India. I like reading, and do some collections in my spare time.

About Me

It is my first time to say hello and do some self introduction to everybody here online. My name is Ashis.P.Donthi, male, 27, from Bangalore, India. I like reading, and do some collections in my spare time.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Aloo Pulao

Aloo Pulao

India is a land of festivals and festivals are incomplete without mouth watering dishes. Navratri is one of the festivals celebrated with a variety of dishes. As some people keep fast on this nine days festival, there are specific recipes which are made only with the ingredients used in the fast. Aloo is one such ingredient which is commonly used in the recipes for Navratri fasts. Below we have given special recipe for aloo pulao, which you can prepare during Navratri fasts. It is very easy to make and delicious to taste.

Ingredients
1 cup Samwat Rice (also known as Parsai ke chaawal)
2 tbsp. Ghee
1 tsp. Cumin Seeds
2 Cloves
A tiny piece of Cinnamon
2 green Cardamoms
1 large Potato (diced in small pieces)
2 tsp. Rock Salt
1/2 tsp. Red Chili Powder
3 cup Water
Green Coriander to garnish
Method
Heat ghee in a pan
Add cumin seeds, cloves, cardamom and cinnamon to the oil
When they give off fragrance, add potato and rice
Stir-fry to a light brown color
Add rock salt, chilli powder and water
Cover the pan and let it simmer on low flame for about 15 minutes.
Garnish with green coriander
Serve hot, with cold curd.

Aloo Raita

Aloo Raita

Navratri is a festival that comprises of nine-days continuous fasting, so you need to take special care of your diet. You should include milk and milk products in your diet during the fasts. Curd is one of the best milk products you can have during this time. It is also believed that food is incomplete without curd. You can make various kinds of raitas with curd, such as boondi raita, vegetable raita, pineapple raita, and so on. But, since on Navratri, most of the people keep fast, we have given the recipe of aloo raita, which you can use while preparing Navratri food fro fasting.

Ingredients
3 Potatoes (boiled & chopped)
2 cups Curd
1 tsp Cumin Seeds
1/2 tsp Pepper
1/2 tsp Red Chili
Rock Salt, to taste
1tsp Oil
Method
Beat the curd till it turns smooth
Add chopped potatoes and mix it well
Heat the oil and add cumin seeds, pepper, and red chili and stir it for a moment
Add it to potato curd mixture
Sprinkle rock salt to taste
Keep it in refrigerator and serve along with the meal.

Dal Stuffed Poori

Dal Stuffed Poori

In some communities, people undergo rigorous fasts during Navratri that lasts for all the nine days of the festival. The festival of Navratri culminates in Navami. On this day, Kanya Puja is performed. Nine young girls, representing the nine forms of Goddess Durga, are worshiped. Their feet are washed as a mark of respect for the Goddess and then they are offered food, including poori, channa and Halwa. Below, we have given the method of preparing dal stuffed poori, which you can make on Navami.

Ingredients
1 cup Wheat flour
1/2 cup Black Gram Dal (urad dal)
2 Red Chilies
1/2 tsp Cumin Seeds
2 Cardamoms
2 Cloves
1/2" piece Cinnamon
1/5 cup Water
Oil to fry
Salt To taste
Method
Rub 1 tsp oil into the wheat flour
Add 1/2 tsp salt to the wheat flour
Make soft dough using small amounts of water
Set aside the dough for 25 minutes, covered with a wet cloth
Soak black gram dal for atleast one hour and grind to make a paste
Add very little water if required to make a paste
Grind together red chilies, cumin seeds, cardamom, cloves and cinnamon and keep aside.
Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a fry pan
Add the dal paste and the mixed masalas, stirring constantly till the dal is fried and the water is absorbed leaving it dry
Knead and divide the dough into 10 small balls
Make a cup with each ball and fill with the prepared dal mixture
Seal by extending the dough over the filling
Flatten and roll it as a roti, approx. 3" in diameter
Deep fry in hot oil till golden brown
Drain and serve hot.

Kaddu Ki Sabzi

Kaddu Ki Sabzi

Navratri is celebrated in a grand manner in places like Gujarat, Bengal, and other parts of North India. Apart from the puja, it also involves the observance of fast by devotees. Kaddu ki sabzi is one of the popular recipes prepared on Navratri. Liked by most of the people, it is perfect in case of Navratri fast, in which grains and vegetables are not allowed. In fact, a Navratra thali is incomplete without kaddu ki sabzi. If you want to celebrate Navratri vrat with some delicious food, then try the easy recipe for kaddu ki sabzi. Just have a look at recipe and know about the ingredients required for making it as well as the method of preparation.

Ingredients
1/2 kg Kaddu (pumpkin/ sitaphal), peeled and cubed
1/2 tsp Turmeric Powder
2-3 Green Chilies, chopped
Salt to taste
1/4 tsp Garam Masala Powder
1/2 tsp Coriander Powder
1 tsp Sugar
1/2 tsp Amchoor (dried mango powder)
1/2 tsp Methi Dana (fenugreek seeds)
A pinch of Hing (asafetida)
1 tbsp Oil
Method
Heat oil in a pan and add methi dana and when it changes color, add hing, green chilies and sauté for 1 minute.
Now add kaddu pieces, turmeric, coriander powders, and salt and mix it well. Add 1 tsp water and cook on a lower heat till kaddu turns tender.
Add sugar, amchoor and garam masala powder and mix well. Cook on low heat for 2 minutes and continue cooking till all the water evaporates.

Kache Kele Ke Kofte

Kache Kele Ke Kofte

Navratri is one of the most important festivals of India. It is celebrated with a wide variety of special dishes, with each region having its own specialty. Navratri meals are strictly vegetarian, with no onion and garlic. People observe fast during Navratri and eat only one meal a day, at sunset, which is devoid of grains. One recipe that is popularly eaten by people during Navratri fast is Kele Ke Kofte, which is made with raw banana. The recipe is very easy to cook and tasty to eat. Given below are the details regarding the ingredients needed for making the dish as well as the method of its preparation.

Ingredients For Kofta
6 Raw Bananas
10 gm Ginger, chopped
10 gm Green Chilies, chopped
2 gm Cumin Seeds
1 gm Asafetida
5 gm Garam Masala Powder
Salt to taste.

Ingredients For Gravy
1/4 kg Beaten Curd
3 gm Clove
4 Bay Leaves
2 gm Cumin Seeds
1 gm Asafetida
5 gm Ginger, chopped
5 gm Green Chilies, chopped
25 ml Oil
1.5 gm Turmeric
5 gm Garam Masala Powder
2 gm Red Chili Powder
50 ml Water
For Garnish
3 gm Rogan
5 gm Chopped Coriander
Method
Boil and peel raw bananas and mash them. Add rest of the ingredients and make balls and deep fry.
Heat oil in a kadhai and then add cloves, bay leaf, cumin, asafoetida, ginger, green chili, beaten curd, turmeric, garam masala powder, red chili powder and water to adjust the consistency.
Adjust the seasoning. Add the koftas and simmer for a few minutes before serving. Garnish with rogan and chopped coriander.

