Learning vocabulary may not be the most exciting thing to do in school, but it is definitely an important part of a student’s development process. Grasping a new language can seem like a difficult task, especially when that language is as complex as English! Here are some creative ways to study vocabulary words where children can critically understand the context while drawing connections outside the lesson plan instead of just learning the definitions of words.
Students always
wonder how to learn vocabulary words. There are various ways to teach
vocabulary to younger students. Coloring helps students visualize the word that
they are being taught, which helps with comprehension. For older students,
writing words out or creating flashcards helps in memorization of vocabulary
words.
Brainstorm:
Affiliating words that are already familiar to students is one of the most creative ways to study vocabulary words. Vocabulary builds upon itself and associating vocabulary words with familiar words is to brainstorm with students. Once students have learned a word and its meaning, teachers can write the word and ask students to say words that go along with the new word.
Teachers can make
vocabulary words more fun to learn by turning the process into a charades game!
Students can alternate to act out one of the vocabulary words, while the other
students guess the word.
Write A Story:
A larger vocabulary enhances students’ reading and writing abilities, so what better way for students to learn vocabulary words than to use them in stories? It can be assigned on an individual project basis and students get the opportunity to learn proper spellings and definitions, and also how to learn the vocabulary words and use the words in the context.
Each student should have their own individual vocabulary list. Students come across new words they don’t know every day in readings and discussions. When students pick out their own words, they will be motivated to learn them.
Read:
The best way to be exposed to a rich and wide vocabulary is to read! It helps in boosting your language skills and also helps you in learning new things. You can read what you like, the options are endless.
Creating sentences
helps us put everything we have learned into action. So, you have learned a new
word and you understand when to use it, but, for the brain to remember this
word in the long run, the best way is to memorize it. Have you heard Benjamin
Franklin’s quote, “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve
me and I learn”? By constructing sentences, you are helping your brain to learn
because it gets actively involved in the learning process.
Google Images To Search Picture Words:
A general Google
search is a great learning tool, but don’t forget about Google Images. Images
are easy to remember and may stay in your mind in a way that words don’t.
Learning vocabulary
with these methods doesn’t have to be a tedious task anymore! It can be made
fun and easy which will motivate the students to learn new words and start
practicing them too!
Banana is known as the “Wonder Fruit” – for all the right reasons. It is one of the most popular weaning foods worldwide – as it’s texture, natural sweetness and easy to digest factors makes it a sure hit among the babies as well as the mothers. The fruit can be given in a mashed form or in the form of a smoothie – mixed with vegetables or fruits – a recipe you could never go wrong with. But is Banana bad for cough? Can I Eat Bananas During Cough & Cold At Night?
Banana is a rich source of
calcium and helps in building healthy and strong bones in babies.
Storehouse
of instant energy
It is a proven fact that bananas
are a source of instant energy – which is very essential in kids as they are
all the day of the move.
High
in fiber content
Bananas are said to be high in
fiber content – thus a necessary inclusion for promoting healthy digestion in
babies.
Nutrient
dense fruit
Bananas are popular world wide for
a solid reason – being it is rich in many nutrients like potassium, calcium,
magnesium, iron, folate, niacin, B6, manganese and banana lectin, also known as
BanLec. BanLEC. BanLec is equipped with a super power that can prevent the HIV
virus from entering the cells. It could also aid in the remedial treatment of
diseases like ebola, hepatitis C, Sara and HIV.
Regulates
blood pressure
Bananas are rich in potassium and
low in sodium content, thus help in maintain healthy blood pressure limits.
Helps
in improving eyesight
This fruit contains a significant
amount of Vitamin A which is essential for healthy eyesight, maintaining normal
vision and improving vision at night, according to the National Institute of
Health.
Good
for healthy bones
Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Calcium
and potassium are loaded in this wonder fruit. Better calcium absorption helps
in healthy bone weight, and banana aid in this aspect.
Helps
in maintaining hemoglobin in blood
Bananas are rich in iron, and
this in turn facilitates sufficient levels of hemoglobin in the blood and the
formation of red blood cells. Anemia is a common deficiency disease in kids,
and regular consumption of banana has proven to reduce Anemia in kids.
Improves
brain power
Banana is an excellent source of
magnesium which facilitates the electrical activity between the nerve cells.
Banana is also said to be a “good mood” food which helps in alleviating your
mood levels. An added advantage is also that it prevents brain damage.
Helps in treating urine infection
Bananas cure urine infection caused in the urinary tract due to the plaque caused by the bacterial infections.
What fruits should
be avoided during cold & cough?
Benefits of bananas for infants & babies?
An unripe banana should be avoided as it is difficult to digest it. The only option is a ripe banana which could be easily smashed, or pureed too.
Banana could be introduced as a weaning food for babies right from the fifth month, but in smashed form. As the baby advances, you could give it in solid form or in small bites.
The common belief amongst the
parenting community is that a banana should be completely avoided during cough
and cold. As it increases mucus and phelgum formation, it should not be given
to babies during cold and cough. Especially if your baby is suffering from dry
cough or wet cough, restrain from giving him banana atleast until the cough
disappears.
Is it safe to give bananas to babies?
On a brighter side, it is an undisputable fact that eating bananas on a daily basis helps to build immune system in kids and thereby providing a shield in keeping away the common cold and flu. Moreover the fruit is packed with Vitamin B6 which helps in relaxing bronchial muscle tissue. However, there is a strong belief that for the speedy recovery from common cold and flu, bananas should be kept away from kids. Especially the longer, yellow bananas (also called as Morris) should not be given as it makes the cough and cold even more worse.
Banana in the form of powder is said to be safe to consume during cough and cold. An added benefit being it helps in healthy weight gain in babies.
Kerala banana, mazhavazhai pazham and red banana, which is commonly available in South India is said to be a safe option too.
Elaichi bananas also can be given occasionally.
They are rich in Vitamin C, hence help in boosting the immune system.
They are rich in magnesium which promote good sound sleep.
Why Should bananas be avoided at night
According to Ayurveda, those kids or adults who are prone to cold, cough or are asthmatic should avoid bananas in the evening and night as it produces toxins in the digestive tract.
Since it takes longer to digest, make sure you are eating it 3 hours before bedtime. Our metabolic rate gradually lowers after sunset so heavy foods should be avoided.
While the health benefits of bananas cannot be overlooked, yet, when it comes to common cough, cold & fever, it is said to be heaving adverse health effects on the child if had before or close to bed time. It is in the best interest of the child to not have bananas atleast till the cough subsides if the condition is severe and he or she is suffering from throat pain or infection. After which it could be introduced in small quantities gradually.
What does it take to develop a child’s true potential? A good school goes beyond that. In an era where we want to live our unfulfilled dreams of music, sports and plenty more through our children, constantly urging them to do more and learn faster, early years of education play a pivotal role. We bring to you one such emerging school which has won several accolades and awards and is considered one of the best Primary Schools in Mumbai. Read more about The Green Acres Academy – A School With A Difference
The Green Acres Academy has a carefully designed curriculum to nurture free-thinking individuals who are rooted in humanistic values of caring for their fellow man. Bringing the international elements and Indian values in synergy, this school adopts the Outcome-based approach to education.
Programmes:-
1. Pre- primary school
2. Junior school
3. Middle school
4. Senior school
About the Founder – Rohan Parikh
Meet Rohan Parikh has attained a BSc in Economics from Wharton
Business School, an MBA from INSEAD, and has more than 10 years of experience
in the Real Estate and Hospitality industries. In 2013 Mr. Parikh entered the
field of education by founding The Green Acres Academy in Chembur, and
simultaneously pursuing a Master’s degree in Education through Johns Hopkins
University.
