There have been many discussions and theories about what constitutes art but there has never been an agreed upon definition of the term. Etymologically the word art is derived from Latin ars which means ‘skill’ or ‘craft’ and it is generally agreed that art is the expression of creative skill but then would the display of a readymade urinal by Marcel Duchamp or excrement cans of Piero Manzoni constitute art (it is another matter that these 30gm cans have found their way into art collections around the world selling for as much as US $80,000!)? Having scant understanding of contemporary art, these questions surfaced to my mind as I walked to the National Art School Gallery to meet artist Sheela Gowda who has come from Bangalore for her installation of Behold. It was originally commissioned for the 2009 Venice Biennale and has come straight from there, past the strict quarantine regulations of Australia, as the installation consists of 4000 metres of human hair!

Sheela Gowda trained as a painter but moved to installations later in her career. She was attracted to painting and enrolling at the art school soon found that this was what she wanted to do in her life as a profession. She has studied at the Ken School of Art in Bangalore, the MS University in Baroda, Shantiniketan in West Bengal and the Royal College of Art in London. Sheela is married to Swiss artist Christoph Storz.

Her sculptural installations uses simple materials like cow dung, kumkum, ash, tar drums, hair and car bumpers, to express her ideas and creativity. She does not create with any audience in mind but puts questions to herself in the creative process, harsh questions at that, and then answers them herself. Only if the answers are convincing, does she proceed with her creative ideas.

Sheela’s present  installation is of a humongous scale – 4000 metres of hair wound around suspended 20 Fiat car bumpers and lying in masses on the gallery floor, taking about 3 days to install. Since no space where she displays her installations is the same, she has to improvise, using the space to her advantage. The elements that she works with are always fixed and so are her basic displays of hung materials and the fact that her materials possess a certain linearity. However, the work that she will ultimately create will “inhabit the space in a way that is most suitable to it.” She admits to having a predilection for lines as that is what defines forms for her. The length of human hair she uses is not just another line but acquires a potentially different meaning when you think about the origins of each part of this lengthy strand, says Sheela.

Sheela chose steel to contrast hair for its shining metallic, manmade properties, as against the organic nature of hair. The inspiration for this installation originally came from the superstitious tradition of South India where people wind lengths of woven hair around car bumpers to ward off accidents. The irony of using fragile hair to protect the stronger metal car was not lost on Sheela. The simultaneous fragility of the human body and the perceived strength of human hair to protect this body from harm is also an irony. In our modern lives, we still reach out to the security of tradition to protect us.

I caught up with Sheela in the midst of her unpacking and arranging her materials at the gallery and so not having seen the finished work, except in photos from the Venice Biennale, I am unable to say at this point the impression the whole body of work would make on a viewer. But the coils of black hair lying on the gallery floor do evoke mixed feelings of amazement and revulsion. Whose head would it have adorned? Why did they cut it off? When and where?  What an enormous task it would have been to weave this long rope of human hair! Every piece of us carries an element of us and so is this the coming together of thousands of us in a way? This is what I felt looking at the masses.

The invitation to the exhibition describes it as, “Consisting of steel and 4,000 metres of human hair, Behold coils its way through the gallery, referencing both sacred and profane elements in Indian social customs.” I try to understand this in my own way. Hair, in the Indian context, is both an object of beauty and has many religious connotations. The Hindi term for it ‘baal’ or kesh changes to the more poetic ‘zulfain’ when a lover references his beloved’s beautiful tresses but when we see hair around the bath-tub, in food, or the floor of the hairdresser’s saloon, it evokes a feeling of revulsion. A widow is asked to shorn off her hair in some Indian customs while in other places we cut it off or rearrange it for purposes of adornment.

Sheela asks us to ponder over the 4000 metres of hair and feel the coming together of the thousands of humans who may be from different genders, backgrounds and ages. Most of the hair sold commercially in India comes from the heads of pilgrims who sacrifice their hair when their vows are fulfilled or when a close family member passes away. This is sold in 4 metre lengths which Sheela has woven painstakingly into the 4 kilometre length. Though she acquired the hair around 1993, she did not use it until recently in her creations.

“People have a tendency to ask, ‘What does that mean?’” says Anthony Bond, a contemporary art specialist and director of curatorial services at the Art Gallery of NSW. “My first response would be to stop worrying about what it might mean and think about what it makes you feel. Then you can move on from there to more complicated ideas.” (Quoted by Tim Elliot in Sydney Morning Herald 8-9 May 2010, in his article on understanding contemporary art). I would ask our readers to go and check out the installation art for themselves and see what feelings it evokes in them.  The artist is the opposite of the politically minded individual, the opposite of the reformer, the opposite of the idealist.  The artist does not tinker with the universe, he recreates it out of his own experience and understanding of life, said Henry Miller. In this sense, I could understand the art of Sheela Gowda.

Sheela Gowda’s installation will be open from May 12th to June 19^th 2010 at the National Art School Gallery, Darlinghurst. It will be officially opened by Dr Charles Merewether, Director of the Institute of Contemporary Art, Singapore and the welcome address is by the Indian Consul General, Amit Dasgupta, at 6pm on May 12th.