Kuttu Pakora

Kuttu Pakora

Kottu Pakora is made with buckwheat flour, which can be consumed during Navratri fasts. It is one of the tasty and easy-to-prepare recipes, enjoyed even by those who do not observe fast. And those who keep fast for the full nine days of Navratri surely do enjoy this delectable recipe. If you also want to try this recipe during Navratri, just have a look at the information given below, regarding the ingredients as well as the method of preparation.

Ingredients
1 cup Kottu ka Atta (buckwheat flour)
3 medium-sized Potatoes (boiled whole till half-cooked)
½ tsp Salt
½ tbsp Black Pepper Powder
¼ cup Coriander leaves, finely chopped
¾ tsp Baking Powder
Ghee or Vegetable Oil, for frying
Method
Combine the flour, salt, pepper and coriander in bowl and mix well. Add water and beat into a smooth batter. Beat the batter until it is of cream consistency. Cover and keep aside for about 20 minutes.
When the potatoes are cool enough, peel and slice each one into diagonal slices.
Heat enough ghee or oil for deep-frying in a kadhai over moderate heat. Put few slices of potato into the batter and cover them completely.
One at a time, lower each slice of batter-coated potato into the hot oil. Fry as many slices as will float on the surface of the oil without touching. Fry on both sides until reddish gray and crisp. Serve hot as the fitters soften as they cool.
Note:
Keep an eye on the consistency of batter, it quickly thickens near heat. You may need to add water from time to time.

Singhara Burfi

Singhara Burfi

Singhara flour is an ingredient that is commonly used for making dishes during Navratri fasts. You can prepare many mouth watering dishes with singhara flour, such as poori, pakori and burfi. Singhara burfi is a sweet dish that you can enjoy with other meals of Navratri. All you have to do is prepare these burfis once and can enjoy them for all the nine days. Singhara burfi is also not very difficult to make and is very yummy in taste. Below, we are providing the method of preparing singhara burfi, which you can make during Navratri fasts.

Ingredients
1/2 cup Singhara Flour (water chestnut flour)
2 tbsp Ghee
1/2 cup Khoya
3/4 cup Sugar
1/2 cup Water
1/2 tsp Cardamom Powder
Method
Stir-fry flour in ghee in a heavy pan to a light pink color over low flame
Transfer immediately to another vessel after frying.
Stir-fry Khoya in the pan till there are no lumps and it is of light pink color
Mix cardamom powder and flour to it
Set aside for cooling
Make thick syrup by boiling water and sugar till it is of thicker consistency (One can check for the right consistency by putting a drop of syrup in cold water. If it forms a soft ball than it is of right consistency)
Remove the pan from flame
Mix the syrup immediately to the Khoya mixture, stirring vigorously to blend it well
Grease a plate and transfer the mixture to it
Level it and let it cool
When cool and set, cut into pieces, using a sharp knife
The Burfi is ready to serve.

Saboodana Vadaa

Saboodana Vadaa

Navratri is famous for the special cuisines prepared as a part of the food for fasting. Saboodana vadaa is one of the recipes prepared during the vrats. A special snack made on the occasion of Navratri, the vadaas are very crispy and crunchy and melt in your mouth. In fact, the mouth watering snack item is considered as an ideal food to eat during Navratri fasts. Given below is the recipe providing details of the ingredients as well as the method of preparation for saboodana vadaa.

Ingredient
1 cup Sabboodana
1/2 cup Peanuts (roasted & crushed coarsely)
1 Potato (boiled, peeled & mashed)
7-8 Green Chilies (crushed)
Salt to taste
Oil to deep fry
Method
Wash sago thoroughly and drain excess water. Soak it for 2-3 hours.
Add all ingredients to it except oil. Mix well into a paste.
Keep the oil in a deep frying pan to heat. Moist hands and make small flat.
Slide the rounds in the heated oil on medium flame. Fry till they are crisp and light brown in color.
Drain them well using a sieve type ladle. Makes about 10 vadaas and Serve with peanut chutney.

Navaratri Recipes

Navaratri Recipes

Festivals in India are incomplete without delicious food, and Navratri is no exception. Navratri is a long festival, which is celebrated continuously for nine days. Therefore, a variety of dishes are made and served during this festival. The Indian cuisines are famous for their wide variety. Special Navratri cuisine is a part of the multitude of culinary delights of the country. Since, in most of the communities, people observe fast during Navratri and eat only one meal a day at sunset, the Navratri meal has special courses and is strictly vegetarian. Even onion and garlic are not allowed, due to their foul smell. Specific ingredients and vegetables are used for preparing delicious recipes on Navratri. The choice of vegetables may vary from region to region. Spices are restricted to red chillies, turmeric and cumin seeds and only rock salt can be used. However, one can eat milk, curd, fruits and nuts. In our related section, we have given some of the recipes that you can try during Navratri. Great care has been taken to ensure that the ingredients being specified here are in consistency with the allowed spices for the fasts. Yet, as this also varies from region to region, special care should be taken from your side as well.

Aloo Pulao
India is a land of festivals and festivals are incomplete without mouth watering dishes. Navratri is one of the festivals celebrated with a variety of dishes. As some people keep fast on this nine days festival, there are specific recipes which are made only with the ingredients used in the fast.
Aloo Raita
Navratri is a festival that comprises of nine-days continuous fasting, so you need to take special care of your diet. You should include milk and milk products in your diet during the fasts. Curd is one of the best milk products you can have during this time. It is also believed that food is incomplete without curd.

Dal Stuffed Puri
In some communities, people undergo rigorous fasts during Navratri that lasts for all the nine days of the festival. The festival of Navratri culminates in Navami. On this day, Kanya Puja is performed. Nine young girls, representing the nine forms of Goddess Durga, are worshiped.

Gobhi Ke Sabzi
Bandh Gobhi (cauliflower) is a very famous vegetable and used in many dishes. You can cook it in various ways, by adding onion and garlic. However, since here we are specifically talking about the recipes for Navratri, we will not use onion and garlic, as they are not allowed during the festival.

Kaddu Ke Sabzi
Navratri is celebrated in a grand manner in places like Gujarat, Bengal, and other parts of North India. Apart from the puja, it also involves the observance of fast by devotees. Kaddu ki sabzi is one of the popular recipes prepared on Navratri. Liked by most of the people, it is perfect in case of Navratri fast.

Kele Ke Kofte
Navratri is one of the most important festivals of India. It is celebrated with a wide variety of special dishes, with each region having its own specialty. Navratri meals are strictly vegetarian, with no onion and garlic. People observe fast during Navratri and eat only one meal a day, at sunset, which is devoid of grains.

Kottu Pakora
Pakora is made with buckwheat flour, which can be consumed during Navratri fasts. It is one of the tasty and easy-to-prepare recipes, enjoyed even by those who do not observe fast. And those who keep fast for the full nine days of Navratri surely do enjoy this delectable recipe.