Founded in 2013 by The Acres Foundation, The Green Acres Academy
aims to fill the gaps in their educational systems in a very pragmatic way – by
keeping the parts that work, and adding a diverse range of extra-curriculars
for holistic education & development of the young minds.
The Green Acres Academy brings together the best of Indian and International education to nurture well-rounded, free-thinking, capable individuals who are rooted in humanistic values of caring for their fellow man.
What we love the most about The Green Acres Academy
Circle
Teaching –
In most schools a teacher teaches lessons on a blackboard in front of the class. Students are expected to follow the lessons and understand them correctly. Here teachers sit at the same level as children to build a relationship based on affectionate, empathetic conversations and personal knowledge of each one.
Building designed so as to allow for maximum natural sunlight and natural ventilation for ideal studying conditions. Air conditioners are used to maintain optimal temperatures.
No compromise on safety & infrastructure
Performing arts centre and large play areas
Counselling centre
Smart classrooms
Well-equipped labs
CCTV monitoring – classrooms & play area
Resistance to earthquake & fire
Safe transportation with female bus attendant, GPS tracking and on bus CCTV cameras
Strict entry & exit policy
The teachers have a mandatory 25-day training period
Empowering parent partnerships by conducting workshops at school
A multi-sensorial approach to teaching helps children learn better, and retain what they learn longer.
Location & Branches The school has 2 branches in Mumbai (ICSE board) & 1 in Pune (CBSE board). If you would like to enquire about admission, visit TGAA to know more or call (022) 6842 0062.
India is a land of traditions & rituals. Different communities have a different set of traditions and practices, but there are a couple of them which are followed commonly across most of the communities. And that being the tonsuring ceremony, or commonly known as mundan, or Chudakarma or chudakarna sanskar. It is a ceremony where the family gets involved in shaving the hair of the baby for the very first time from the roots itself. It is considered to be very auspicious and a necessary ceremony for years not possible, then the well-being of the baby. The recommended age is 1 year or 3 years of completion for the baby. If then 8 years or 16 years is the next option. It should not be done before 1 year as the skull bones of the baby are not fully strengthened.
It is believed that the hair of the baby signifies negativity
and unwanted memories related to his/her past life. Thus, it becomes a
necessity to get the baby rid of all these, so that he/she could start with a
new beginning filled with positivity and good health. The underlying objective
being that the parents wish for the mental and spiritual development of the
child.
Pre-requisites of a
Mundan Ceremony:
Before the family decides to perform the tonsuring ceremony
for their kid, they have to consider a few factors. Namely:- the place of
ceremony – temple, home or a barber shop, the auspicious date, day and timings,
astrological factors (optional), the
guest list, and of course the ideal age. All these need to be matched into to
derive at the best date and time.
Common myths about Mundan:
Mundan ceremony is said to be having multiple benefits like
it helps the child to stay cool (especially during hot summers), keeps head
lice at bay, improves blood circulation in the head, relieves teething issues
and promotes better hair growth. While the other benefits could be true to a
great extent, the lastly mentioned one has always been a matter of debate. This
is a field where tradition confronts the scientific facts.
According to a scientific study by Lynfield and Macwilliams,
exclusively on the relevance of tonturing for effective hair growth in babies
has brought to light some important aspects. It has concluded that tonturing
has absolutely nothing to do with hair growth and quality. To support their
findings, they have provided us with these important facts:
The hair that grows after mundan only appear thicker because the tip of the hair become blunt. The roots remain the same even after shaving the head. Thus, hair follicles remain untouched, which is why hair growth is seemingly not possible. Neither there could be a change in the quality and texture of the hair.
The hair growth is purely a result of an increase in the number of hair follicles, as well as the circulation in the scalp area.
The child’s genes play a pivotal role, as well as a nutritious diet and hygienic hair care – all of them contribute to lustrous, super strong and shiny hair.
Now that we have these facts before us, it is the personal choice of every family to follow or not to follow this tradition. All set and done, Mundan has no effect on the hair growth or quality of the baby’s hair.
After you decide upon the auspicious date and time, in
consultation with the priest, you hire a barber for the job. After shaving the
hair, he applies a paste of turmeric and sandalwood on the scalp and leave it
on for a few minutes. Sandalwood is supposed to provide a cooling effect for
the scalp and turmeric as it is known for its anti-septic and anti-inflammatory
properties, helps to heal any cuts or wounds which may have occurred during the
tonturing process. Different communities believe in various practices – like
some offer a part of the cut hair to a holy river, some believe in offering it
to temples like The Tirupati Balaji temple has a separate Hundi for hair
offerings.
Tips for after Pre –care
& Post-care:
Greasy hair is difficult to cut, thus better to
give a mild shampoo bath so that the barber finds it convenient to handle the
scissors.
Baby’s convenience is of utmost importance, so
choose a time which you feel your baby’s mood
is elevated.
Opt for a zero trimmer over a razor (blade) as it is a safer option as well as
performs the job quicker too.
After the procedure, the immediate step to be
taken is to apply a paste of turmeric and sandalwood on the scalp of the baby.
It helps to soothe the skin and help in any cuts and wounds which may have
accidentally been inflicted on the baby.
Give a thorough bath to ensure that all the hair
has been completely washed off.
Do not apply shampoo for 2-3 days on the baby’s
scalp as it would be sensitive. The best option would be to use milk combined
water, or water mixed with mild antiseptic liquid.
Conclusion: To put it in a nutshell, your hair is an exact reflection of your food intake and hygiene habits, in addition to your genes, which plays the most important role. It is these factors which help in hair growth, and not tonsuring. Following diligently a simple routine for your kids goes a long way in ensuring their good health and longevity. Shiny, lustrous, long, strong and super healthy hair is close to becoming possible. To look at it from a general viewpoint, trimming hair helps in relieving from split ends, dryness which in turn helps in proper growth of hair. No way helps in increasing the hair growth.
Also read Best Baby Massage Oils For Kids In India
Simple changes in our lifestyle can make a strong impact to our health. Many families today are cognizant about the tremendous health benefits of Organic Food, and are hence switching to mindful eating & holistic nutrition. Rice has been a staple food of our meal plan. We bring to you the Best Organic Rice Brand In India – Spirit Of The Earth.
DID YOU KNOW?
Gobinda Bhog a speciality “Khaas Dhan” from Burdaman district of West Bengal is offered as prasad to Lord Krishna during the Janmashtami celebrations. It is a short grain rice, with a buttery flavor which works well as a table rice.
Kaatuyaanam cultivated in Tamil Nadu grows over 7 feet tall & keeps diabetics and arthritis under control, boosts immunity & protects against skin problems. Rich in folic acid, it helps strengthen the pelvic bones so it is regularly given to pregnant women.
Mapillai Champa as the name suggests is given to the Bridegroom the night before the wedding. The night before the wedding, this rice variety was soaked in water. In the morning, the bridegroom would drink the supernatant water of the soaked grains, which was full of enriching nutrients and prove his strength and valour by lifting a heavy boulder. This rice is said to improve digestion, cure mouth ulcers, diabetes, increases hemoglobin count and is believed to fight cancer.
Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati, one of the greatest teachers of Vedanta and a spiritual leader, the Founder of Spirit Of The Earth aims to create a sustainable future. With over 180 varieties of organic rice varieties grown in India that have well-researched, proven health benefits, Spirit Of The Earth also supports the lesser-privileged and differently abled people from smaller villages to make a better living.
