why should not children play with shadows?

Elders will not permit this. they scold children and tell them its a sin to play with shadows, but inspit of that children like to walk with them or sneer at them.There is possibilty for the child to feel sacred. the shadow sometimes gives the subconscious mind an impression of a ghost or an evil spirit.therefore children should not
be encouraged if they are found playing with shadows

What are some of the best combinations of food that contribute to our health?

• milk and plantain
• spinach and chilly
• red chilly and coriander seed
• groundnut and jaggery
• beaten paddy and milk or ghee
• black gram vada and honey or ghee or banana
• jackfruit and honey
• rice and pounded pigeon pea or ghee
• green chilly and coriander leaf
• cucumber and salt and chilly powder

Roopkund- the mystery of the skeleton lake

Roopkund is a place in Uttarakhand state of India, and it is the location of about three to six hundred skeletons at the edge of a lake-Skeleton Lake in the Himalayas.

 

In 2004 a team of Indian and European scientists set off to the location to gain more information on the skeletons.The team uncovered vital clues including jewellery, skulls, bones and a preserved body. DNA tests on the bodies revealed that there were two groups of people, a short group (probably local porters) and a taller group who were closely related. Though the numbers were not ascertained, it is believed that three to six hundred people perished. Radiocarbon dating of the bones also accurately pinpointed the time period to be in the 9th century predating the earlier inaccurate tests. After studying fractures in the skulls, the scientists in Hyderabad and London determined that the people died not of disease but of a sudden hailstorm.

With landslides in the area, some of the bodies made their way into the lake.What is not determined was where the group was headed to. There is no historical evidence of any trade routes to Tibet in the area or any places of pilgrimage.

Tucked into the remote corners of the Himalayas at an altitude of 5,029 meters (16500 feet) ASL in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, Roopkund holds a mystery that has intrigued generations of myth busters. Better known as ‘The Skeleton Lake’ ever since a park ranger came across a mass grave containing around 300-600 skeletons. Following this awesome discovery of 1942, the skeleton abode of Roopkund has generated a phenomenal sensation. A remote and un-inhabited frozen lake, which requires a four-day trek to reach from the nearest locality has become a hotspot for studies and speculations recently.

Carbon dating processes conducted on these skeletons have revealed them to belong to any time between 12th and 15th century. On a primary level, it was assumed that the deaths were caused by some form of natural disaster like a blizzard, landslide or an epidemic. However, still today controversies galore among locals, anthropologists and sociologists on this topic.

Some went ahead to mystify the deaths with fictional possibilities and creating folklores out of it. Others suggested multiple causalities of the skeletons being those of wandering Tibetan traders who had lost their way, royal pilgrims, people committing ritualistic suicides, vanquished army etc.

More recently in 2004, a team of European and Indian scientists sent by The National Geographic Channel visited Roopkund to carry on with the probe. Their research has unearthed interesting hints and information. Part of their findings includes anthropological treasures like well-preserved corpses, jewelry, bones and skulls belonging to the dead.

By conducting DNA tests on these bodies the experts have found that the dead belonged to two different teams. One team is marked by the shorter stature of the skeletons while the other is significantly taller. The first group is thought to be of local artisans while those belonging to the second group were possibly members of the same clan, like porters.

A fresh set of radio carbon dating was carried out on the bodies to reveal that the previous dating had come up with incorrect chronological data. The dead are ascribed a new 9th century date. The scientists of London and Hyderabad examined the skulls closely to find out fractures, which they deem to be the result of an abrupt hailstorm. The hails were unusually large in volume – about the size of a tennis ball each!

No wonder that anyone exposed to such a calamity in a mercilessly open Garhwal Himalayan plain were doomed to be perished. The raw air and icy hail blasts contributed to their holocaust. It is speculated that more than one landslide has struck Roopkund ever since the massacre. This has served in burying some of the bodies inside the lake – the ones that are still found intact, preserved under ice.

