Draupadi - Satyabhama Samvada by Indrajit Bandyopadhyay

Draupadi - Satyabhama Samvada by Indrajit Bandyopadhyay

Traveller: Natural remedies to get rid of oily skin

Traveller: Natural remedies to get rid of oily skin: Oily skin is the effect of overactive sebaceous glands. Oily skin is more common in teenagers because of excess sebum secretion. Though, ...

Natural remedies to get rid of oily skin

Oily skin is the effect of overactive sebaceous glands. Oily skin is more common in teenagers because of excess sebum secretion. Though, it could happen at later stage due to hormonal imbalance, pregnancy, and menopause. Oily skins are prone to acne, blemishes, blackheads, and clogged pores. Proper skin hygiene is very important not only for oily skin but for all skin types.

Oily skins are susceptible to acne formation. Hence, your care for oily skin is automatically the care for acne too. We go for outside treatment always but basically the problems arise due to inside body functionality disorder. Some of the crucial factors involved for oily skin and blocked pores are pollution,  greasy and oily diet, poor metabolism, humidity, certain cosmetics and improper skin care. However, the type of skin is purely genetic.

Oily skin is not that bad as you get your wrinkle and other signs of ageing very late in age because there is enough moisture locked in your skin itself.

The first step is to know your skin type, so choose your product—from moisturizer, night cream and face wash—accordingly. Choose carefully the facial care products and cosmetics that are designed specifically for oily skin. Lot more oil in the skins makes your makeup slide and often leaves coating of grease and patches behind. The good practice is to use oil-free or water-based moisturizer before applying makeup. 

Always go for water-based sunscreen in summer.

What to Do?

Wash your face 2-3 times a day with some herbal or neem face wash as it works well for oily skin. You must wash your face after you come back home from outside. This cleans the dust and other impurities that are deposited on your skin due to excess oil. Warm water wash will be rather good. It clear away the dust and impurities and allows your skin to breathe easy.  Never skip scrubbing as it exfoliates the dead skins and open the clogged pores.  Apply oil free moisturizer gently all over your face, afterwards.

Clay mask or mud mask is great for oily skin type. Use clay powder, 1-2 cloves, pinch of camphor and add rose water into it. Mix them well and then apply on your face. Leave it for 15 to 20 minutes, and then wash it away. It’s a best remedy to reduce greasiness, acne and clogged pores. You can use clay and honey mix also for glowing skin. Sandalwood is best for soaking excess oil and reducing blemishes and pimples. It has cooling effect also. Make a paste of sandalwood powder using rose water. Apply the paste on your face, leave it for 15 minutes, and then wash. It tightens the skin, cleans the pores, and lightens the dark patches as well.

However, whatever you do, you cannot get rid of exfoliating of skin. It removes the oldest dead skin that clogs your skin pores and blocks the outlet. It also removes the excess oil from your skin and prevents further clogging of pores. You can use any good scrubs available in the market; walnut scrub is reckoned best for oily skin. You can prepare your scrub at home also. Mix powered whole masoor dal (red lentil) with milk, and gently scrub your face for 10 minutes. It helps in opening the blocked outlet and removing dust.

While going out in summer keep a blotting paper or tissue paper handy, so you can come to your rescue every time when the oil started to run. 

Overall health is very necessary for a good, healthy skin. However, we generally emphasize on external methods to get rid of oily skin. Don’t avoid the skin health; it is only will provide an everlasting solution. Check your liver functionality regularly. Drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of water daily to keep yourself hydrated and reduce the toxins.

Regular intake of fruits and green vegetables in your diet is good for skin health. Avoid too much oily food so your digestive system works well. Instead of oily food, take whole grains, protein-rich food, and low fat foods. Excess of alcohol and caffeine drinks are also bad for oily skin.

Following the simple skin care tips and treatment you can get rid of oily skin fast and naturally.

अन्जान पथिक

मैं हूँ ऐसा अन्जान पथिक 
जो अँधेरे में चला जा रहा है।
अपनी आशाओं , निराशाओं के साथ
प्रकाश की आस में बहा जा रहा है।

                                      मन में बारम्बार विचार उठता है
                                      क्या मेरी राह है सही ,
                                      मंजिल से अनभिज्ञ,
                                      पैर हैं कि रुकते नहीं।

एक पल रुकना, फिर सोचना
किस राह पर चलें किस पर नहीं।
यथार्थ में जीता हूँ मगर कल्पनाएँ फिर भी साथ हैं,
सोचने करने को बहुत कुछ मगर संघर्ष भी साथ है।

                                   दुसरे के जीवन को आदर्श बनाकर,
                                   उसमे जीना अत्यंत कठिन है।
                                   अपनी वेदनाओं और विचारों से सिद्धांत बनाकर,
                                   उनके विरुद्ध लड़ना अत्यंत कठिन है।

जीवन एक जंतर मंतर है,
कई अन्जान रास्तों में घोर समर है।
यहाँ धूप, क्षाऊँ, सुख, दुःख सभी हैं,
सहचरों से प्यार, सम्मान सभी कुछ मिला है।