“The Gift Of Goodness”
While India is a country of festivals, “Gifting Goodness” on these occasions is very common. ‘Spirit Of The Earth’ has great gifting options for family & corporates. Gifting sweets and chocolates is mundane, unhealthy & old-school. Beautifully packaged, this ‘gift of good health’ is getting popular among the conscious consumers.
Recently, I attended an event conducted by Rushina Munshaw Ghildiyal – a culinary chronicle teacher who specializes in Indian Food Studies & ‘Rediscovering the Dals’. Not many know the intrinsic history of dals that permeates in India. They are the easiest & the most cost-effective way of consuming proteins. From using it as a dish or as an ingredient, it has travelled with us across centuries in varied diasporas.
It’s a wonderful initiative by ‘Spirit Of The Earth’ to bring back the lost paradise of good food. It’s nice to give back to Mother Earth, and to the society as a whole. If you would like to know more, you can visit http://spiritoftheearth.in to shop for their products & take a step towards better conscious living.
Ladoos, the most popular Indian delicacy is a huge hit with all age groups. These easy to make and attractive mouth-watering dishes are as easy to make as one could ever imagine. Indian desserts are famous world-wide; and most of them are made with healthy and nutritive ingredients. Be it a healthy snack, or a mid-day meal or a dessert option, these laddus recipes make for a great choice. So for the mommies who are on the constant look out for healthy school box options, these 10 Best Healthy Ladoo Recipes For Kids – Indian Dessert Recipes could very well be the answer.
These easy-to-make recipes require no expertise as such,
even the beginners could easily start off with them. However, the most
important factor I have kept on mind is the sugar and ghee level. While most of
the recipes have jaggery instead of the sugar. While a couple of them taste
better with the sugar, hence incorporated palm sugar or brown sugar in them. The
quantity of ghee could vary depending upon the consistency you are looking at,
moreover ghee adds aroma and softness to the laddoos.
Besan ladoos are one the easiest recipes to try and one can never go wrong with it. It is a huge hit with the kids, therefore one of the most popular ladoo recipes for kids in India.
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 20-25 minutes
Servings: 25-30 nos.
Ingredients:
Besan or gram flour – 2 cups
Ghee – ½ cup
Powdered brown sugar or jaggery – 1 ¼ cup
Cardamom powder – 1tsp
Nuts – ¼ cup (optional)
Method:
Take a pan and add the besan, keep the flame on
low or medium and dry roast it. Extreme care should be taken while dry roasting
as the flour might get burnt easily as there is no binding ingredient to it.
Stirring continuously is the key to this
preparation as the right colour adds aroma and a great taste to the laddoos.
Undercooked floor would result in raw tasting besan laddoos, and over roasting
of flour would result in a burnt flavor.
The two indicators to this would be – when your
kitchen fills with the aroma of the roasted flour, and the flour turns golden
brown in colour.
Then lower the flame and add ghee to it. Keep stirring
until the mixture binds and the gram flour begins to ooze out and the aroma
becomes stronger.
Now remove it from the flame and add the
powdered brown sugar, cardamom powder and nuts to the mixture. Knead properly
to ensure that there are no lumps formation.
Allow the mixture to cool. If it seems that the
mixture is very dry, then you could add melted ghee 1-2 tbsp.
Take small portions of the mixture, roll it into
balls. Store them in an air tight container, and their shelf life is usually
10-14 days.
Another unique, yet an easy preparation is the Poha laddoos. Poha, or in other words, beaten rice is a commonly found kitchen ingredient. Apart from being a great breakfast or a snack option, these can also make for a dessert option.
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes
Servings: 20 laddoos(approx)
Ingredients:
Poha: 2 cups
Ghee: 1 cup
Finely chopped jaggery: ½ cup
Almonds: 1 cup chopped and roasted
Cardamom powder: ¼ tsp
Method:
The very first step is to clean the poha off any
husk.
Take a kadhai and add this poha to it. dry roast
the poha until the colour changes to light golden yellow. Roast carefully for
about 6-8 minutes till the raw smell goes.
Remove from flame. Allow the poha to cool.
Blend it in blender till coarse consistency.
Add jaggery to it and blend again.
Transfer this mixture to a mixing bowl and add
the remaining ingredients to it.
Mix it very well until all ingredients blend in
really well.
If mixture looks dry, you could add 1 tbsp of
ghee to it.
Take small portions of the mixture and roll it
into laddoos shape.
Coconut Ladoo With Condensed Milk – Easy Laddoo Recipes For Kids
Coconut Ladoo Recipe
Preparation time: 8 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes
Servings: 25 nos.
Ingredients:
Condensed milk – ½ cup
Desiccated coconut – 1 ½ cup
Cardamom powder – ½ tsp
Roasted nuts (almonds, pistas, raisins) – 2 tbsp
Coconut for garnishing – 2 tbsp
Method:
Blend the dessicated coconut in the mixer until
it is reasonably smooth.
Take a frying pan and mix this dessicated
coconut with condensed milk. Switch on the flame and bring the mixture to boil,
keeping in mind that the flame should always be low.
When you see the ingredients have binded well
then switch off the gas. By now the mixture would have become of solid
consistency.
Add the cardamom powder and roasted nuts.
Allow the mixture to come to room temperature.
Make small balls of proportionate size and
garnish them all over with fresh/dessicated coconut for extra flavor.
Store in an air tight container and they last
for until 2 weeks or so.
The nutritional
benefits of almonds are multitude in number, hence it becomes an essential to
include it in your kid’s everyday diet. Due to the crunchiness of the almonds
it might be difficult for the smaller kids to bite it. Therefore, this recipe
is an easy option to introduce this essential dried fruit in an appealing form
of badam ladoos.
Preparation time: 10 mins
Cooking time: 15 mins
Servings: 20 ladoos
Ingredients:
Almonds – 1 cup
Dried or dessicated coconut – 1 ¼ cup
Cardamom powder – 2 tsp
Grated jaggery – 1 ¼ cup
Roasted nuts (pistachios or walnuts) – 1 tbsp
Dried raisins – 1 tbsp
Melted ghee – 1 tbsp
Method:
Take a pan and dry roast almonds until an aroma emanates from it. Remove it and keep it aside.
Put dessicated coconut along with cardamom powder and dry roast continuously until it is light golden in colour.
Add the two ingredients in the blender and mix it well until it is coarse in consistency.
Take the grated jaggery and add it in the blender. Run the mixer until it is powdered in consistency. Finally add raisins to this.
The mixture is ready to be rolled into ladoos.
Adding ghee before you roll the mixture into ladoos can make them more firm and add extra aroma too.
Malai Modak Ladoo – Ganesh Chaturthi Special Recipes
This is one of the most common and traditional sweets
prepared especially during festivities like Ganesh Chaturthi and Durga Pooja.
They can be moulded into modak shape if you have the modak mould or just roll
them into ladoos, which is of course the easier option. Made with the goodness
of paneer, this recipe is also loaded with proteins along with a doze of
sweetness!!
Preparation time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
Sweetened condensed milk – 1 can
Tightly packed crumbled paneer – 1 ½ cups
Diluted milk (optional) – 1 ½ cups
Method:
Take a thick bottomed pan and add both the
ingredients to it.
The milk could be added to the condensed milk to
dilute it, beforehand.
On low flame keep cooking until the mixture
thickens to form a solid consistency.
Switch off the gas and allow the mixture to cool
down for a few minutes.
Moong Dal, or yellow dhal is a common kitchen ingredient in all the households. Belonging to the family of lentils it is loaded with the goodness of protein and energy, hence high on nutrition factor. This makes for an excellent dessert ingredient too, known as Moong Dal ladoo. Generally, lentils required more ghee for binding, hence you could be generous with the proportion of ghee.