Saboodana Vadaa
Navratri is famous for the special cuisines prepared as a part of the food for fasting. Saboodana vadaa is one of the recipes prepared during the vrats. A special snack made on the occasion of Navratri, the vadaas are very crispy and crunchy and melt in your mouth.

Singhara Ke Burfi
Singhara flour is an ingredient that is commonly used for making dishes during Navratri fasts. You can prepare many mouth watering dishes with singhara flour, such as poori, pakori and burfi. Singhara burfi is a sweet dish that you can enjoy with other meals of Navratri.

Gobhi Ki Sabzi

Gobhi Ki Sabzi

Bandh Gobhi (cauliflower) is a very famous vegetable and used in many dishes. You can cook it in various ways, by adding onion and garlic. However, since here we are specifically talking about the recipes for Navratri, we will not use onion and garlic, as they are not allowed during the festival. Below, we are providing recipe of Bandh Gobhi Ki Sabzi, especially for the Navratri fasts, without the use of onion and garlic. This recipe is very easy to make and you will surely like it.

Ingredients
500 gm Cauliflower
100 gm Tomatoes, chopped
100 gm Ghee
10 gm Cumin
5 Bay Leaves
5 Cloves
2 Small Cardamoms
4 gm Hing
2 gm Turmeric
10 gm Garam Masala Powder
20 gm Ginger And Green Chilies, chopped
Salt to taste 10 gm
Green Coriander, chopped
Method
Wash the cauliflower and grate it
Put a kadhai on the flame
Add ghee, cumin, bay leaf, clove, small cardamom and hing to the oil
When the masala starts crackling add turmeric, ginger, green chillies and fry for a few minutes
Now add cauliflower and cook it on slow flame for 12-15 minutes
Add chopped tomatoes, garam masala and salt
Cook it for another 7-8 minutes
Add a little water and cook again for 2-3 minutes
Remove from the flame and serve hot, garnished with chopped coriander.

POLITICAL GOONDA

KB.BACHEGOWDA MANHANDLES A MARSHAL AT VIDHANA SOUDHA

On 11th October, 2010.

What to do with this BACHEGOWDA?

Monday, October 11, 2010

HAPPY NAVARATRI



NAVARATRI

Navaratri is the greatest of all the Hindu festivals. Navaratri,the Sanskrit word means nine nights. This festival is celebrated all over India following different regional customs during the Ashwin month of the Hindu calendar.
Nine forms of Devi Durga i.e. female deity is worshipped during this festival of nine nights. In the states of Kashmir,Punjab,Haryana,Bihar,West Bengal "Kanya Puja" or "Kumari Puja" is performed where nine young virgins who are considered as symbolical representation of the goddess are worshipped. Clothes,sweets or anything that is devoted to goddess is gifted to these girls. In someplaces this worship is performed on Ashtami,the eight day of the festival.
People of different states follow their different customs in observing the festival. In Gujarat,for nine nights, women and girls decked in finery,dance the garba around an earthen lamp or a kalash, symbol of divine power,decorated with flowers and betel leaves and has its mouth covered with a coconut. They sing and dance clapping their hands in rhythmic movements or do the Dandiya dance (stick dance), holding two sticks and striking them to the rhythm of the music.
In Tamil Nadu, the first three days of the festival are dedicated to Lakshmi, Goddess of Beauty and Prosperity,the next three days to Durga, Goddess of Righteousness and the last three days to Saraswati,Goddess of Music and Learning. These goddesses are the consorts of Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma respectively. A special platform is decorated with the clay figurines of these gods and goddesses. The main room of worship contains a pitcher made of clay,silver or copper, depending on the devotee’s financial standing. The pitcher is placed at the centre of the room its mouth covered with a coconut.
In Bengal Durga Puja is performed during this time. Goddess Durga is worshipped for five days as it is believed that she relieved the earth from the demons,for killing the demon called Durg, she came to be called Durga. The culmination of the Navratri festival is Mahanavami when the goddess is worshipped as Durga in the form of Aparajita and sugarcane stalks are offered to her. Sugarcane is harvested at that time. People of every part of India celebrate the Navaratri festival at its best,enjoy at its fullest. Giving gifts and sending wishes for a happy festival is a very common tradition.

Thursday, October 07, 2010

POLITICAL DRAMA is PEOPLE'S KARMA

Due to the recent developments in politics in Karnataka, the following doubts should arise for an ordinary citizen. 1. What is politics? 2. Who is a politician? 3. Why do we need politicians? 4. Who is a citizen? 5. Why a citizen should vote? 6. What right a citizen gets after voting? 7. What advantage a citizen gets after voting? 8. What disadvantage a citizen gets if not voted? 9. What is the fate of a citizen after voting? 10. Is voting done for a. gaining Right? b. just as a duty? c. fear of the future? d. a citizen has grown up physically? e. the sake of others. f. a citizen being ignorant? I welcome answers for the above questions from a real citizen.

Saturday, October 02, 2010

TIRUPATI IDOL FACTS

The unique idol of Lord Venkateswara in Tirumala, the most popular and bounteous pilgrimage center in the country, is believed to be the first image of any god or goddess that manifested spontaneously and is the source of Archa or idol worship so common in India today
The rich imagination of Brahmanical literature describes him as the Lord of numerous universes: the root of the phenomena of Creation, Life, Living, Events, Change et al as the Preserver of the Hindu Trinity. Sri Venkateswara Swami, or Tirupati Balaji, is the presiding deity of the famous and bounteous Tirumala temple.
Over the millennia, the Tirumala temple, near Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh, has continued to draw countless devotees who contribute billions of rupees to its kitty. Its mind boggling reserves of pure gold, if unloaded, can crush the world bullion market. Even the Vatican and Mecca cannot match the temple's popularity nor can the new pilgrimage destinations of India, such as Sabarimalai, Vaishno Devi and Shirdi.
Pilgrims come for fleeting glimpses of the fascinating life-size idol of Balaji, after inching in long queues for hours and days. Many undertake the pilgrimage asking for favors to mark various transitions in life or simply to offer their hair, tiny silver or gold bits or images of the deity. The shrine is an integral part of life and culture especially in the three southern Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
The devotees, however, cut across all barriers of region or religion. For the Dutch Peter who recently converted to Vedic Hinduism through the TM (transmeditation) route, the deity represents pure consciousness. The miracle of survival amidst recurring destitution and godsent jobs to the family of Fathima, a Muslim devotee, is a moving story. Dr Loy Camoens, a devout Latin Catholic and a physician in New Citi Hopsital, Secunderabad, India, requests for the laddu prasad or offerings, from Tirupati and accepts it reverentially. A Jain woman in New Delhi, India, pines for this deity. They are all moved by a spontaneous feeling and urge.
Some leftists, known staunch atheists, have also been drawn to Balaji. The moving force for Sri Sri, an acclaimed Indian poet and Telugu revolutionary, was the maddening jealousy of his fellow litterateurs. Communist leader late C. Rajeswara Rao's red salute to the deity some years ago had also sparked a controversy.