                                 दिल और दिमाग के बीच फिर भी कुछ अंतर है।
                                 रास्तों में खो जाने का निरंतर डर है,
                                 मेरा जीवन निरूद्देश, ऐसे जीवन का मैं प्रार्थी नहीं।
                                 संकटों का स्वागत लेकिन लड़ने को हथियार नहीं,
                                 सृजन करने की चाहत लेकिन उसका साहस नहीं।

ऐसी धुंध में मैं खोना नहीं चाहता,
धुंध के आगे धुंध कुछ भी स्पष्ट नहीं होता,
मन मैं उसी राह पर चलूँ जिसमें मुझे विशवास हो,
उसी मंजिल पर पहूंचूं जहाँ मेरी आत्मा साथ हो।

Mobile Computing

Mobile computing is a recent origin and advancement of personal computing; and we are not immune enough to let the endemic not affect us. Wireless networking has opened a wide scope for mobile computing. There is a huge favors for mobile network connectivity over PC network connectivity. It has become an outdated habit to sit and stare at computer screen; it’s now time to move with network. Not only for generation upgrade but mobile computing is also being widely used for its cheap and handy Internet connection. In this Internet world you are assumed to be a laid back fellow when you don’t keep pace with new gadgets and new technologies.

What rapid progress we have achieved in telecom field is hardly seen elsewhere. Mobile has been used as an alternate device when it comes for taking picture, making videos, and net surfing while at present it’s is actively replacing the main device functionality.

We all want best mobile broadband and Internet connection for our laptop and desktop computers. There is a wide range of wireless data cards available that work on 2G and 3G SIM cards. 3G provides high Internet speed and huge download data capacity. You can go for 3G mobile connection for home and office use. The difference between the 2G and 3G is the data download capacity and the high speed Internet. Once you get the 3G SIM card for your Internet connection, you have to recharge it with 3G. Now, tariff prices reduced drastically so the 3G connection seems to be an affordable for many.

However, 3G data card comes with SIM locked devices so you cannot change the operator if you are not satisfied with the network service. Moreover, 3G operators have no nationwide networking. So if you travel to other place where no 3G network is available, you will have no option left except buying a new connection. Instead of buying a whole new connection again, you better have an open network data card. Thus, it won’t be a costly affair for those who travel a lot.

There are several data cards options—ranging from 2GB, 3GB, 5GB, 10GB, and more—available in the market. Aircel, Idea, MTS, Reliance, BSNL, etc are the few leading networks which offer broadband plans at affordable rates. Some networks are restricted to specific area and some work throughout India. Thus, mobility is no more bizarre issue with Internet.

However, choosing the best possible plan is not an easy job. You first ensure about your requirements and then check with the available plans. 1 GB data plan is OK for social networking, chatting, and emailing purposes. Enjoy fast speed Internet connectivity and bulk data download with 2 GB and 3 GB plans. You can watch Live TV, engage in video chat, YouTube downloads; movie downloads, and so on. You can go for big data plan if you are hardcore internet users and indulge into heavy uploading/downloading data and streaming videos, constantly.

Style Statement

Style can be seen in anything whatever we do, whether it’s work, fun, look, art, fashion, manner or anything. Selection of interior for your living room, your ideas about colors, contemporary architecture, furniture, trends all display your style of living. A kind of vase or a wall picture can enhance the beauty of the room and pass on statement.

Style generally comes with fashion and clothes and they both are inseparable entity. The kind of clothes you are wearing, the complementary accessories, shoes, handbags, hairstyles, and cosmetics that you carry have their own style. Clothes that you wear and the accessories you are adding at parallel, show your personality and the type of person you are. Be true to yourself and wear what suits you; don’t get blind with the fashion. You can make your own fashion and after all people get attracted with how you are going with the dress and not by your fashion freak.

Traditional wear: Sari is the versatile garment and it can be draped in different ways as per the social settings. It’s an epitome of Indian culture. Women look elegant and graceful in sari and it can be draped in many innovative ways with different kinds of cholies and blouses. Your style could be of artistic flavor, like bare midriff showing navel piercing or waist band. Carrying traditional sarees with antique or gold jewelleries and a bunch of gajra on hair give a dignified look to a woman. Light wear sarees at evening parties enhance the beauty of a woman by covering the body as well showing the curves at right places.

Keep jewellery minimum or alone jhumkas or matching hoops will be awesome with transparent or semi-transparent sarees; big diamond or stone ring will be an add-on. Women can try out for langha and designer choli also as per the trend.

The round and red bindi always work with sari. Women look complete self with that. Hairstyling opened several avenues into fashion and you can go extra mile with just coloring your hairs. Open hair look fabulous with sari.