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 20
minutes
Servings: 15-18 nos
Ingredients:
1 cup Moong dal
1 cup jaggery powdered form
1tsp cardamom powder
½ cup ghee
¼ cup dried nuts( pistachios, raisins or walnuts)
Method:
Add the Moong dal in a pan and dry roast it on
medium flame. Continue doing this until the colour turns golden and the aroma
of the roasted lentil will fill your kitchen space. Then switch off the flame.
Allow it to cool.
Take a blender and add this Moong dal to the
jaggery and cardamom and run the blender.
Add the melted ghee and this mixture to it. Mix
well until you feel that the mixture is binded well. Then allow the mixture to
cool for a few minutes.
Take small portions of this mixture and begin to
roll them into balls. If you find it difficult to bind then add 1-2 tbsp of
melted ghee to it. and begin rolling the ladoos.
Atta ladoo, as they are commonly called, is one of the most
commonest sweet delicacy especially in North India. Made from simple common
ingredient , that is Wheat flour, this surely makes for an excellent snack
option. This can be made with three basic ingredients, to which you could add
dessicated coconut, sesame balls and your choice of nuts for the extra aroma
and taste, all of which are optional. Adding dessicated coconut could change
the colour of the mixture to light creamish, rather than the regular golden
yellow colour. Another magic ingredient called as gaund, in common language,
could be added to this during preparation as it provides heat/warmth to the
body as well as an energy-booster too.
Preparation time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes
Servings: 20 nos
Ingredients:
2 cups wheat flour
¼ cup dessicated coconut(optional)
1 cup powdered sugar (or 1 ¼ cup powdered jaggery)
½ cup ghee
100 gms acacia gum (gaund)
¼ tsp elaichi powder
Raisins and cashews (as needed)
Method:
Take a pan and put 1 tbsp of ghee in it and add
the cardamom powder to it. sauté it for 1 minute.
Then add atta to it and on low flame keep
roasting it until golden brown. As the colour changes add the dessicated
coconut to it. Saute it for 2-3 minutes until the mixture turns golden brown.
In a separate pan add 2 tbsp of melted ghee and fly the gaund. It
will puff like a popcorn. Remove it and allow it to cool. Once it is cool, run
the gaund in the mixer until it is powdered.
Add this gaund mixture, powdered sugar and ½ cup
ghee to the atta mixture, and mix well on low flame for 3-4 minutes.
Ragi is a storehouse of power and nutrition. With its
amazingly powerful health benefits, this variety of grains is a common sight in
almost every South Indian household. Ragi ladoos are one of the easiest
versions of ladoos for beginners, especially. One can never go wrong in this as
the consistency and taste just fall in place. You can also add other
ingredients like dry coconut, peanuts and sesame seeds, if you wish to overload
your ladoos with extra nutrition and energy. These three ingredients also tend
to reduce the addition of ghee in your recipe, as they are themselves greasy in
nature. The taste also varies depending upon the addition of one/all of these
ingredients.
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 20
minutes
Servings: 20 nos
Ingredients:
1 ½ cup sprouted or plain ragi flour
¼ cup sesame seeds(or cashews, almonds powdered)(optional)
¼ cup dessicated coconut
2 tsp cardamom powder
¼ cup peanuts(optional)
1 cup jaggery powder
1 tbsp roasted sooji
2 tbsp ghee
Method:
Take a pan and add ragi flour to 1 tbsp of ghee and sauté it for about 6-8 minutes until the raw taste vanishes and a good aroma fills the kitchen.
Dry roast peanuts, sesame seeds and dessicated coconut, each separately until the colour changes to light golden brown (approx 5 minutes). Remove from flame and set aside to cool.
Powder all the above ingredients alongwith cardamom powder.
Take a large mixing bowl and add the above mixture, ragi flour and the grated jaggery (or sugar). Mix well. then add the roasted sooji and mix well, it acts as a binding factor.
When the mixture is blended well you could see oil ooze out of the mixture. It is an indication that the mixture is ready.
If difficulty in blending, then add 1 tbsp of melted ghee.
Roll the mixture into balls and store it in air tight container.
One of the easiest, yet a beneficial form of introducing dried fruits and nuts in everyday’s diet is this Dates Anjeer ladoo. A no-hassle free recipe involving no added sugar in any form, thus preserving the sweetness and goodness of the dried fruits in their natural form. You could also add dessicated coconut to this, as it is rich in calcium and energy.
Preparation time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 10 minutes
Servings: 15 nos.
Ingredients:
Dates: 30 nos
Figs: 20 nos
Dried fruits – 1 cup
Dessicated coconut- 1 tbsp (optional)
Method:
Clean the figs & dates and remove the seeds. Put them in a blender and run it until it is in a paste form.
Remove it and keep it aside.
Put the dried nuts in the blender and run the blender until the nuts are coarsely powdered, remember they should not be in a powdered form.
You can add dessicated coconut to the mixture and blend well.
Then you roll the mixture into balls and roll them on a plate of dessicated coconut. Remember the taste and appearance would change. If you wish to keep the original flavor alive, then skip the coconut.
Similar to the above recipes, this
recipe too is an easy to make recipe which could be made with easily available
kitchen ingredients. The main ingredient being carrot, which is a favorite with
kids of all ages, your kid will surely love to binge on them.
Preparation time: 10 – 12 minutes
Cooking time: 10 minutes
Servings: 20 nos
Ingredients:
Grated carrot – 2 cups
Dessicated coconut – 1 cup
1 tsp cardamom powder
2 tbsp powdered brown sugar or
palm sugar
2 tbsp ghee
Raisins and almonds – to taste
Method:
In the pan sauté grated carrots on low flame until the raw taste vanishes and the carrots change colour to brownish colour.
Add dessicated coconut and cardamom powder to it and mix well.
Add the remaining ingredients and mix well. Cook on low flame until the excess water of the carrots evaporates.
If finding difficult to bind the ladoos, then you could add little ghee.
For millions all over the world, our day begins with
a hot cup of tea/coffee dipped with our favorite biscuit. All of us have our favorites;
I’m sure you have it too! Call them ‘biscuits’ in Europe or ‘cookies’ in the United
States or crackers in UK, these delights are popular all over the world. There
are kids who could survive only on them all day. There is nothing really wrong
with these delicacies, until you really get to have an insight into the
nutritional facts about them – and your take on tea and biscuits is surely
going to take a U-turn! So, read on Why Are Biscuits Bad For Babies – Reasons To
Avoid Them.
The word ‘biscuit’ is derived from two latin words bis – meaning ‘twice’ and coctus meaning ‘cooked’ – so put together
it means double timed cooked or baked process of original biscuits. They are
generally made from refined flours, sweetened with loads of sugar, high in
calories (empty calories) and preservative content is really high.
Can we give biscuits to babies?
The commercial market is flooded with loads of
options when it comes to biscuits. The general notion among mothers is that
biscuits are easy to break, easy to feed, and hence a good option as a meal or
snacks for babies. It is actually not. Biscuits can never replace the healthy
meal options that we offer our babies. We aim to highlight the not-so-healthy
aspects of the commercially bought cookies/biscuits. And some of the
Nutritional facts are a real eye-opener; and some of them could come as a real
shocker too.