UNUSUAL ICON
Venkateswara is not a name but a title. Vem-kata means one who cuts or washes away one's sins.The unique idol in Tirumala is a riddle to unravel. Everything begins and ends or is reduced to sunyam (nothingness) before him, while the infinite world pens to the sincere seeker with an infinitesimal offering. This is because spiritual wealth through devotion is the basis of life and action in theism.
There are millions of gods in Hinduism but there is ultimately only one God. All God's attributes are to be found in Vishnu, in yoganidra (yogic sleep) or Sri Ranganathaswami (Lord of the creation) who chose to descend on the earth as Yoga Murti (idol), Balaji. Thus, Balaji is not an avatar of Vishnu but Vishnu himself.
The deity also represents the God of Justice, according to V.G. Pragasam, Advocate-on-Record, Supreme Court of India. He is blindfolded by the Namam or forehead mark; the scales of justice are his two wives on either side of his chest with the sword of justice hanging in between. With his slim and black figure, the deity is said to represent Shani (Saturn). He subjects one to the trying period of Shanidasa and metes out the package of rewards and punishments in the material and spiritual spheres.
Interestingly, the image in the temple is most unlike the portrait in the ubiquitous pictures, admits M. Srinivasa Bhattacharyulu, an adviser to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), which manages the affairs of the temple. In the portraits, the deity's chubbiness, facial appearance and sword visibly dangling below his chest are all misleading. The Dhruva Beram (the standing idol of the deity) has a Srivatsa mark in the middle of the chest instead of the left breast which encloses a half-inch Lakshmi (Goddess of wealth and divine consort of Lord Vishnu) sculpture.
When installed and consecrated in a temple, any form of Vishnu is said to create peace, nourishment and happiness for devotees. Balaji is one of the eight Swayam Vyakta Sthalas (spontaneous image locations) in India and Nepal, Bhattacharyulu elaborates.
You don't need to go to Tirumala to fathom the Lord's mystique or greatness. Mere listening to the wondrous compositions of his noblest and humblest devotees, like Annamacharya or Tyagaraja, Alvars Pasurama and Purandara Dasa, suffices. They combine the quintessence of the Vedas and the Upanishads.
There is a controversy about the deity representing Shakti ( divine consort of Lord Shiva as well as Goddess representing female power) and Shiva as some rituals and traditions signify. The first three Alvars describe him as a combination of Vishnu and Shiva. Dr Medasani Mohan, director, Bhagavatha Project, TTD, attests to the idol having jatas (locks of hair) of Shiva and chiselled out bosom of Shakti when observed from close quarters during the prolonged Abhishekam Seva (holy bath) when the idol is undressed.
But Bhattacharyulu contradicts this theory. Normally the lions atop the Vimanam (roof) are taken as proof of its being a Shakti temple. But he says they are mere guards as in Badrinath and other Vaishnavite shrines.

A DAY IN THE DEITY'S LIFE
His day begins with the Melu Kolupu Paata (awakening song) sung by the descendants of Annamacharya, followed by Sri Venkateswara Suprabhatam.
A traditional cowherd or Yadava is given the first darsan or holy sight of the idol, of the day. The recitation of the deity's 1,008 names is begun in the name of Hathiram Bavaji, a 15th century seeker from North India. The Muthyala (pearls) Harathi at night and Pavalimpu Seva (putting the deity to sleep) is done in the name of Tarikonda Venku Mamba, a rebel, writer and staunch woman devotee.
The Lord is said to go down the hills to neighbouring Tiruchanur to see his consort, Sri Padmavathy, by using the large shoes made as an offering by a Madiga "untouchable" and returns early for the morning sevas or services.
Sri Ramanujacharya, the 12th century reformer and Vaisnavite saint, laid down a comprehensive system of organization, management and worship, which survives to this day in Tirumala. The daily worship was institutionalized by 1200 AD. It represents a notable exception to the casteist and dominant Brahmanism even in the early part of the millennium, mainly due to Ramanuja's towering stature.

AN ENDURING PHENOMENON
The geography of the central hill ranges of the Eastern Ghats of India, is compared by the puranas or ancient texts, to a huge recumbent cobra or Adisesha. The Jyotirlinga of Sri Mallikarjuna Swami in Srisailam temple is located on its tail, Sri Narasimha Swami Temple in Ahobilam on its back, Sri Venkateswara temple atop its hood like the dancing Krishna (though the temple is noted for its location in the low of the last hill rather than the peak) and Sri Kalahasti temple of Shiva at the opening of its mouth.
Surprisingly, despite the hill's topography suiting military operations, which were frequent in the region, the Balaji temple remained miraculously untouched, even by the infamous iconoclast Aurangzeb's (the last of the Great Mughal Emperors) plundering and pillaging army.
Ancient references to the deity and the purifying hill even before the advent of the deity are many. They go back to the Rig-Veda. Some described only the purifying hill, others mentioned the Lord who absolves sins and presides over the hill, but not any temple. The puranas refer to the Tirumala hill as Venkatadri or Venkatachala. According to the Hindu epic Ramayana, Lord Rama, one of Lord Vishnu's incarnations, and his Vanara (monkeys) army marching to Lanka for war with Ravana halted here on the request of Anjana Devi, the mother of Hanuman. The
Mahabharata, the longest epic in the world, describes the transformation of the departed spirit of Sri Krishna, after it entered the solar disc, into a lifeless four-armed image, which was to descend to Earth. An ethereal voice told the assembled devas or gods that it was to be worshipped in Kaliyuga, the present era of darkness and ignorance, as an easy means for seeking personal salvation. This is believed to be the Tirupati deity. The eighth century Tamil classic Silappadikaram quotes a pilgrim's description of the deity.

WHY IDOL WORSHIP
Idol worship is not animism practised by the so-called primitive peoples and cultures, as colonialist anthropology would have us believe. Faith in it opens up many gates of spirituality. A recent book on the first encounter of medieval Arabian Muslims with idol worship in India reveals their curiosity and respect for this path to God-realization instead of intolerant iconoclasm they became infamous for.
Esoteric Brahmanism which evolved a complex system of Archa or image worship is rooted in Balaji's idol. The deity is the first image of any god or goddess that manifested spontaneously.
Bhakti (devotion) path has nothing to do with sandhya, vandana, japa and other rituals, which are all means of worship and are all right, but worship of divine images is accorded primacy in bhakti or devotion. Attachment to the deity's image detaches the devotee from samsara, this world, and enables him to realize the supreme being as Narayana.
It is worth noting that Balaji's right hand is pointing downward towards his feet just above the knee, indicating that worshipping him will liberate one from kneedeep illusions of worldly existence.
Thus, not only is the main idol in Tirumala believed to be of divine origin, it is also connected with divine sanction for Archa worship. The earlier yugas or eras, offered a tough yogic path of penance, mental concentration and meditation. Archa is to enable all in Kaliyuga, the present era of darkness, to achieve God realization through less tedious means of intense love and devotion.
Lord Venkateswara is also known as Pratyaksha Daivam (manifest divinity) who helps his devotees in distress even if they do not or cannot help themselves, thus contradicting a simplistic adage. This is, of course, linked to one's yogam or spiritual entitlement.