Even if the dating and possible causes behind such tragic death have been hinted at, the mystery continues about a different aspect of the Skeleton Lake. It still puzzles experts to think about where these people were going. Roopkund was never a historically significant region and no traces of any trade routes have been found to Tibet nor could it possibly be a site for pilgrimage to attract large groups of people.

However, the documentary ‘Skeleton Lake’ made by the National Geographic Channel has countered this assumption. The film claimed that Roopkund was the venue for the Garhwali religious festival called ‘Nanda Jaat yatra’ held in every 12 years. A procession consisting of a newborn four-horned ram considered the familiar of a Goddess starts from the nearest village and heads towards Roopkund.
Coming back to the Skeleton Lake riddle, probably the skeletons were those of the devotees participating in such a mass procession centuries ago. The folklores say that a certain king had participated in this religious ‘yatra’ with his company of female dancers. This had offended the Goddess Nanda and she vented her rage by bringing down the snowstorm at the hapless revelers.

 

why does people past cow dung on the walls in many villages in india?

Another popular custom among the villagers in rural area is pasting cow dun on walls, outside their house. Yes, its disgusted and ridiculed by many, but did you know, that this cow dung is absolutely rich in minerals and a great factor for antibiotic? Sticking this around their house helped prevent various diseases/viruses from attacking the people in the house. Its funny that things like this is the best way to help us from getting infected and what not.

why does some people have the custom of sprinkling turmeric mixed water around the house before and after prayers?

Its known that turmeric has antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory qualities. Ofcource, its helps more if its being consumed, but sprinkling it around the house helps prevent from bacteria to spread around. Its been widely used in Indian houses whom are pious. This practice is often said absurd because sprinkling turmeric water is said to be uncivilized, but apparently the houses whose houses have turmeric water sprinkled has less news on the people inside the house falling ill.

why is 'tali' used in marriages????

why is 'tali' used in marriages????
 
In those days they used 'Tali' as a recognition that the women is married. Tali was mere a thread with turmeric paste and dried and a turmeric root tied to the thread. As my guess says there was something else which was used for the recognition of a married women before the usage of turmeric (This is merely a guess and no proof or logical thinking). Gradually some science development was in progress and only after some significant scientific research the turmeric root and turmeric paste is used for this purpose. As we all know turmeric has a very high medicinal value. The then scientists came to a conclusion, if its there on women's neck it will help in building a good health. Now you can ask me why they choose neck and not any other part of the body. Neck is the first part where we get sweat more and more as we start sweating. That means there are lot of pores here. Don't you think this would be a good place to keep the medicine which can gradually diffuse into the body? The same conclusion was drawn by our great grand fathers and hence usage of turmeric. 

Why do Hindu Temples have Water Tanks?

Why do Hindu Temples have Water Tanks?

Temple Tanks are an essential part of every large Hindu temple. In fact, every village/town/city definitely has a temple that has a sizable temple tank. But why does every temple need to have one?

Conventional beliefs hold that the water of a temple tank is holy and has cleansing properties. The water acts as a cleanser, and people believe that it washes away their sins. So, it is an unwritten rule to take a dip in the temple tank before offering prayers to the presiding deity, thus purifying onself.

Also, the during the festive season, the deity is taken aboard a boat and given a trip around the tank.

But in actuality, the water tanks serve as a useful reservoir to help people tide over water scarcity. It should be noted that any such large area of stored water adds to the water table. So by installing a tank in each temple, the entire surrounding area's water level is significantly improved.

Further, water in India is largely dependant on the monsoons. In case the rains fail, the people can look upto these temple tanks to fulfill their basic needs.

What an ingenious way our ancient Vedic Indians had to utilise the rainwater! Giving the reason a religious background paved the way for its construction...

But these days we find most of these tanks in a state of neglect. They are either dried up or poorly maintained, which leads to their contamination.

Water scarcity is not a problem faced only by people of the past, it is something we face everyday. If we can revive this ancient system of increasing the water table level, we might not have to face acute water shortage in the future...