Amazing World Records Set By Indians

7 Guinness World Records India achieved so far

Indians are a talented bunch of people. They are second to none in a lot of fields, be it technology, medicine, sports or business. The same goes for holding unique Guinness World Records. From creepy eye-popping record to the longest domino effect, the sky is the limit for people who want their names to go down the history for their weirdest of talents. Here are some of the quirky & bizarre world records held by Indians.

World’s Longest Dosa

The 53-ft-long dosa was prepared by a team of 32 chefs who used 80 kg of flour,30 kg of pure ghee and 300 kg of cooking gas to make it in just 10 minutes. They broke their own record, which was previously a 32-feet long dosa in 2006. Before that, they even held the record in 1997 for preparing a 25-feet long dosa.

World’s smallest woman

Nagpur based Jyoti Amge (23 years) who is known to be the smallest woman in the world, is only 61.95 centimetres or about 2 feet in height. Before this, Jyoti also got the title of the smallest teenager in the world. She was declared the world’s smallest woman after being measured by Dr Manoj at Pahuk Wockhardt hospital in Nagpur India in 2011.

World’s largest biryani

Sixty Indian chefs cooked a rice dish weighing 13-tonne (28,600 pounds) and set the world record for the largest Biryani. 12,000 kilos of rice and vegetables went into preparing the world’s largest Biryani dish on March 1, 2008. Three cranes dumped 3,000 kilos of Basmati rice, 85 kilos of chilli peppers, 1,200 litres of oil and 3,650 kilos of vegetables into a giant vat at a New Delhi sports stadium.

World’s largest poster

Baahubali: The Beginning broke the opening weekend box office record in India in 2015 with $25.6 million. According to Guinness World Records, the poster has an area of 4,793.65 square meters or 51,598.4 square feet. It trumpets the movie’s star, Telugu actor Prabhas, as well as the name of the director, acclaimed blockbuster-maker S. S. Rajamouli.

World’s longest moustache

Ram Singh here holds the Guinness World Record for the world’s longest moustache, which hangs at a whopping 18.5 feet long. 63-year-old Ram from Jaipur in India has been growing his moustache since 1970 and spends two hours every day grooming it to ensure its continued growth – but he only washes it once a fortnight. It was measured on the set of the Italian TV show “Lo Show Dei Record” in Rome, Italy, on 4 March 2010.

World’s largest turban

A 60-year-old man from Patiala, Punjab, Avtar Singh Mauni, holds the record for the longest turban in the world. The turban weighs 100 pounds and stretches as long as 645 metres. Wondering how long it takes him to get ready every morning? Six hours! A strongly devout Nihang, Avtar Singh says he started wearing a 150m long turban and gradually started trying a 365m turban until it reached the size of 645m. He cannot get inside a car with a heavyweight, so he usually travels across the city on his motorcycle.

Largest gathering of Santa Clause

The largest gathering of Santa Claus was achieved during an event organised by Thrissur Citizenry & Thrissur Archdiocese for Buon Natale Programme 2014 at Nagar Saktan Thampuran Ground, Thrissur, Kerala, India, on 27 December 2014. A total of 18112 people were present for the gathering. The previous record of the largest gathering of Santa Clauses was in Ireland on December 9, 2007.

tips for taking care of your dog

5 tips for taking care of your dog

Anyone who has ever had a pet wishes just one thing – that their pet lives a healthy life. Your dog will offer your family years of unconditional love and loyalty — as long as you provide him with food, shelter, responsible care, and love in return.

Here are 5 tips on how to take utmost care of your dog. The more you know, the more you will be confident in providing a safe space for your pet.

Give your dog an identification tag

Giving your dog an ID tag is the first thing you should do once you get a dog.
Dogs can sometimes get out of their backyard or house and might need a little help getting back home. If you give your dog an identification tag, it’ll greatly increase the chance of you getting your dog back. You can also give your dog a chip so that it would be easier to recognize the owner in case your dog goes missing.

Feed a high-quality diet

Us humans tend to take good care of our diet. So why not do the same with your pet? Obesity is one nutritional disease that can be seen in many dogs. Studies have shown that being overweight or obese can shorten a dog’s life span by as much as two years. Fresh water should also be made available to your dog every time.