TTD AND DESPIRITUALIZATION
TTD, the multi-billion rupees endowment, represents the best temple management system in any shrine in India. But it has also fallen victim to the general trend of increasing commercialization and despiritualization of pilgrim centers.
Black money constitutes only a small fraction of the annual collection at the temple, contrary to popular belief. The income from darsan and seva tickets itself constitutes half the revenue and donations to the free meal scheme add up another 33 crore (330 million) rupees.
The culture of crass commercialism and exploitation that dogs you in Tirumala has been institutionalised by TTD itself. It has made minor services needlessly free even as it milks people who prefer to pay to jump the queue for darsan or sevas. With its eye on revenue and populist policies, TTD has been tinkering with the deity's sleeping time, religious duties and timings, rather than work around the Lord as every temple should.
An exceptional stampede in the temple many years back was attributed by the then Paramacharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham to the improper or non-observance of the rituals prescribed by the Agama Sastras. The violation of the proscription on men entering the temple wearing upper garments is prompted by the TTD. This is in sharp contrast to the custom at major temples in Kerala, India.
M.V. Soundar Rajan, secretary, Dharma Rakshana Samiti, Hyderabad, is highly critical of the violation of the Agama Sastras by the TTD and its treating the deity as a mere stone. The famed, delicious laddu prasad, he says, is not even offered to the deity but has been turned into an industry despite strictures by the Justice Kondiah Committee report 12 years ago.
He further points out that the deity has to suffer the unnecessary and heavy diamond crown besides the heat of focused electric lights. All sevas are compacted to be completed by dawn to facilitate darsan by pilgrims while ignoring the importance of Ushas Kalam (the period starting at 4.30 a.m).
TTD is trying to please all, especially the state government of Andhra Pradesh, except the presiding deity it thrives on and claims to serve.
"The devotion and pilgrimage by millions increase the power of the deity while violation of the Agama Sastras will deplete its power and wealth," Soundar Rajan points out. One result of rabid commercialism and brazen doubling of displayed rates of eatables and beverages is frequent scuffles between indignant devotees and vendors in the massive Vaikuntam Queue Complex.
While its administrative and educational institutions could have been managed better, the TTD's medical institutions, such as the one for the handicapped, are doing yeoman's service.
Its flaws apart, TTD continues to cater to the needs of millions of devotees who throng the temple every year to seek help for their mundane worries and problems, propagating further the legend of this God of Kaliyug.

UNKNOWN FACTS

BLOOD FACTS:
Two million red blood cells die every second.
There are approximately 100,000 miles of blood vessels in the human body.
Seven percent of a humans body weight is made up of blood.
In the early nineteenth century some advertisements claimed that riding the carousel was good for the circulation of blood.
Each day 400 gallons of recycled blood are pumped through the kidneys.
By donating just one pint of blood, four lives can be saved.
Blood is such a good stain that Native Americans used it for paint.
The kidneys filter over 400 gallons of blood each day.
The average life span of a single red blood cell is 120 days.
Blood accounts for about 8% of a human's body weight.
A woman has approximately 4.5 liters of blood in her body, while men have 5.6 liters.
Your blood takes a very long trip through your body. If you could stretch out all of a human's blood vessels, they would be about 60,000 miles long. That's enough to go around the world twice.
Half your body’s red blood cells are replaced every seven days.
If all the blood vessels in your body were laid end to end, they would reach about 60,000 miles.

BODY FACTS:
In one day, a human sheds 10 billion skin flakes. This amounts to approximately two kilograms in a year.
Every square inch of the human body has about 19,000,000 skin cells.
Approximately 25% of all scald burns to children are from hot tap water and is associated with more deaths than with any other liquid.
Forty-one percent of women apply body and hand moisturizer at least three times a day.
Every hour one billion cells in the body must be replaced.
The world record for the number of body piercing on one individual is 702, which is held by Canadian Brent Moffat.
The small intestine in the human body is about 2 inches around, and 22 feet long.
The human body makes anywhere from 1 to 3 pints of saliva every 24 hours.
The human body has approximately 37,000 miles of capillaries.
The aorta, which is largest artery located in the body, is about the diameter of a garden hose.
The adult human body requires about 88 pounds of oxygen daily.
It is very common for babies in New Zealand to sleep on sheepskins. This is to help them gain weight faster, and retain their body heat.
An average women has 17 square feet of skin. When a women is in her ninth month of pregnancy she has 18.5 square feet of skin.
The width of your armspan stretched out is the length of your whole body.
41% of women apply body or hand moisturizer a minimum three times a day.
A human's small intestine is 6 meters long.
There are as many hairs per square inch on your body as a chimpanzee. You don't see all of them because most are too fine and light to be noticed.
Every hour one billion cells in the body must be replaced.
Dead cells in the body ultimately go to the kidneys for excretion.
By walking an extra 20 minutes every day, an average person will burn off seven pounds of body fat in an year.
The human body is 75% water.

BONE FACTS:
The smallest bone in the human body is the stapes bone which is located in the ear.
There are 54 bones in your hands including the wrists.
The only bone fully grown at birth is located in the ear.
The human face is made up of 14 bones.
The chances of getting a cavity is higher if candy is eaten slowly throughout the day compared to eating it all at once and then brushing your teeth.
If an identical twin grows up without having a certain tooth, the other twin will most likely also grow up with that tooth missing.
Humans are born with 300 bones in their body, however when a person reaches adulthood they only have 206 bones. This occurs because many of them join together to make a single bone.
Gardening is said to be one of the best exercises for maintaining healthy bones.
Enamel is hardest substance in the human body.
Although the outsides of a bone are hard, they are generally light and soft inside. They are about 75% water.
Adult human bones account for 14% of the body's total weight.
In 2000 babies are born with a tooth that is already visible.
Fingernails grow nearly 4 times faster than toenails!
Your thigh bone is stronger than concrete.
The strongest bone in your body is the femur (thighbone), and it's hollow!

BRAIN FACTS:
Women are twice as likely to be diagnosed with depression than men in the United States.
The human brain has about 100,000,000,000 (100 billion) neurons.
From all the oxygen that a human breathes, twenty percent goes to the brain.
People who ride on roller coasters have a higher chance of having a blood clot in the brain.
Once a human reaches the age of 35, he/she will start losing approximately 7,000 brain cells a day. The cells will never be replaced.
It is not possible to tickle yourself. The cerebellum, a part of the brain, warns the rest of the brain that you are about to tickle yourself. Since your brain knows this, it ignores the resulting sensation.
A women from Berlin Germany has had 3,110 gallstones taken out of her gall bladder.
In America, the most common mental illness is Anxiety Disorders.
Your brain is 80% water.
Your brain is move active and thinks more at night than during the day.