Baby Biscuits
Why Are Biscuits Bad For Babies – Reasons To Avoid
Them
Refined
wheat flour
The main ingredient which goes into the making of
biscuits is refined wheat flour. Whole wheat is undoubtedly a healthier option;
but the refined one is absolutely devoid of any nutritional aspects. Maida, as
it is commonly called, is basically the discarded by-product of wheat as it
undergoes the process of refinement and polishing, thereby wiping off all the
health benefits of whole wheat, namely vitamins and fibre. Due to the lack of
fibre it may also cause digestive issues like constipation and irregular bowel
movement in babies as well as adults.
The reason behind this process of refinement is to make the biscuits
tastier and increase their shelf life. Good for the store owners, and an
absolute no-no for the consumers.
High in calories (empty calories)
It is believed that you could survive completely on biscuits, which is partly true. The ugly part being that you are bound to short-lived. Biscuits contain just enough calories to keep your body system functioning, but how that is the crucial question. Due to the refining process, the wheat flour converts into no-purpose flour. Thus, making this delicacy totally devoid of all good calories. They could fill up your stomach, but definitely not giving you any good calories, rest assured your nutritional benefits being almost nil.
High
in Preservatives
Store bought
biscuits and cookies contain Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and Butylated
hydroxytoluene (BHT). Research says that they both are bad for human blood.
Apart from this, biscuits also contain Sodium Benzoate, which is linked with
certain types of DNA damage. The other disturbing aspect of the packaged
biscuits is that they have baking soda as an ingredient which causes stomach
problems like acid reflux in young toddlers and young babies. Finally, the
flavoring agents which add the taste factor are known to cause brain damage,
chest problems, tumours and so on. Thus, your baby is better off when kept away
from all these food.
Allergic
Reactions
Biscuits contain allergic substances like gluten and
soya lecithin, which are the causes of allergic reactions in your baby in the
form of:
The dough used to make biscuits has to be made firm
and stable to maintain the consistency, shape and flavor for longer duration of
time. Hence, trans fats, which are the additives are used for the same. The
side-effects of the Trans fats are quite lethal – apart from being zero in
nutrients, they cause a serious imbalance in the good cholesterol and bad
cholesterol levels, vision problems in babies, nervous disorders, allergic
conditions, diabetes in babies and obesity too. These are solid reason enough
to completely cut off biscuits from your baby’s diet. There are brands which
claim that there are no trans fats in their product, which is unlikely in most
cases. The amount may vary, but every packaged food is sure to contain a
certain amount of trans fat, the only thing which may vary is the
concentration.
Constipation
Constipation in babies as well as adults could also be as a result of the consumption of maida, or all purpose flour. As this flour contains absolutely zero roughage and fibre, thus making it extremely difficult for the biscuits to pass through the gut. Thereby resulting in slow digestion and making it difficult for the babies to pass stools. Constipation could lead to various complications such as anal fissures, vomiting, fecal blood, stomach cramps, bloating and so on.
You just can’t stop at one. So very true when it
comes to our favorite cookie/cracker/biscuit. What makes us go gaga over these
seemingly attractive, yet a totally avoidable food? Research (Courtesy – A
study published in 2014 at Connecticut College) has proved that human brain
gets super hyper and activated after consuming biscuits due to the presence of
cocaine and morphine in it. These very same ingredients that are present in
coffee, chocolate and other caffeine-related items are known to give a certain
kind of pleasure and a kick to the brain. That’s why we tend to overeat
biscuits.
Consensus Action on Salt and Health (CASH), a
UK-based institute is working to reach a consensus with the food industry and
Government over the harmful effects of a high salt diet supported by 25
scientific experts. Their research has proved that average sweet biscuits
contain 0.4 gm of salt per 25 gms of ordinary sweetened biscuits. As we all
know excess intake of sodium can increase the risk of high blood pressure,
stroke and heart failure. The other common ill-effects being water retention
which results in bloating, puffiness and weight gain.
High
sugar content
Biscuits contain refined sugar; the amount varies
from brand to brand though, which makes them artificially sweet and tasty. A
particular type of sugar known as invert sugar is one of the main ingredients.
This sugar is sweeter than glucose and is known to cause mild addictions such
as sugar rushes, making your baby crave for more and more. Another quality of
this sugar is that the sugar crystals are small in size and hence can be easily
mixed in the dough. In addition to this, it can also hold moisture quite well
preventing the biscuits from drying up when in contact with air, thus
increasing the shelf life of the product. Consumption of high amounts of sugar
results in diabetes, cancer, heart disease and so on.
Alternatives For Baby Biscuits For 4 months:
The above mentioned side effects of consuming store
bought biscuits are an eye opener for most of us. For the most of us, biscuits
have become a part of our routine, therefore difficult to totally avoid them.
Similarly, for babies too biscuits are an easy option for in between snacks, or
for on-the-go snacks. The best option would be to alternate these packaged ones
with the following options:
Fresh,
home-made biscuits: As you would have the liberty to choose the ingredients –
be it the flour, fillings and the oil/butter to be used. Be it oats, millets,
ragi, wheat flour, quinoa, nuts, dried fruits, all of this could make for one
of the healthiest options of food for babies. There are many recipes available
online for the same. However, care should be taken to add any raising
agents/preservatives while baking. As it would defeat the very purpose of
healthy and safe baking.
Organic
biscuits: these biscuits come without any artificial colours or
additives/preservatives and they are quite safe for your babies.
Popular Baby Biscuits Brands – Nutritional facts
Name
Fats
Carbohydrates
Proteins
Britannia Marie Gold
250.58 g
4.16 g
0.5g
Sunfeast Marie Lite
220.6
g
3.81
g
0.42 g
Britannia Nutri Choice
813.5 g
11g
1.5g
Hide n Seek
301.1g
4.5g
0.4g
Bourbon
673.1g
9.2g
0.7g
Wheat Rusk
431g
8
g
1.0 g
Glucose Parle – G
220.6g
3.6g
1.25 g
Threptin Biscuits For Infants
Threptin Biscuits are far better than normal
biscuits because it has a higher protein content, especially those who are
lactose intolerant & cannot consume milk & dairy products. While you
can give 1-2 diskettes of Threptin, best to limit the usage to times when your
child is being picky about food or you are travelling.
Marie Biscuit For Baby
Which biscuits are good for babies?
Can we give Marie Biscuits to babies?
Best baby biscuit brands in India?
Are digestive biscuits good for babies?
These are common questions every mom has. Biscuits
of any kind or bakery products is not good for babies as they contain refined
wheat flour, added preservatives, emulsifiers and a lot of sugar. They can
cause severe constipation. While Marie biscuits may contain lower amount of
sugar compared to a Bourbon, Oreo or a Good Day, it is still advisable to avoid
giving biscuits to kids, as they can be addictive.
Arrowroot Biscuit For Babies
Arrowroot biscuit is generally given to babies since
it contains powdered starch that is derived from Tapioca, Kudzu & Cassava.
Arrowroot is also used in custards & jellies. It is a good pain reliever
during teething issues and diarrhea. If consumed in large quantities it can
lead to constipation.
Best Biscuits For Babies
If you are looking for the “Best Biscuits For Babies”,
the answer is the that there are no brands commercially producing biscuits safe
for babies. You can replace them with nuts, dried fruits and fruits.
Organic Homemade Baby Biscuits
Many recipes for healthy biscuits for babies are easily available on the internet. You can incorporate ingredients like ragi, oats, millets, cashews, almonds, walnuts, raisins and whole wheat flour. However, ensure you avoid raising agents, additives & emulsifiers while baking.
Effect Of Sugar On Toddlers
Withdrawal symptoms of sugar addiction can include mood changes & irritability, changes in activity level, either overactive or lethargic than usual. Common harms of too much sugar include obesity, malnutrition and irreversible tooth decay.