Take your dog to the vet regularly

The key to maintaining a very good relationship with your dog is to take proper care of him or her. Your veterinarian will provide you with information on vaccination schedules, deworming and external parasite control. A routine checkup of your pet will help in detecting any illness or disease before it’s too late. In many cases, an early diagnosis improves the chances of successful treatment. Your vet can also point out areas where your dog may need some extra care, such as cleaning his ears, helping him with anxiety, or even providing general training and obedience tips.

Train your dog

A training session with a proper trainer is a good way to begin instructing your dog. The better the dog is following basic instructions, the more it will be aware of what to do and what not to do. This will also allow your dog to socialize with other dogs. You will also have good control of your dog with the right training.

Spend time with your dog

Dogs need to interact with their owners regularly. Having a good time will help you get to know your dog better. Always keeping the dog fenced won’t help in the long run. So the more you spend your time with your dog, the better the relationship between you and your dog. Even though dogs can’t talk, they do express their feelings with their faces. So be prepared as to why your dog is reacting to a certain situation.

affordable foods that are rich in nutrients

 

5 affordable foods that are rich in nutrients

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Nutrients are essential for your body. Having the perfect nutrient-rich dishes also come at a cost – they can become quite expensive. This is why people opt for some cheap junk food instead. Everything that we eat tastes good and also contains a lot of nutrients, but some of them may also contain unnecessary fat.

This article takes a look at 5 affordable, nutritious foods and their health benefits.

Eggs

Eggs are one of the most nutrient-rich foods on the planet. They are cheap and one large egg contains 6 grams of protein. They are also full of vitamins, minerals and healthy fats. Eggs are also good for weight loss since the egg whites don’t contain any excess fats in them. Given their range of nutrients and powerful health benefits, quality eggs may be among the healthiest foods on the planet.

Bananas

Bananas come cheap and they are full of some important vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin C, vitamin B6, potassium and manganese. Bananas also provide a decent amount of fibre, which may benefit digestive health, promote weight loss and protection against diabetes. Consuming moderate amounts of bananas should be safe for people with diabetes, but they may want to avoid eating large amounts of bananas that are fully ripe.

Peanut Butter

Peanut butter not only contains fat, but it also has a lot of protein in it. A two-tablespoon serving of this creamy nut butter provides 8 grams of protein. Natural peanut butter is better than artificial peanut butter because the latter has unwanted fats and oils. Also, studies have shown that people who include peanuts and peanut butter in their diets are less likely to develop certain chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes.

Beans

Beans are budget-friendly, in addition to being very nutritious. Different types of beans vary in price, but you can generally find them for less than Rs.50 for a kg! One cup (172 grams) of black beans also contains over 15 grams of protein. Beans are high in low-fat protein, packed with fibre, and contain a host of nutrients and phytonutrients, the combination of which may help guard against diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and some cancers while also building and repairing muscle.

Milk

Milk is very healthy and affordable, costing a little under Rs.50 per litre. Milk comes in many fat percentages and is widely available, making it a convenient protein choice. One cup (244 grams) of whole milk contains over 8 grams of highly absorbable protein, along with loads of vitamins and minerals. Consuming milk and other dairy products regularly may help prevent several chronic diseases, including osteoporosis, heart disease, diabetes, dementia and certain cancers

Empower women

 

Are You a Feminist Wo or man? Dive Deep Into the Most Debated Topic of This Century

You must have heard this word very frequently. In conversations with your female colleagues, in movies, books, music, stand-up comedies, global speeches, debates or just about anywhere.

It’s so commonly used that it’s become synonymous with strong independent women. Unfortunately, some men and even women mistake it to be akin to male-bashing.

Let that sink in!

It’s not male-bashing, male hating. We don’t want to hate or be superior to anyone. We just want to be equals. Is that too much to ask? Considering we make up half the population in the world. Gloria Steinem says “A FEMINIST is anyone who recognizes the equality and full humanity of women and men.”

It’s true, that men and women are different. Biologically and emotionally too. Sadly, women’s differences are frowned upon and seen as a sign of weakness and a chance for subjugation. But differences have to be celebrated. We feel and express differently, and that’s what makes us unique and beautiful. We complement each other.