DISEASE FACTS:
People that use mobile phones are 2.5 time more likely to develop cancer in areas of the brain that are adjacent to the ear they use to talk on the mobile phone.
Over 90% of diseases are caused or complicated by stress.
Over 436,000 U.S. Troops were exposed to depleted uranium during the first Gulf war.
On average, 90% of the people that have the disease Lupus are female.
Many cancer patients that are treated with chemotherapy lose their hair. For some when the hair grows back, it can grow back a different colour, or be curly or straight.
Diabetes is the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S., accounting for about 180,000 deaths per year.
Chances of a women getting breast cancer are increased by excessive use of alcohol.
A popular superstition is that if you put a piece of bread in a baby's crib, it will keep away diseases.
A person that is struck by lightning has a greater chance of developing motor neurons disease.
Every year in the U.S., there are 178,000 new cases of lung cancer.
Every three minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer.
Asthma affects one in fifteen children under the age of eighteen.
Every eleven minutes in the U.S., a woman dies of breast cancer.
Due to eating habits in the USA, one in three children born in the year 2000 have a chance of getting type II diabetes.
The oldest known disease in the world is leprosy.
The number one cause of rabies in the United States are bats.
Coughing can cause air to move through your windpipe faster than the speed of sound — over a thousand feet per second!
A headache and inflammatory pain can be reduced by eating 20 tart cherries.
The incidents of immune system diseases has increased over 200% in the last five years.
The flu pandemic of 1918 killed over 20 million people.
Each year in America there are about 300,000 deaths that can be attributed to obesity.
Every three days a human stomach gets a new lining.
The first owner of the Marlboro Company, Wayne McLaren, died of lung cancer.
Soldiers disease is a term for morphine addiction. The Civil War produced over 400,000 morphine addicts.
Rocky Mountain spotted fever is a disease caused by ticks.
A person afflicted with hexadectylism has six fingers or six toes on one or both hands and feet.
A study indicates that smokers are likely to die on average six and a half years earlier than non-smokers.
A person who smokes a pack of cigarettes a day will on average lose two teeth every ten years.
Lady Peseshet is known to be the world's first known female physician. She practiced during the time of the pyramids, which was the fourth dynasty.
The DNA of humans is closer to a rat than a cat.
Teenage suicide is the second cause of death in the state of Wisconsin.
Teenage cosmetic surgeries nearly doubled in the USA between 1996 and 1998.
Studies indicate that weightlifters working out in blue gyms can handle heavier weights.
Studies indicate that listening to music is good for digestion.
Studies indicate that epileptic patients that listen to Mozart's Piano Sonata can dramatically decrease their chance of a seizure.
Lack of sleep can affect your immune system and reduce your ability to fight infections.
It takes about three hours for food to be broken down in the human stomach.
Over 40 million Americans have chronic bad breath.
Carbon monoxide can kill a person in less than 15 minutes.
Fourteen people die each day from asthma in the United States.
Every day the human stomach produces about 2 liters of hydrochloric acid.
Nearly half of all Americans suffer from symptoms of burnout.In humans, the epidermal layer of skin, which consists of many layers of skin regenerates every 27 days.
Native Americans used to use pumpkin seeds for medicine.
In ancient Egypt, doctors used jolts from the electric catfish to reduce the pain of arthritis.
The lining of the a person's stomach is replaced every 36 hours.
The purpose of tonsils is to destroy foreign substances that are swallowed or breathed in.
In the United States, poisoning is the fourth leading cause of death among children.
The risk of cardiovascular disease is twice as high in women that snore regularly compared to women who do not snore.
The stomach of an adult can hold 1.5 liters of material.
The stomach can break down goat's milk faster than the milk of a cow.
The smoke that is produced by a fire kills more people than a burn does because of carbon monoxide and other dangerous gases.
It has been medically been proven that laughter is an effective pain killer.
Influenza caused over twenty-one million deaths in 1918.
In a year, there are 60,000 trampoline injuries that occur in the U.S.
Even if you eat food standing on your head, the food will still end up in your stomach.
A person infected with the SARS virus, has a 95-98% chance of recovery.
3000 children die every day in Africa because of malaria.

EYE FACTS:
We should never put anything in or near our eyes, unless we have a reason to use eye drops. We would only do that if our doctor or parent told us to use them.
Blinking helps to wash tears over our eyeballs. That keeps them clean and moist. Also, if something is about to hit our eye, we will blink automatically.
Our body has some natural protection for our eyes. Our eyelashes help to keep dirt out of our eyes. Our eyebrows are made to keep sweat from running into our eyes.
Our eyes are very important to us, and we must protect them. We don't want dirt, sand, splinters or even fingers to get in our eyes. We don't want our eyes to get scratched or poked. That could damage our sight!
The study of the iris of the eye is called iridology.
The shark cornea has been used in eye surgery, since its cornea is similar to a human cornea.
The number one cause of blindness in adults in the United States is diabetes.
The eyeball of a human weighs approximately 28 grams.
The eye of a human can distinguish 500 shades of the gray.
The cornea is the only living tissue in the human body that does not contain any blood vessels.
The conjunctiva is a membrane that covers the human eye.
Sailors once thought that wearing a gold earring would improve their eyesight.
Research has indicated that a tie that is on too tight cam increase the risk of glaucoma in men.
People generally read 25% slower from a computer screen compared to paper.
Men are able to read fine print better than women can.
In the United States, approximately 25,000 eye injuries occur that result in the person becoming totally blind.
All babies are colour blind when they are born.
A human eyeball weighs an ounce.
If the lens in our eye doesn't work quite right, we can get glasses to help us see. Glasses have lenses in them that work with our eye's own lens to help us see better.
Babies' eyes do not produce tears until the baby is approximately six to eight weeks old.
The reason why your nose gets runny when you are crying is because the tears from the eyes drain into the nose.
The most common injury caused by cosmetics is to the eye by a mascara wand.
Some people start to sneeze if they are exposed to sunlight or have a light shined into their eye.
The highest recorded speed of a sneeze is 165 km per hour.
It is impossible to sneeze with your eyes open.
The space between your eyebrows is called the Glabella.
Inside our eye, at the back, is a part called the "retina." On the retina are cells called "rods" and "cones." These rods and cones help us to see colors and light.
Just behind the pupil is a lens. It is round and flat. It is thicker toward the middle.
Over the front of our eye is a clear covering called the "conjunctiva."
The white part of our eye is called the "sclera." At the front, the sclera becomes clear and is called the "cornea."
Around the pupil is a colored muscle called the "iris." Our eyes may be BLUE, BROWN, GREEN, GRAY OR BLACK, because that is the color of the iris.
Our eyes have many parts. The black part on the front of our eye is called the "pupil." It is really a little hole that opens into the back part of our eyes.
Your eyes blinks over 10,000,000 times a year!