“How do I choose the Best Day Care Centre in Gurgaon for my child?” is one of the most challenging questions for most working mothers. The answer to it is not easily available, as it requires quite a bit of effort and time from our side. To derive at a definite consensus you need to approach your co-workers who are sailing in the similar boat, opinion of parents who are already sending their kids to the concerned play school or Day Care & online reviews to know the Top 10 Best Day Care Centres In Gurgaon.
Proximity- considering the traffic snarls, as
well as the safety of your child, it is always advisable to choose a Day Care centre
which is the closest.
Environment- A conducive environment for
learning where your child is given the full freedom to express, explore and take
things at his/her own pace should be your topmost priority. At the end of the
day it is your child’s smile which says it all!!
Teaching and non-teaching staff – Teachers with passion,
patience, perseverance and right knowledge are an asset to an institution. A
child’s well being and happiness is largely dependent on them.
Fees structure – Every family works on a budget,
hence important to look into the monetary part of it too.
“A home away from home” – is what defines a Play School/Day
Care is short. Your child steps out of her house for the first time in
anticipation of getting the same love, care and attention as she gets at her
home. The knowledge and skills acquired during their learning stages at the Day
Care centre forms the foundation for elementary and secondary education.
In this fast paced world, nuclear families have become the norm of the day. And to make life more comfortable both the partners step out and work hard to make ends meet. Therefore the need for a reliable Day Care is all the more relevant in today’s world. Here is a list of Top 10 Day Best Care centres in Gurgaon –
KLAY Preschool and Day Care – Best Day Care Centre In DLF, Gurgaon
A Day Care centre which enrolls kids right from the age of 1 through 10 years. The Pre school functions till 12 noon as usual and then it starts off with its after-school programs like art and craft, dance, karate and yoga, to name a few. The facilities at KLAY are equipped with the following attractions to make learning more fun and constructive:
The in-house toys are BPA and lead free, hence
no question of danger even if the kids had to put the toys in their mouth.
Access through CCTV camera system which enables
the parents to have a watch on the child’s well-being.
Separate spaces to enhance skills such as dance
and music, story-telling, art and literature.
Temperature controlled class room environments.
Timings: 9am-6pm
Location: NS – 08, B block, Opp AVA court,
South city II, Gurgaon
Contact: 7676708888
Vallores Play School – Best DayCare Center in Gurugram
Vallores offers a curriculum which stimulates values and fosters intellectual, social, physical and emotional skills. The School offers a variety of programs:
Parent Toddler Program: (12 – 18 months age kids)
Toddler program: ( 18 – 29 months age kids)
Pre-Nursery Program: (2.5 Y- 3.5 Y)
Day Care Program( 1 – 10 years age kids)
What makes this Day Care Centre unique is the following
highlights:
Availability of hourly packages
Interactive story sessions in the Library hour
Soft Play area
Providing assistance in completing School
assignments and projects.
Worksheets to enhance analytical and cognitive
abilities.
English language improvement programs.
Adequate place for resting.
Provision of healthy and nutritious meals.
Timings: 9am – 6.30pm
Address: G Block, Suncity Township, Sector 54, Gurgaon, Haryana 122002
Contact: 91- 8178260495
Sanskriiti Preschool – Best Preschool & DayCare in Gurgaon
Sanskriiti School boasts of a tri-way learning methodology which involves a balanced, triadic association between the parents, teachers and children. The underlying belief being that when the parents are made active partners, the children enjoy learning process even more, thus able to achieve more.
The learning methodology adopted is totally at par with the technological advancements – be it through tablet based education or the use of smart boards, audio and video lessons, and using a wide range of other gadgets such as projectors, computers, cameras, etc.
The safety and security of the students is ensured as the CCTVs are installed throughout the premises and parents can view the live streaming of the same. For Pre-school and Day Care student’s RFID cards are biggest peace of mind to parent wherein, when the card is punched in and the parent comes to know of the arrival and departure of the child.
Timings: 9.30 am – 6.00pm
Address: NS-9, Opposite 2059 A, Brahmkumari’s Ashram, Palam Vihar, Gurgaon
Contact: 01242365236
Pallavan Preschool – Best DayCare Programs in Gurgaon
Pallavan Pre School and Day Care located at Sohna Road offers good ambiance and safe environment for the children to learn and grow. The school offers 2 programmes – Pre-School and Day Care. The age criteria for an admission into Day Care is 1.5 years – 10 years of age and they take a maximum admission of 30 children. The staff/child ratio is 1:2 for infants, 1:3 for older kids. The Day Care programs are available for any number of hours, but within the working hours only.
Timings: 9am – 12pm Pre school timings
8.30 am – 6.30pm Day Care timings
Address: Uppal’s South end, S-block, Sector 48-49, Sohna road, Gurgaon
Contact: 8800311195
Ipsaa – Best DayCare & After School Program For Toddlers In Gurgaon
The Ipsaa team believes in creating a home like environment by giving a large family-like feeling to it’s children. A huge step towards this direction being that they have collaborated with a team of experts which involve child psychologists, paediatricians, physical educationists, yoga trainers, nutritionists and Montessori experts.
They offer three programs – Day Care (4 months to 2 years), Play school (2 years to 4 years), After School Program for 4 – 12 years age group. The After School program makes for an interesting option as the kids are given ample of free time to fix their own agenda, just relax with their favorite book or just engage in their hobby or any of their favorite activity. Habbas, as they commonly call their hobby classes, aim to give direction to children to choose their favorite skill – be it Bharatanatyam, Art, music, puppetry, Sports or Science and robotics. The facilities at the Day Care include:
Toxic free toys and other learning material are
provided.
An infant room with trained nurses and helpers
for children between 6 months to 1 year of age.
Separate 2 lounges for toddlers to relax
Timings: 8am – 8pm
Address: J block, Mayfield gardens,
Opposite Nirvana country, Sector 51
Contact: 1800 22 1515
Footprints – Best Playschool & DayCare Center in Gurgaon
Footprints Playschool has its network spread over Gurgaon and Delhi-NCR; with 9 branches in Gurgaon and 14 in Delhi-NCR. It offers a variety of programs based on the age group of the kids – toddlers, play group, Pre-nursery, LKG & UKG. The Day Care works on a simple logic – space for freedom of choice, choice regarding the activities they want to engage in, could be individual based or group based.
The teachers plan various activities for both aspects of learning; and hence the children get to discover their interests as well as get to learn group participation too. Healthy eating habits are encouraged; and rest periods are a necessity at the end of the day.
Timings: 9.30 am- 6.30 pm
Address: 9 branches spread across the city
Contact: 9643187117
Shri Ram Early Years – Top Day Care Centres in Gurgaon
One of the best Day Care centre facility in Gurgaon, Shri Ram Early Centres centre takes pride in the host of specialized facilities they offer – yoga, music and movement, well-equipped play area and educational learning material from reputed brands like Playtool and Jodogyan. They school also boasts of a fully functional amphitheater where the school showcases a lot of puppet shows and story telling sessions for the tiny tots.
The teacher student ratio is 1:9; with 1 support staff assigned to attend to the basic needs of the tots. The School contributes its bit towards environment conservation by planting special plants inside the campus which are known to be effective in reducing pollution levels. Their classrooms are fully air-conditioned as well as their activity centres too.
Kidzee – Best Chain Of Preschools in Gurgaon Delhi
The motto of the Playschool is to provide highest quality of Day Care in a safe and conducive environment – by following the three Es – Enquire, Explore and Experiment. Kidzee is one of the most widespread chain of Preschool & Day Care facilities in the country and claims to be Asia’s largest chain of Preschools too. They cater to children from the age category of 1 year – 5 years.