It has been thousands of years since human civilization, and yet we are still stuck with one gender dictating and dominating another. How did we, as a society, turn out like this? If God did create us, then I am sure he created Man and Woman as companions, not one superior to another.

But guess what the biggest irony is? Women look down on their own gender.

Have you observed that women are women’s biggest critics? While it should be the opposite of that. Some women judge, criticize and belittle other women for their choice of clothes, career or life. Some women even accept and expect other women to live in the shadow of men.

What I don’t get is, why?

Don’t we already have enough people to pull us down? Don’t we already live in a patriarchal society?

Instead, we should try to lift each other, love each other, help each other, respect each other and most of all, accept each other and our choices.   Women should be the flagbearers of other women’s achievements and bravery. Women should rejoice at the success of women; be the guiding light to girls who dare to dream; encourage girls to have their own voice; believe in the power of the female and stand up for themselves and others. Because as Maya Angelou said, “Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women.”

Another important topic I want to talk about is misdirection.

We are in the fourth wave of feminism. But it baffles me that we are still squabbling over trivial things. People think allowing women to dress the way they want, drink, smoke, party or stay out late qualifies as equality. It doesn’t even come close.

While the traits above-mentioned are one’s own choice, irrespective of one’s gender. They are merely choices—they don’t necessarily empower women. A woman can choose to do it or not. It’s her decision.

However, if you want to see a quantifiable change in the way society perceives women, then start by educating girls, respecting them, providing jobs to women, and giving women powerful decision-making roles. “Choose your battles wisely because if you fight them all, you’ll be too tired to win the really important ones.” This quote elucidates why it’s essential to stand for the right to education, right to equal pay, right to freedom, right to jobs, right to vote, right to her body, and right to choose.

These are the things we have to fight about. These are imperative, and there is no compromising on them. These things are trailblazing attributes which directly lead to other changes. In conclusion, I want to leave you with impactful words from Meghan Markle “Women need a seat at the table, they need an invitation to be seated there… where this is not available, they need to create their own table.”

Throughout centuries, a woman’s worth was measured by her role toward men. How good of a daughter she was; how obedient of a wife she was or was she a dutiful mother. Her life was always determined based on her servitude to others. Since childhood women were told and raised with the notion of being a good wife, and a good mother, and that their life was successful if they marry well. Career or job or personal desire was seldom considered and often sidelined. If a woman was ambitious or strived to succeed professionally or if she wanted to be independent, she was usually seen with disgrace.

But I am glad these medieval ideas are changing. These changes were possible due to the relentless perseverance of various women as well as men. These folks were well ahead of their time and were scrutinized for the same. They endeavoured for an equal society, and because of them, we are here today. Although we have a long way to go, these courageous people fill me with hope and strength. I feel fortunate to be born in this era, where feminism has taken the forefront space, and people from all walks of life are using their voices to empower women.  

Today, women are breaking stereotypes and taking up social, financial, and political responsibilities. Men are leading and encouraging women to stand up and take power. While the percentage is still a  bare minimum and equal future is still miles apart, women, now, see a ray of hope, for a day, when no girl ever feels sad for being born as a woman. 

Bring on the skincare treatment with these DIYs for all

 

Stuck in shutdown: Bring on the skincare treatment with these DIYs for all

This year is probably going to be if not the worst, at least the most boring year. Stuck at your home with nowhere to go, it feels like our freedom has diminished. Even though there are times when I haven’t left my house for days, the thought that I can if I want, was liberating. It’s all in your head they say, and they (whoever ‘they’ are) can’t be wrong.

As we fight the COVID-19 pandemic outside, most of us are battling mental health issues, stress, and anxiety inside. The paranoia which has gripped the world, although it is valid, has reduced our lives to a caged animal-like scenario, constantly waiting for the situation to improve.

While there are many negatives to this situation, I believe in seeing the silver lining. It just makes me feel better and more positive. All the times when one complained about lack of time, now we have all the time in the world. Yes, you are working from home and probably more so. But there is no denying that since outdoor activities are banned, you have the time to work inwards. By inwards, I mean, on yourself. 

