"Living Goddess Of Nepal - Kumari"

          
            In Nepal and India, there is a tradition of worshiping young pre-pubescent girls as manifestations of the divine female energy or Devi(a goddess) in Hindu religious traditions. In Nepal, a Kumari is a pre-pubescent girl selected from the Shakya clan of the Nepalese Newari(a type of caste) community. Kumari means young, unmarried girl. Kumari word is derived from Sanskrit word "Kaumarya" meaning "virgin". It is also a name of the goddess "Durga" as a child. A Kumari is believed to be the bodily incarnation of the goddess Taleju(the Nepalese name for goddess Durga). The Kumari is revered and worshiped by some of the country's Hindus as well as the Nepali Buddhists, though not the Tibetan Buddhists. There are several Kumaris throughout Nepal, with some cities having several, the best known is the Royal Kumari of Kathmandu.


Selecting the Goddess
          The selection of the Kumari, who is entitled to sit on the pedestal for worship as the Living Goddess is an elaborate affair. According to the traditions of Vajrayana sect of Mahayana Buddhism, girls in the age-group of 4-7 year, who belong to the Shakya community, and have an appropriate horoscope are screened on the basis of their 32 attributes of perfection, including color of eyes, shape of teeth, and voice quality. They are then taken to meet the deities in a dark room, where terrifying tantrik rituals are performed. The real goddess is the one who stays calm and collected throughout these trials. Other Hindu-Buddhist rituals that follow determine the real Kumari.


Girl Becomes Goddess
          After the rituals and ceremonies, the spirit of the goddess is said to enter the girl's body. She takes on the clothing and jewelry of her predecessor, and is given the title of Kumari Devi. She is worshiped on all religious occasions. She then lives in a place called "Kumari Ghar", at Kathmandu's Hanumandhoka palace square. It is beautifully decorated house where the living goddess performs her daily rituals.


Goddess turning human
          The Kumari's godhood comes to an end with her first menstruation, after which it is believed that the goddess vacates her body. Serious illness or a major loss of blood from an injury also cause her to revert to the common status.

NEPAL

          Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India. Nepal is the world's 93rd largest country by land mass with an area of 147,181 square kilometers (56,827 sq mi), and the 41st most populous country with a
population of approximately 30 million. The capital city of Nepal is Kathmandu, which itself has estimated population of 5 million. Nepal is a secular country. We can find all people of different religions living together in peace and harmony. Majority of people in Nepal follow Hinduism and Buddhism.
          Nepal is famous for its mountain called Mount Everest (Sagarmatha), which is the tallest mountain in the world with a peak at 8,848 meters (29,029 feet) above the sea level. It has a rich geography. The mountainous north of Nepal has eight of the world's ten tallest mountains including Mount Everest. It's a land of yak and yetis, stupas, natural heritages, and natural resources. Trekking is by far Nepal's biggest attraction for tourists. Most tourists embark on some trek or the other, and many do multiple treks before heading back home. Some arrive each year to do a different trek each time. Nepal has a flourishing tourism industry, but faces problems of deforestation and encroachment on animal habitats.
           It is nonetheless one of the world's poorest countries. Most of the population depend on agriculture, and the UN estimates that about 40 percent of Nepalese live in poverty. It struggled to overcome the legacy of a 10-year Maoist insurrection. Until Nepal became a republic in May 2008, it had been ruled by monarchs or a ruling family for most of its modern history. Foreign aid is vital to the economy of Nepal.

Goa: A Perfect Holiday Destination

         

           Goa is a state in India. It is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in West  India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its western coast. Goa is India's richest state with  a GDP per capita two and a half times that of the country as a whole.
           Goa, a tiny emerald land, with its natural scenic beauty, abundant greenery, attractive beaches, and temples and churches with distinctive style of architecture, colorful and lively feasts and festivities, above all hospitable people with a rich culture has an ideal tourist profile. The main asset that comprises the high profile product is Goa's 105 kilometers coastline studded with 29 beaches lined by golden sand, a natural harbor, large network of inland waterways, century old temples and churches, renowned for worship and pilgrimage, cultural diversity that has no parallel in the world. The greatness of Goa perhaps lies in its smallness with roots firmly entrenched into the hoary past with richly built heritage. In terms of tourist attractions too, Goa's offerings are superb with their traditions of hospitality, varied lifestyles, cultural heritage and colorful fairs.