Long anarkali kurta looks fabulous on tall and slim girls. Knee-length kurta with matching leggings is comfortable for day wear and popular amongst college girls and office goers. It’s simple to carry through out the day and little accessories with it make a style statement of its own. You can carry multi colour or multi pattern stole with it, stone or beads earrings, watch, a pair flat slippers, and are ready to go. Sleeveless will look awesome.

Western Wear: There are a lot of enticing western wear available in market and fashion conscious and trendy women have an ample of opportunity. Jeans are a permanent ladies wear and everything revolves around it to bring in a new trend and fashion. You can experiment a lot of things with a pair of jeans--whether it be a t-shirt, top, kurti, shirt, tunic-–and add variety flavors to your wardrobe. Jeans accepted as a most admiring casual wear for women and it don’t look alienated now.

A pair of leggings, caprices, and trousers can also be used with different apparels for a casual wear. Sometime, add glamour with waist-length t-shirt but that is for well toned and flat tummy gals.

Long skirts are also in rage as an evening wear with embroidered top or contrast t-shirt. However, plain, knee-length, and classic designed skirt has never lost its charm and still has the relevance for formal occasion. Evening gown and maxi dress are in current trend in India for formal evening parties. It looks endearing with graceful cuts, unique pattern and luscious colors.

There are various possibilities of experimenting in women clothing; don’t hesitate and make your own style. Sometimes your clothes speak a lot and display your attitude, behavior, personality and more.

Online Shopping

These days online shopping has become a big craze. It is popular in US but in India it’s new and gradually spreading its wings, especially in metro cities. There are various popular online shopping stores, which offer facility of cash on delivery. You shop for items at your leisure and delivery at your doorsteps within the specified time. Simple four steps that you need to follow: Select item-->Make payment-->Billing Information-->Shipping information and you have shop for the whole month.

What is bad about in person shopping is to standing in queue at super market payment counter. And it becomes horrible at weekends. As most of the people are off at weekends that means lot of people at shopping counter, carrying bags, and looking for parking. Online shopping emerges out as a big solution in this way to save your time and effort. In one way, it makes life easier. It is awful more to step out and shop for grocery and organic foods. Here, we are sitting at home, do shopping and keeping groceries in basket with just few mouse clicks. You can filter the display list on the basis of category, brand, price range, and quantity. Prices are fixed and available discounts are clearly shown so no scope for chaos and we can shop with in the budget.

There are various online shopping stores available but what we need is to explore some, and come out with the best option. Selection criteria might be different but few things we all are agreed upon are the best quality, reasonable price, easy process, and delivery on time. Most of the stores provide a wish list or shopping list where you can add items and calculate the sum before moving for check out. You can add or remove items as per your convenience from the shopping list. Select the time duration for delivery and they ensure the delivery at home in right time.

The apparently easy looking thing could be disastrous if the online storefront is unreliable and take your account details and card information, and swap all the money at one go. However, when you shop with reliable online stores, your credit card details directly go to the bank and then the bank further releases the required amount. So the online stores just get their equivalent sum without knowing any secret details.

Maha Kumbh

This time Allahabad is celebrating Maha kumbh festival with great fervor and zeal. I eagerly wanted to go there, but due to other task in hand, I have to drop the plan.

I guess, we all know about the mythologies prevail around Kumbh. The Amrit Kumbh (nectar bowl) brought out from Amrit manthan and to save it from demons, the Lord Vishnu seized the nectar bowl and run away. While running, the few drops of amrit have been fell onto the four regions of Aryavarta (India known at that time): Prayag (current Allahabad), Haridwar, Ujjain and Nasik. Thus, these four regions are the Kumbh (amrit) place; Allahabad is more significant, though. Kumbh held in every 12 years and rotates amongst these four places.

Prayag have always been significant because of Kumbh. Specifically, the Kumbh mela get over in one months; however, in general it continues to exist around two months……………

Noteworthy things about the Kumbh is the holy dip of Ganga. There is a strong belief that it washes away all your sins and curses once you dip in Ganga, during Kumbh. The sight of millions of devoted bathers in the bitter cold of season is overwhelming. This establishes the fact that they all bound with the silver thread of faith despite of their differences of casts, creeds, states, languages and cultures. I haven’t had a bathe in Ganga but I have been witnessed to it since my childhood. The auspicious day bath, which is Makar Sankranti, MahaShivratri, and Amavasya, takes millions of people around Sangam. Almost come with single hope—wash the sin away of current birth and do a fresh start in next birth. God-fearing people come and take holy dip and get rid of their previous sins and are ready for the next 12 years. Lots of babas’ open camp welcoming you with both hands to give you an extra mileage in this regard.

Personally, I don’t believe in Ganga bathing concept but the idea that emerges out is far admiring. It keeps bound you with your tradition. India is the only country which kept preserved its culture and tradition despite the onslaughts of invaders many times.

I have read somewhere that it’s Adi Sankaracharya who formed this Kumbh mela institution. The scholars and seers from all parts of the world would gather and mingle with common people and discussed and debated on Hindu philosophy and spiritualism. The purpose and format is changed now but the core concept is still existing—gathering of people with same belief