Catch up on the books you always wanted to read, get going with some spring cleaning, binge-watch all the movies on your watchlist or pamper yourself with DYI face masks, facials or hair masks. Take care of yourself, both mentally and physically. It’s pivotal. 

To help you get going, your friendly neighbourhood survey man, as promised, is back with our part two of skincare DIYs treatments.

Rice water:

Yea, rice water, the one we easily throw off after washing the rice is liquid excelsior for your hair and skin.  An ancient Chinese tribe in the village of Huangluo is called the ‘Long Hair Village’. The Yao women in this region have Rapunzel-like hair which is long, shiny, black, and beautiful. And their secret—rice water.

Loaded with vitamins, minerals, and amino acids for skin and inositol, a carbohydrate that helps strengthen your hair and reduces surface friction, rice water is a game-changer when it comes to beauty regimes.

Procedure: Take a cup of rice, and rinse the rice to remove any dirt or impurities. Then take the rinsed rice in a container, add two or three cups of water, give it a good mix and let it rest for half an hour to one hour. Next, strain the rice and pour the fresh rice water into an airtight container or spray bottle, and you are good to go for one week. Make sure you keep the rice water in the fridge and yes, cook the rice. 

Tada. Now you have homemade rice water cleanser, toner, and hair rinser. If you are running out of stock due to the lockdown or panic buying, give this century-old remedy a try, and we are sure you won’t be disappointed.

Sidenote: You can also ferment the rice water for added benefits. After you strain the rice, keep the rice water in a bowl for a day or two and then when it goes a little sour, pour it into a bottle and use it for up to a week.

Tomato sugar:

Exfoliate. Heard this a million times, but after washing your face, you get too lazy to scrub it. But scrubbing your face plays a vital role in getting clear, smooth skin. It gets rid of dead skin and lets your skin breathe. 

While there are many products which claim to work miracles on your skin, homemade scrubs are a safer and more affordable alternative. One of the famous homemade facial scrubs is the Tomato-Sugar scrub. 

Tomato is a good source of antioxidants and is known for its astringent properties. An abundant source of vitamin A and lycopene—the latter of which, calms inflamed skin and protects it from free-radical damage. Sugar, a rich source for alpha-hydroxy acids combined with its granular structure, is an excellent exfoliate. 

Procedure: Wash your face and let it dry naturally. Meanwhile cut a tomato into two halves and spread a spoonful of sugar on a plate. Next, take the tomato and dip the inside part of the tomato in the sugar spread.

Now, gently scrub your face starting from the forehead and concentrating more on the T-zone of your face. Do this in a circular motion for about five minutes and let it rest for five more minutes. Finally, wash off with water and pat dry. You can follow with your favourite moisturiser for smooth skin.

Sidenote: Tomatoes are acidic and may irritate sensitive skin. Also, use soft and small sugar crystals, and exfoliate very gently. Your facial skin is thinner than the rest of your body so, please don’t scrub it like a stained dish.

Take away

We know the lockdown, and the situation is hard. It’s unpredictable when the pandemic will subdue, and when we will get on with our lives as in the old days. However, until then, all we can do is stay home and stay safe and do what we can. In this case, take care of yourself. And it stands true for everyone—women and men.

It’s an excellent opportunity to try the beauty hacks mentioned above and to see if they will work for you or not. With more than 10-15 days at home, you can try these DIYs along with the ones mentioned in our part-one blog. The ingredients are readily available and it's a comfy substitute for the expensive spas and facial treatments, which, unfortunately, are closed now.  Maybe when all this is over and when the world gets back to normal, you will be proud that you made the lockdown count.

 

COVID-19 Guidelines: You Are Safe As Long As People around You Are Safe

Coronavirus or novel coronavirus as it’s scientifically called, COVID-19 has shaken the world. When we stepped into 2020, we were filled with hope and excitement, but just three months into it and the world is in chaos- a tiny invisible virus has brought the world to a standstill.

Before we go on and on about coronavirus, we want to start by saying that don’t panic. We can fight it together by taking precautions and changing our behaviour. Amidst all the terrifying reports of this deadly virus, there is news for hope too. Hundreds of patients have recovered from COVID-19, and according to Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of WHO, the COVID-19 pandemic is the first-ever, pandemic that can actually be controlled.