Weather:
The best and most popular time to visit Goa is during the cooler months of November to March, when the weather is wonderful, rain is a distant memory, and the seas are calm and clear. Arriving in October, at the very start of the tourist season, you will find the beaches luxuriously empty, but many facilities, such as shops, restaurants, beach shacks and beach-hut operations, aren't yet up and running. As March stretches into April and May, the weather grows hot and humid, and swimming becomes trickier due to rougher seas. Beaches slowly empty of tourists but, much like October, this means that facilities aren't as extensive, businesses slowly shutting up shop to await the return of tourists the following November.

Dangers and annoyances:

•  One of the greatest and most deceptive dangers in Goa is to be found right in front of your beautiful bit of beach. The Arabian Sea, with its strong currents and dangerous undertows, claims dozens of lives per year, many of them foreign. Do not venture into the water after drinking or taking drugs.
• Theft from rooms is something to watch out for, particularly on party nights, at places such as Anjuna and Vagator, or if you're renting a flimsy beach shack at Palolem or Arambol.
• Muggings have been reported in Goa--avoid walking alone at night unless there are plenty of people around.
• For many foreign women, beach dress code is dramatically different to that normally preferred by Indian women. This has led to problems with some groups of young Indian men coming to Goa for no other reason than to stare at scantily clad women. Many foreigners do seem to forget that they are no longer at home, and that dress standards here are different, and the harassers seem unaware that their behavior would be considered by foreigners to be unacceptable. The best solution is to aim for the quieter beaches, and just give in to the fact that things that might be normal elsewhere, such as topless sunbathing, are taboo in some places, and by doing it you are only likely to cause problems for yourself. Though the harassment rarely steps beyond staring or a few comments, there have been instances of physical attack.

Betta Fish

                      Betta fish are also known as the Siamese fighting fish. The wild ancestors of this fish are native to the rice paddies of Thailand, Malaysia, and Cambodia. They usually grow to an overall length of 5 centimeters. Although known for their brilliant colors and large, flowing fins, the natural coloration of a Betta fish is dull green and brown. The fins of the wild specimens are relatively short. Brilliantly colored and long finned varieties of Betta fish have been developed through selective breeding. Betta fish have been affectionately nicknamed "The Jewel of the Orient" due to their beauty, and their wide range of colors which are produced through selective breeding. If properly kept and fed correct diet, Betta fish live approximately two to five years in captivity.

Tank and tank mates
Careful research should be carried out before selecting tank mates. In captivity, males Betta fish are best housed alone,since, as their name "Fighting fish" implies, they will aggressively attack and kill (or be killed by) another male in their territory. Putting male and female specimens together is not recommended either (except for breeding, in which the female should be removed immediately after the process) as they will often attack each other. Female bettas can sometimes be kept together in groups of three to seven in larger tanks with hiding places for the less-aggressive females. On average, males are more aggressive. Betta fish will even respond aggressively to their own reflections in a mirror.

Food and diet
Betta fish cannot control the amount of food they eat. They easily get constipated. The owner has to pay attention and make sure not to over feed them. They should be fed once a day, or maximum of two times a day (3 or 4 pallets at once). They have stomach of size equal to the size of the eyeball. So, no matter how begging they look, wiggling back and forth, do not let them eat more. They can go without food for a whole week. So, don't panic if you forgot to feed your betta fish. Betta fish are carnivores. So, make sure to include in a daily menu, live frozen food like worms and flakes. In every pet store you can find betta fish food, but read the instructions carefully. Food like freeze dried brine shrimps, blood worms, mosquito larva e.t.c., can be used for bettas, but these types of foods should be fed very sparingly, and no more than twice a week. If fed too much or too often, it can make your betta sick.Freeze dried blood worms and the like are known to carry bacterial infections. If fed sparingly as a treat, the chances of them harming your betta are very slim. If fed as a main source, he will definitely be heading for illness, such as constipation, ick, swim bladder disorder, and the variety of betta fish diseases.

Constipation and other sickness prevention
To prevent constipation or other sickness, once in a week, leave your betta fish without food. And, the next day feed him a pea. Take a pea and put it into microwave to cook it up. When ready, take it from the outer shell, and you will see two halves of the pea. Take one half, cut it up to betta's bite size and feed them. Repeat it once in a week.