HAIR FACTS:
On average, a man spends about five months of his life shaving.
On average, a hair strand's life span is five and a half years.
On average redheads have 90,000 hairs. People with black hair have about 110,000 hairs.
Next to bone marrow, hair is the fastest growing tissue in the human body.
In a lifetime, an average man will shave 20,000 times.
Humans have about the same number of hair follicles as a chimpanzee has.
Hair will fall out faster on a person that is on a crash diet.
The average human head weighs about eight pounds.
The reason why some people get a cowlick is because the growth of their hair is in a spiral pattern, which causes the hair to either stand straight up, or goes to a certain angle.
The reason why hair turns gray as we age is because the pigment cells in the hair follicle start to die, which is responsible for producing "melanin" which gives the hair colour.
The big toe is the foot reflexology pressure point for the head.
The loss of eyelashes is referred to as madarosis.
The longest human beard on record is 17.5 feet, held by Hans N. Langseth who was born in Norway in 1846.
The fastest growing tissue in the human body is hair.
The average human scalp has 100,000 hairs.
Hair and fingernails are made from the same substance, keratin.
Hair is made from the same substance as fingernails.
Eyebrow hair lasts between 3-5 months before it sheds.
The first hair dryer was a vacuum cleaner that was used for drying hair.
A Russian man who wore a beard during the time of Peter the Great had to pay a special tax.
Everyday approximately 35 meters of hair fiber is produced on the scalp of an adult.
Brylcreem, which was created in 1929, was the first man's hair product.
Ancient Egyptians used to think having facial hair was an indication of personal neglect.
A survey done by Clairol 10 years ago came up with 46% of men stating that it was okay to color their hair. Now 66% of men admit to coloring their hair.
A lifespan of an eyelash is approximately 150 days.

HEART FACTS:
Women hearts beat faster than men.
Three years after a person quits smoking, there chance of having a heart attack is the same as someone who has never smoked before.
The human heart weighs less than a pound.
The human heart can create enough pressure that it could squirt blood at a distance of thirty feet.
The first open heart surgery was performed by Dr. Daniel Hall Williams in 1893.
Scientists have discovered that the longer the ring finger is in boys the less chance they have of having a heart attack.
The right lung of a human is larger than the left one. This is because of the space and placement of the heart.
The human heart beast roughly 35 million times a year.
Olive oil can help in lowering cholesterol levels and decreasing the risk of heart complications.
In a lifetime, the heart pumps about one million barrels of blood.
In 1967, the first successful heart transplant was performed in Cape Town, South Africa.
People that suffer from gum disease are twice as likely to have a stroke or heart attack.
Most heart attacks occur between the hours of 8 and 9 AM.
The human heart beast roughly 35 million times a year.
At one time it was thought that the heart controlled a person's emotions.
Every day 2,700 people die of heart disease.
During a typical human life span, the human heart will beat approximately 2.5 billion times.
In one day your heart beats 100,000 times.
For humans the normal pulse is 70 heartbeats per minute.

MOUTH FACTS:
In a month, a fingernail grows an eighth of an inch.
People whose mouth has a narrow roof are more likely to snore. This is because they have less oxygen going through their nose.
While sleeping, one man in eight snores, and one in ten grinds his teeth.
It takes food seven seconds to go from the mouth to the stomach via the esophagus.

TONGUE FACTS:
Close to fifty percent of the bacteria in the mouth lives on the surface of our tongue.
There are approximately 9,000 taste buds on the tongue.
Your tongue has 3,000 taste buds.
85% of the population can curl their tongue into a tube.

PREGNANCY FACTS:
The world's first test tube twins are Stephen and Amanda Mays born June 5, 1981.
Some people drink the urine of pregnant women to build up their immune system.
The first known contraceptive was crocodile dung, used by Egyptians in 2000 B.C.
Every day, over 1,300 babies are born prematurely in the USA.
During pregnancy, the average woman's uterus expands up to five hundred times its normal size.
Changing a cat's litter box can be dangerous to pregnant women, as cat feces sometimes carry a parasite that can cause harm to the developing baby.
A pregnant woman's dental health can affect her unborn child.
May babies are on avearge 200 grams heavier than babies born in other months.
When a women is pregnant, her senses are all heightened.