Furthermore, the death rate is higher in adults above the age of 60, individuals with pre-existing conditions and people with low immunity. However, this doesn’t give young, healthy people the liberty to behave irresponsibly. Because you might contract COVID-19, recover too, but you might pass it to others for whom it might prove fatal. Or you might just be a carrier of coronavirus –meaning you won’t get infected, but you will pass it on to someone or something which has the potential to cause the infection. It’s not just our social responsibility anymore, it's the moral responsibility of every human.

The main cause for the spread of COVID-19 is continued socializing even after cases began appearing. Allow us to elaborate:

A person infected by coronavirus doesn’t show symptoms for 5-14 days after he is infected. The incubation period of COVID-19 is 2-14 days. In this window period, the infected person isn’t aware of his/her condition and goes on living life normally, in the process of infecting others. Now, these infected individuals are clueless about what’s happened to them, and they inadvertently spread the virus to more people until the symptoms start to appear.

In countries which are worst affected by COVID-19 such as China, Iran and Italy, the graph of the number of COVID-19 cases has always been exponential. So to combat it, social distancing is pivotal.

Avoid large social gatherings, parties, dining outside, mass celebrations or planned vacations. Go out when it’s absolutely necessary. Everything can wait; the coming two-three weeks are crucial. Buy grocery and other necessities needed for 15 days or so but don’t stockpile. It will create more chaos and panic among people. In times like this, it’s important to be kind. Before you hoard up on supplies, such as hand sanitisers, soaps or toilet papers, think about your fellow human beings; you are safe as long as the people around you are safe.

Government preventive measures can work only when we proactively corporate with the government. We can fight it together; we can beat COVID-19 and control the spread. Yes! It’s going to be tough, it's a lockdown we weren’t prepared for. But it has to be done.

During the time of self-quarantine, don’t forget to:

• Wash your hands frequently
• Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth
• Practice respiratory hygiene
• Disinfect surfaces and gadgets
• If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early
• Stay informed and follow the advice given by your healthcare provider

While these external factors are vital to prevent the spread, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is equally important. If you are in a lockdown or self-quarantine, it’s a perfect time to start cooking! Instead of Netflix and chilling, try getting back to the kitchen and bring out the MasterChef in you. Eat healthy and nutritious food. Wash the veggies and meat thoroughly, don’t eat it raw. Don’t binge on junk food and stay hydrated —preferably, drink warm water. Exercise or practice Yoga. You can do it at your home or on your porch or terrace. Focus on boosting your immunity. Because until a cure or vaccination for COVID-19 is found, your immunity is the only thing that can keep you safe.

Below are a few foods which are the powerhouses of immunity.

• Citrus fruits: lemons, oranges, grapefruit
• Indian gooseberry
• Ginger
• Garlic
• Turmeric
• Spinach
• Broccoli
• Watermelon
• Green Tea
• Pomegranate

Remember folks, in these desperate times, the true testament of human nature is proven. Instead of treating everyone out there as a possible suspect, let’s try to take care of each other. Yes, social distancing is in place, but kindness and compassion can still be shown.

In conclusion, we want to advise our younger lot to be more careful. You might be blessed with vitality and good health, but your grandparents and parents may not be. With age, the immune system weakens, and your parents or elders at home might not be able to recover if they get infected with COVID-19.  Therefore, take precautions, because if you don’t, you might be the one infecting your parents or grandparents. Take care of yourself and stay at home to take care of your parents. It's always better to be safe than sorry!

We sincerely hope, that within a month or two we can contain COVID-19 and get back to normal life. We know we will!!

Take care people. Stay safe!

 

Earth is facing the brunt of Man’s unquenchable greed

Man is a social animal.

We probably learned this in middle school. Until then, our innocent minds of ours thought, that other animals and creatures were created for the benefit of humans, and everything around us was designed for humans. Quiet a sense of entitlement right!

However, now, we know better, we are grown-ups, adults capable of making life decisions. Yet, our concern for our
the planet remains callous.

But do you know a secret?