Being the pioneers in ECCE (Early childhood care & education), Kidzee provides world class care in the Child Development & Education space. Their highlight being their commitment towards providing quality child care and education coupled with focus on tapping and nurturing the ‘unique potential’ present in every child.
Timings: 8am – 3pm.
Address: There are close to 16 branches in Gurgaon
Contact: 098117 11315
Sparsh Kids Care – Best Day Care Center in Gurgaon
Sparsh Kids Day Care strives towards nurturing the physical, mental, emotional as well as social well-being of their children. They believe that early childhood years yearn for more love, affection and warmth. Therefore, their able team led by Mrs. Meenakshi Sharma, the founding member, tried her best to bring out the hidden potential in every child. The age criteria is 6 months to 10 years. The facilities provided in the Day Care centre are:
Well-equipped play area and dramatic play
stations.
A fully functional in-house kitchen (100% Veg)
to provide healthy and nutritious meals to their children.
Practice of regular teacher-parent interaction,
thereby facilitating a healthy understanding of the happenings at school.
Fully air-conditioned spaces.
Timings: 8.30 am – 7.00pm
Address: 90, Huda plot, Sector 56, Nr. Davinder Vihar,
Gurgaon
Contact: 085889 13238
Crystal Children’s Centre – Best DayCare in Gurugram
As they say no two children are the same; the School advocates for the same and hence, the approach towards each child should be unique. They facilitate for a safe and secure environment which encourages learning, sharing and hunger for knowledge and learning. The School has a well-stocked book and media library which helps them explore and discover the world beyond the class room spaces. Crystal Children’s Centre takes admissions for kids from 3 years upto 10 years.
The facilities offered for Day Care students are:
Providing assistance with the school assignments
Day Care facility even on national and school
holidays
Providing a suitable exposure for talent display
Rest/relaxation spaces providing comfort and
solace after a day’s work
Providing healthy meals twice a day – afternoon
and evening
The Life History Of Gautama Buddha: Stories & Teachings are a huge inspiration to many. The word “Buddha” means a person who has attained full prajna or enlightenment; and also the one who spreads wisdom. This title was attained by Prince Siddhartha Gautama at a very young age of 29 years when he set his foot upon his journey in search of spiritual enlightenment foregoing all his princely pleasures and luxuries. His journey started with the sole motive of finding out the reasons behind the widespread poverty and miseries suffered by humankind.
Born in Lumbini (Presently in Nepal) in the year 53 BC to Queen Maya and King Suddhodana, who was a leader of a large clan called the Shakya. His birth name was “Siddhartha Gautama”. Unfortunately his birth mother died shortly after his birth, after which his step mother Gautami took care of his upbringing. There was a strong belief amongst the then learned scholars of the kingdom that the boy would either grown up to be a great King, a military leader or a great spiritual leader.
Lumbini – Birth Of Gautama Buddha
The King fearing that his son would get attracted to the
spiritual aspects of life, did not allow him to even step out of the Palace;
and therefore being confined to the Palace he was overloaded with nothing but
the pleasures and luxuries of Princely life. King Suddhodana aspired his son to
become a great King and hence kept him away from all the worldly sufferings and
the harsh realities of life, as also the spiritual and religious aspects.
Turning Point In Life History Of Gautam Buddha
But as destiny had it, one day Prince Siddhartha asked his
charioteer to take him on a tour of the city. While travelling through the city
he came across an old man, a sick man, a dead man and a holy man without a home
(ascetic). The Prince who had been oblivious to the truths of life and death
had all of a sudden confronted the concepts of death, sickness, old age and
ascetism. The charioteer told the Prince that some people renounce their
worldly pleasures in search of answers to the reasons behind the sufferings
faced by mankind.
Turning Point In Gautham Buddha’s Life
Prince Siddhartha was very disturbed by all these sights; he
started to evaluate the very reason of his existence. The King was very upset
by all these happenings, and hence decided to push Siddhartha into family life,
which he hoped would do the trick. His father got him married at a young age of
16 years to a young girl named Yashodhara who was of the same age too. For some
time the Prince got involved in his family life; but his sub-conscious mind
never forgot those disturbing scenes. On one starry night, he left his wife and
new born son Rahul along with all the Princely pleasures in search of the
ultimate truth.
Gautam Buddha’s Wife Yashodhara
Gautama Buddha Story: The Beginning Of His Quest
Siddhartha was barely 29 years old when he left his palace in search of answers to self-realization. He followed a life of self-discipline and extreme austerity in terms of food habits, sleep and daily lifestyle. The result being that his body started to give up slowly; he had to deal with a lot of physical sufferings. He started off as a lone traveler in this quest, but later on he gained the support of five men who eventually became his ardent followers.
Many months passed, his starvation and self-denial proved futile in his attempt to find answers to his questions. Then something happened which turned the course of events for him. After several days of starvation, he decided to get some food for himself. He accepted a small bowl rice from a young girl in the neighbourhood. This was the turning point for him when he realized that following harsh lifestyle and severe austerity did not serve any purpose. Achieving a balance between spiritual path and worldly life is the need of the hour. His focus shifted to achieving a path of balance; but his followers misunderstood him for having gone back to worldly pleasures and so deserted him.
Gautam Buddha Story
Siddhartha never lost his focus; he believed that self-reflection
(meditation) is the best way to connect with the soul. He made up his mind to
meditate until he had found enlightenment. He chose a fig tree (now called the
bodhi tree) and started meditating and promised himself not to move until he
found answers to his spiritual quest. In his deep meditation mode he saw his
entire life happenings and that of previous births too. It is said that after
49 days of meditation, he finally got an answer to his questions. He obtained
pure enlightenment, and in that moment of enlightenment, Siddhartha Gautama
became the “Buddha” (he who is awake). At the time of his enlightenment he
gained complete insight into the reasons of suffering and how the humans could
escape all this trauma.
Gautama Buddha Images
Lord Mahavira – “The Four Noble Truths”
Gautama Buddha emphasizes on the four steps to attain
spiritual enlightenment –
Dukkha (suffering)
Samudaya (cause of suffering)
Nirodha (state of mind free from suffering)
Marga (way to end suffering)
It is believed that Buddha was initially reluctant to share his knowledge with the commons as he doubted if they could understand his teachings or not. But then, the King of Gods, Brahma along with the other Gods convinced Buddha to go ahead with his sermons. They told him that there are a few blessed souls on this Earth who will be able to understand his teachings. He chose “The Deer Park” in Sarnath to deliver his first sermon and it is there that he encountered with his bygone associates. His followers reaffirmed their lost faith in Buddha and became his ardent followers from then on.
Gautam Buddha Images
Life History Of Gautama Buddha
Gautama Buddha spent almost 45 years of his life spreading his knowledge to people from all walks of life. After achieving a great amount of success in this he died peacefully at the age of 80 years in 483 BCE at Kushinagar in India. The strong foundation of Buddhism being established by Gautama Buddha has found admiration and huge religious following in various parts of the world including Southeast Asia, Tibet, parts of Russia.
How Did Buddha Die: Mahaparinirvana
How Did Buddha Die – Cunda Prepares His final Meal
It is believed that Buddha received his last meal as an offering from a blacksmith by name Cunda. After falling extremely ill due to food poisoning, Buddha instructed his attendant Ananda to communicate to Cunda that the meal served by him had nothing to do with his death and that his meal would be a source of the greatest merit as it provided the last meal for a Buddha.