OTHER FACTS:
The smile is the most frequently used facial expression. A smile can use anywhere from a pair of 5 to 53 facial muscles.
The slowest growing finger nail is on the thumb nail and the fastest growing is the finger nail on the middle finger.
The sensitivity of a woman's middle finger is reduced during menstruation.
The same amount of calories are burned by doing 6 sessions that are 5 minutes each of an activity and doing 1 session of that activity for 30 minutes.
The pectin that is found in apples aids in lowering cholesterol levels.
The most frequent season for most suicides to occur is in the spring. The winter months have the lowest number of suicides.
The majority of American models are skinnier than 98% of American women.
The longest hiccups on record was by an American pig farmer whose hiccups persisted from 1922 to 1987.
The longer white infants from low-income families are breast-fed, the less likely they will be overweight as young children, researchers said on Monday.
The length of a human esophagus is 25 centimeters.
The human liver performs over 500 functions.
The feet have approximately 250,000 sweat glands.
The eight most popular foods to cause food allergies are: milk, eggs, wheat, peanuts, soy, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish.
The early occurrence of a fetus yawning is at eleven weeks after conception.
The average ear grows 0.01 inches in length every year.
The Gastric Flu can cause projectile vomiting.
The Dutch people are known to be the tallest people in Europe.
Studies have shown that the scent of Rosemary can help in better mental performance and make individuals feel more alert.
Some brands of toothpaste contain glycerin or glycerol, which is also an ingredient in antifreeze.
Soaking beans for twelve hours in water before they are cooked can reduce flatulence caused by beans.
Scientists say that babies that are breastfed are more likely to be slimmer as adults than those that are not breastfed.
Scientists have determined that having guilty feelings may actually damage your immune system
Research has indicated that approximately eleven minutes are cut off the life of an average male smoker from each cigarette smoked.
People have the tendency to chew the food on the side that they most often use their hand.
Over 600,000 people died as a result of the Spanish influenza epidemic.
Only one out of every three people wash their hands when leaving a public bathroom.
One ragweed plant can release as many as a million grains of pollen in one day.
One out of 20 people have an extra rib.
One average, men spend 60 hours a year shaving.
On average, falling asleep while driving results in 550 accidents per day in the United States.
On average, a person has two million sweat glands.
On average, Americans spend 33% of their life sleeping.
On average a person passes gas 14 times a day.
On average 1,668 gallons of water are used by each person in the United States daily.
Nerve impulses for muscle position travel at a speed of up to 390 feet per second.
Nerve cells can travel as fast as 120 meters per second.
Mummy powder was once thought to be a cure for all remedies. English men used to carry the powder with them in a tiny bag wherever they went.
Men in their early twenties shave an average of four times a week.
Medical research has found substances in mistletoe that can slow down tumor growth.
Medical reports show that about 18% of the population are prone to sleepwalking.
Manicuring the nails has been done by people for more than 4,000 years.
Left-handed people are better at sports that require good spatial judgment and fast reaction, compared to right-handed individuals.
Ironically, when doctors in Los Angeles, California went on strike in 1976, the daily number of deaths in the city dropped 18%.
In the United States, 8.5 million cosmetic surgical and non-surgical procedures were done in the year 2001.
People with darker skin will not wrinkle as fast as people with lighter skin.
People with allergies can lower allergy reactions by laughing.
People who meet their calcium need reduce their risk of developing kidney stones.
People that smoke have 10 times as many wrinkles as a person that does not smoke.
People still cut the cheese shortly after death.
People over the age of fifty will start to lose their dislike for foods that taste bitter.
People of Ancient China believed that swinging your arms could cure a headache.
The average weight of a newborn baby is 7 lbs. 6 oz. For a triplet baby it is 3 lbs. 12 oz.
The average person spends two weeks of their life kissing.
The average person falls asleep in about 12 to 14 minutes.
There are approximately one hundred million people in the United States that have a chronic illness.
There are approximately 60 muscles in the face.
There are 50% more males that are left handed compared to females.
There are 400 species of bacteria in the human colon.
There are 10 million bacteria at the place where you rest your hands at a desk.
In a lifetime, an average human produces 10,000 gallons of saliva.
In a lifetime, an average driver will release approximately 912 pints of wind inside a car.
In Canada, men are three times more likely than women to have seen a doctor in the last year.
In 1832, in Paisley, Scotland the first municipal water filtration works was opened.
Humans breathe in and out approximately one litre of air in ten seconds.
Girls have more tastebud than boys.
From the age of thirty, humans gradually begin to shrink in size.
Flu shots only work about 70% of the time.
Gases that build up in your large intestine cause flatulence. It usually takes about 30 to 45 minutes for these gases to pass through your system.
Fat is important for the development of children and normal growth.
Every day, the average person swallows about a quart of snot.
Eighty percent of 10 year old girls in the USA go on a diet.
Air is passed through the nose at a speed of 100 miles per hour when a person sneezes.
About twenty-five percent of the population sneeze when they are exposed to light.
A yawn usually lasts for approximately six seconds.
Children who are breast fed tend to have an IQ seven points higher than children who are not.
Children grow faster in the springtime than any other season during the year.
Eating chocolate three times a month helps people live longer as opposed to people who overeat chocolate or do not eat chocolate at all.
Constipation is caused when too much water is absorbed in the large intestine and poops become dry.
A ear trumpet was used before the hearing aid was invented by people who had difficulty hearing.
The average human dream lasts only 2 to 3 seconds.
The average person has at least seven dreams a night.
Bile produced by the liver is responsible for making your feces a brownish, green colour.
It takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile.
By the time you are 70 you will have easily drunk over 12,000 gallons of water.
A man named Charles Osborne had the hiccups for approximately sixty-nine years.
The average person walks the equivalent of twice around the world in a lifetime.
The average person laughs about 15 times a day.
The vocabulary of the average person consists of 5,000 to 6,000 words.
About 10% of the world's population is left-handed.

Did You Know?

YAHOO = Yet Another Hierarchical Officious Oracle.
HTML = HyperText Markup Language.
Till today there are 9,26,15,362 Websites.
In a day 50,000 Crore E-mails are being sent across the world.

Veg Food

Dal with Palak
Serves 4
INGREDIENTS
3 cups (250gm) chopped palak (spinach)
1 cup arhar dal or toovar ki dal (red gram dal)
1 small clove garlic finely chopped (optional)
½ piece ginger finely chopped
1 green chilli finely chopped
½ tsp haldi (turmeric powder)
1½ tsp salt to taste
1 tsp Leonardo® olive oil.
TOMATO ONION BAGHAR (TADKA)
3 tbsp Leonardo® Olive Pomace Oil
½ tsp jeera (cumin seeds)
1 onion chopped finely
1 tomato chopped finely
1 green chilli slit length ways into four pieces
½ tsp garam masala (mixed spices)
½ tsp dhania (coriander) powder
1/8 tsp amchoor (dried mango powder)
½ tsp red chilli powder.

Preparation:
Pick, clean and wash dal, Wash chopped palak in plenty of water
Mix dal, palak, garlic, ginger, green chilli, haldi, salt and Leonardo® Olive Pomace Oil. Add 3 cups of water to the dal.
Pressure cook dal to give one whistle and then keep on low flame for 6-7 minutes. Remove the cooker from heat.
For the baghar, heat Leonardo® Olive Pomace Oil. Reduce heat. Add jeera. When it turns golden, add onions.
Cook till onions turn brown. Do not under cook the onions. Brown them, stirring continuously.
Add tomatoes. Cook for 2-3 minutes on low flame.Add dhania powder, amchoor and garam masala. Cook for ½ minute.
Keep aside. Add the green chillies and red chilli powder. Mix well.
Pour over the hot dal. Mix gently.
Serve hot.

Non Veg Dish

Chicken Amravati
Necessary Items: Onion, peanuts and coconut shreds coat chicken strips in a South Indian style.
Serves 4-6
Preparation:
2 chicken breasts
5 onions (2 grated and 3 sliced)
½ cup curry leaves
5 tbsp Leonardo® Olive Pomace Oil
1½ tsp brown small rai (mustard seeds)
A small piece of fresh coconut (brown skin removed and grated finely (¼ cup))
2 tbsp roasted peanuts (split into halves 1¼ tsp tsp salt, or to taste )
3 tbsp lemon juice (juice of one large lemon)
A pinch of tandoori red colour, optional
4 tbsp tomato puree
Red Chilli Paste
4 dry Kashmiri red chillies (deseeded and soaked in warm water for 10 minutes)
1 piece ginger
1 tbsp cashews, 3 tbsp curd
2 tbsp dhania powder
2-3 laung (cloves), 6-7 saboot kali mirch (peppercorns)

Wash the chicken. Cut breasts into thick strips. Pressure cook with 1½ cups water and ½ tsp salt and 1 tbsp Leonardo® Olive Pomace Oil to give 1 whistle. Remove the cooker from heat. Keep aside.
Grate 2 onions. Cut the other 3 onions into halves. Then cut each half widthwise into semi- circles to get half rings or thin strips of onion.
Scrape brown skin of coconut and grate finely to get ¼ cup.
Drain the soaked red chillies. Add all other ingredients of the paste and grind to a smooth paste using a little water for grinding.
Heat 5 tbsp Leonardo® Olive Pomace Oil. Add rai. Let it splutter for a minute.
Add grated onions and curry leaves. Cook till onions turn light brown.
Add onion slices and cook for 3-4 minutes till soft.
Add peanuts and coconut and cook on low heat for 5 minutes till crisp. Keep the coconut spread out while cooking
Add tomato puree, cook for a minute.
Add chicken, reserving the stock, Add red chilli paste and stir fry 2-3 minuteAdd colour and salt.
Add 1 cup chicken stock. Boil. Cover and cook on low heat for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add lemon juice and mix well.
Serve hot.

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