EARTH IS THE ONLY PLANET THAT IS CAPABLE OF SUSTAINING LIFE. THERE IS NO OTHER PLANET!! 

While we see signs of the environment deteriorating—Climate Change, Global warming, animals going extinct—we go on with life, with an indifferent attitude. We think someone will fight for it, someone will come up with some idea, I can’t go and save the environment, I am not a tree hugger, or wildlife saviour, someone else will do, but not me.

Earth Day-Endangered Polar Bears in melting glaciers  

If you eat the food grown from the soil, drink the water flowing in the rivers, and breathe the air produced by the trees, my dear human, you are in debt to Mother Earth. We are so in debt that perhaps our whole life isn’t enough to repay it.

Today we are fighting the COVID pandemic. We are fighting an invisible virus which has killed tens of thousands of people and forced us to halt our rat race and stay at home.  Humans are suffering whilst Earth is healing. It almost seems satirical!

It’s true since countries have gone into lockdown the ruin we rained over Earth is retreating. Climate( climate change) is getting better; pollution is decreasing; animals not seen or believed to be extinct are returning, and the Ozone layer is healing. Come to think of it we were the ONLY ones destroying the beautiful world we are blessed with.

We have mistreated Earth. Took it for granted. If there was any planet in the universe which could support life. And if we, by some futuristic advanced technology manage to reach it, the native inhabitants would never let us stay there. They wouldn’t want humans anywhere near their planet. James Cameron showed us a glimpse of his magnum opus Avatar.

But enough said, now is the time to act. How you ask, you know it! Stop being selfish and start giving back. It’s about time.

Conserve water:

Earth Day- Child in a drought-stricken land

Water scarcity is a growing problem, and it is predicted that major cities of the world would run out of water (even groundwater) in a decade or two. Also though we are surrounded by majestic oceans and great seas, making up to 97% of the water, the water which is suitable for drinking is less than 3%. In which around 2% of the freshwater is frozen in glaciers, ice, and snow. So if we don’t conserve water, we are doomed.

Start by taking these tiny, but significant steps:

• Use water carefully
• Repair and fix leaky faucets and pipes
• Don’t leave the tap running
• Rainwater harvesting

 Plant trees:

Earth Day-Deforestation of Rainforests

Oh, how we love our Mahagony, Rosewood, Teakwood. How we love wasting hundreds and thousands of tissues. How we fancy tossing beautiful sheets of paper over and over again. For this insatiable love of humans, daily hundreds of trees are cut down. We see climate change and the rise in temperature as well as an alarming increase in air pollution and soil erosion. All of this is directly the result of deforestation.

Lucy Larcom said, “He who plants a tree, plants a hope.” If every human, alive today planted one tree, we would have over seven billion trees! When this pandemic is over, make an effort and plant trees. Because trees are our hope, weapon, and amour for a better tomorrow.

Avoid plastic:

Earth Day-Plastic waste floating in the oceans

By now, we all know the constant use of plastic is disastrous for the planet, but we don’t stop using it. We are so comfortable using plastics; we can’t think of our life without them. But do you know, the single-use plastic which you carelessly discard takes almost 1,000 years to decompose!! Every single item made from plastic takes years to decompose. And since we consume enormous amounts of plastic daily, it ends up in the ocean, landfills, forests, and worse around the throats of marine creatures and in the stomachs of animals.

You can start by:

• Switching to cloth bags­—reusable, environment friendly
• Switch to glass and stainless steel containers
• Don’t loiter plastics carelessly
• Segregate waste and discard them properly

 Conclusion:

Climate change is real, and it’s becoming worse. The environment is getting wreaked as we speak. We need to act, and only a combined human effort can save this planet.  People are in denial; people are indifferent. But sooner or later, the signs will be too hard and too harsh to ignore. If we don’t stop and change our ways, we may not have a planet for our future generations.

This Earth day, think about it. Think about it hard; let it sink in. OUR PLANET NEEDS SAVING! Earth has to be saved before it’s too late.

Take care of the planet while Mother Nature is being gracious and forgiving. If Earth’s wrath is unleashed, the civilizations, cultures, and worlds built by humans throughout centuries will be destroyed in minutes. Then we will be left will nothing but regrets.