The contents of Buddha’s final meal have some ambiguity. While some believe that he was offered some kind of spoiled pork, others say that the rice was offered along with poisonous mushroom/truffle.
Lord Buddha’s Parinirvarna Final Words
Tradition says that the Buddha died at Kuśināra, today called Kushinagar which is a pilgrimage centre in UP, India.
His grief-stricken followers gathered to hear the Buddha’s final teaching before he left the world forever. Lord Buddha asked his disciples if they had any final doubts & his final words were –
“All composite things, (Saṅkhāra) are perishable. Strive for your own liberation with diligence” (Pali: ‘vayadhammā saṅkhārā appamādena sampādethā’).
When Ananda, his disciple was weeping, the Buddha told:
Gautama Buddha’s Final Words
“Enough, Ananda! Do not grieve, do not lament. For have I not taught from the very beginning that with all that is dear and beloved, there must be change, separation and severance? Of that which is born, come into being, compounded, and subject to decay, how can one say: ‘May it not come to dissolution’ ? There can be no such state of things … Now you should put forth energy, and soon you too will be free from the taints.”
Lord Gautama Buddha’s body was cremated and the relics were placed various in monuments / stupas some of which are known to still exist. For instance, the Temple of the Tooth called “Dalada Maligawa” in Sri Lanka is the place where the relic of the right tooth of Buddha is preserved.
Gautama Buddha Teachings
After attaining Nirvana, Lord Gautama Buddha Teachings commenced near Benares with five holy men and who were his first followers. For 45 years, Buddha along with his disciples started spreading Dhamma all over India
Lord Mahavira Buddha found answers to 3 universal questions during his enlightenment and explained the truth in simple ways.
Three Universal Truths Of The Buddha
1. Nothing Is lost In The Universe: The 1st universal truth of Lord Buddha was “Nothing is lost” in this universe. Our old solar systems disintegrate into cosmic rays. We are the children of our parents and we will be the parents of our children. If we destroy anything around us, we will destroy ourselves. If we lie to another, we lie to ourselves. What goes comes around. Never kill or harm any animal.
2. Everything changes: Change is the only constant truth. The 2nd universal truth is everything changes continuously. Dinosaurs don’t exist anymore. Nor does the cruel pratha of Sati. Life is like a river, it keeps on flowing, ever-changing.
3. Law Of Cause And Effect:
“The kind of seed sown will produce that kind of fruit. Those who do good will reap good results. Those who do evil will reap evil results. If you carefully plant a good seed, You will joyfully gather good fruit. “ ~ Dhammapada
A mirror smiles at you only if you smile at it. If we do some good things, then good things will come to us. If we do something evil, then evil things will happen to us. It law of “cause and effect” is known as Karma. so, always think good, be good & do good.
The Four Noble Truths Of Buddhism
The Four Noble Truths
The Noble Truth Of Suffering
“There is happiness in life, happiness in friendship, happiness of a family, happiness in a healthy body and mind, but when one loses them, there is suffering.” ~ Dhammapada
What is suffering?
Suffering is common everywhere – Everyone suffers. When people are born, they cry. When they are old & sick, they groan in pain. When people die, someone dear to them experiences sorrow on their death.
The Noble Truth of Cause of Suffering:
What is the cause of these suffering? Why do we feel pain? Why do people suffer? Cause of Suffering – Selfish, greed, desire and ignorance & wrong idea of pleasure.
The Noble Truth Of End Of Suffering
End of Suffering – Renunciation of greed and ignorance. In order to end these suffering, one must be able to overcome greed & worldly pleasures. One must not be ignorant & must try to live in a natural way and must possess peaceful mind, called Nirvana. This is the highest goal and aim of Buddhism.
Path To End Suffering:
The path to end the suffering, is called Noble Eightfold path or Middle way.
Noble Eight Fold Path or Middle Way
Noble Eight Fold Noble Path
The path to ending the suffering of people is known as Noble Eightfold Path or Middle Way. Noble Eightfold Path is one of the principal teachings of Buddha. These teachings of Buddha described the way leading to a cessation of dukkha and the state of self-awakening.
1. Right View: The knowledge & wisdom about the cause of suffering & how to end the cause of suffering is called right view.
2. Right Intention: To understand the “right intention” or the “right thought”, one should be able to differentiate between right and wrong intention. One should be positive & break shackles of ill will is what right intention will teach you.
3. Right Speech: One should always keep themselves from lying and ill speech. One should make best use of their speech and abandon false speech and always speak truth.
4. Right Action / Right Conduct One should never hurt others or criticize them. A well behaved individual is wise & mindful of his deeds & speaks without causing discord with his speech. The 5 Mindfullness Tranings are –
Respect life & protect all living beings.
Be generous & do not exploit others.
Avoid sexual misconduct & exploitation.
Avoiding language that causes enmity & create barriers that separate us.
Consume healthy food and avoiding intoxicants, including the television programs we watch. Entertainments that are addictive or cause agitation are best avoided.
5. Right Livelihood “Do not earn your living by harming others. Do not seek happiness by making others unhappy.” Do not choose a living where your way of living may directly or indirectly harm others. You should not engage in the following 5 businesses – Business in weapons, business in human beings, business in meat, business in intoxicants & business in poison.
6. Right Effort Right efforts or “right endeavor” is to take right actions & not necessarily “hard”. The 5 hindrances that interfere with the “right effort” are sensual desires, ill will, sloth or drowsiness, restlessness & worry, uncertainty or skepticism.
7. Right Mindfulness One must be conscious of the phenomena that their doings will affect the body and mind. This means one must be cognizant of their thoughts, words, and actions.
8. Right Concentration Also known as “right meditation”, it teaches people to concentrate and focus one thing or one object at a time. Thus leading quiet, tranquil and peaceful mind.
Meticulously following these 8 Noble Eightfold Path, we can cultivate their wisdom, leading to the path to attain “nirvana”.
The Triple Jewel Of Gautama Buddha
Lord Gautama Buddha establishes the three refuges for people to follow his teachings. A “refuge” is the place where people can rely on and go to for the purpose of safety. The three refuges that Lord Buddha establishes are as follows:
Buddha is the guide
Dharma is the path
Sangha are the teachers and companions along the way.
The Five Precepts Of Buddhism
Buddha established 5 critical rules and called them Five Precepts. In the state of Nirvana the soul reunites to its pure state and stop wandering in incarnations and karma.
The 5 Precepts Of Buddhism
Respect For Life – Abstain from killing any living being or creature
Respect For Property – Avoid stealing or taking anything which is not yours
Respect For Pure Nature – Refrain from sexual misconduct
Respect For Honesty – Avoid lying
Respect For A Clear Mind – Avoid intoxication or any false drinks
These are some of the teachings of Lord Buddha the has been passed down for centuries for the sake of humanity. Every Buddhist swears to abide by these 5 Golden Rules.
Teachings Of Lord Gautama Buddha
The Supreme Power that controls the universe has no form or name.
Strong characters are built by doing good deeds and kind thoughts.
Before criticizing anyone it is better to see what you are doing.
Always do good and do not waste time and effort on things that lead to harm.
Be aware of your words and deeds.
Death is not the end of life. Energy changes into matter and matter again into energy like pale leaf fell on the ground mixes with soil, seed fell on earth to give rise to new plant and so on.
Three poisons i.e. greed, hatred and stupidity keep us in the wheel of life and death.
Be tolerant of all other religions. One should respect every spiritual person and this is a very good deed. It is just like lighting one candle from that of other. Now there won’t be the light of one candle but two candles which will illuminate you and your life.