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 As we look closely over the fashion trends for 2010, we find a yearning for something different contributing to the ultimate and extraordinary in terms of fashion.

                         In India, the year will be about the new standards of fashion, which shall be classy in appeal.

 Men can comfortably pair formal wear with denim. Faded, stressed, torn denim trousers can now be worn but they should fit perfectly and go with sleek shoes, a smart shirt and a well-cut jacket. Checks can be combined with stripes and two opposing bright colors or ethnic patterns with classic or contemporary ones. Patterns are sure to appear in bright colors.

 Trousers are going slim and shoulders structured. The monochromatic color scheme is back in fashion with hints of splashy colors. When it comes to denims, the ripped away is in with tones getting darker. Men’s accessories are turning sporty this year with a more casual look.

For men, it’s about sporting high-octane styles in lively colors.

Women are ready to welcome color back into their life, rather than the reliable black dress. And this includes work attire. Peaked shoulders are an absolutely suitable ready-to-wear trend. It is ideal for formal jackets, dresses and blouses.

Get comfortable this spring in relaxed ankle crop pants. Add assertive footwear such as slim leg over-knee boots, studded footwear or ankle boots.

The use of white color will represent one of the main spring season trends in shirt dresses and silk fabrics. Yellow will be among the favorite colors of 2010. The new Black for summer 2010 is the tangy orange. Pink accessories will be seen almost everywhere.

For women, it’s about dressing in classy clean styles.Autumn-Winter is the time to wipe off the weariness of an entire year. This year oversized jackets are back in fashion. The style phenomenon of mixing and mismatching continues. Men can opt for double-breasted jackets. The autumn-winter season will settle towards more somber tones giving us greys, blacks and browns.

The year shall remain colorful, whether summer or winter. Whites and ivories will be the choice for summer and tones of red for winter.

                        Australian fashion reflects a vibrant, creative nation, rich in color and exuberant style. It also reveals the sophisticated, cosmopolitan and multicultural nature of Australian society. Most Australians are comfortable in T-shirts and foot thongs one minute and enthusiastic of innovative high fashion the next.

The fashion color of the year here is…tropical turquoise. “No-pants” look and futuristic accessories are among the next year trends in Sydney. They join statement shoulders, leather skirts and pants and statement jewellery.

Trend forecast has predicted the top pieces for summer 2010 will include military-style jackets, contour panel pants, slip and “scuba-style” dresses, silky T-shirts, crop tops and cycle shorts for women; knit polos, tailored shorts and baseball jackets for men.

                        The key to looking good is to feel comfortable with what you’re wearing. Clothes are in and out of fashion but what is imperative is to make a style statement and create something that is contemporary yet classy.

In Sujok therapy, each organ and part of the body have their projections on palm and foot in the main correspondence system. In each palm and foot, a miniature spitting image of the human body is formed. The hands and feet of the body image is also located on each finger and toe separately. This type of micro acupressure system is called correspondence system – Insect. We can also represent each organ and part of body even on portion between the tips of the finger to the first joint on it. This system is called correspondence system – mini system.

Sujok Therapy is working at multi levels such as physical – metaphysical level, homo-hetro level, eight origin theory, chakra system, onnuri auricular theory, diamond structure etc. At first level, different organs of the body by simple stimulation to specific pain points or projections in hands and feet with the help of diagnostic probe is given to cure the local diseases. However, the first level of Sujok therapy cannot cure the diseases which are spread on vast area of body, unknown symptoms, diseases that led to irreversible organic changes of the tissue etc.  

 The second level of Sujok Therapy is based on the concept of bioenergy, advanced version of acupressure/acupuncture of eight origin theory, 14 main meridians, 8 extra ordinary vessels, byol meridians etc. can cure diseases which are spread over vast area, pathological disorders.

 Apart from the above, Sujok Therapy is very useful in the management of the following disorders.

-          Removing the stagnation of Qi, stasis of blood, body fluids at any location of the body.

-          Correcting the rebellious direction or contravections of Qi  in any area of the body.

-          Raising the sinking or collapsing Qi of any organ of the body.

-          Expelling the pathogenic factors causing diseases – external and internal factors.

-          Correcting the excretory functions of the body.

-          Harmonizing all the body systems including neurological, endocrinal and immune systems.

-          Correcting any type of degeneration of the body such as nerve/ joints/fibroids etc.

-          Rectifications of muscular structural problems such as scoliosis, one leg longer than the other, one shoulder more elevated than the other and so on.

-          Treatment of inborn, hereditary and constitutional diseases.

 In the last one or two decades some of the most recognized medical doctors (e.g Dr R.Voll ) have shifted their healing practice to the Holistic healing system because this healing system is most effective, simple and gives instant relief the suffering mankind. It seems very likely that is basic Su Jok therapy whereby giving simple stimulation to the specific correspondence projections in hands and feet with help of probe and advanced version of acupressure/acupuncture fundamentals (energy concept, eight origin theory, homo-hetero principles, 14 main meridians, 8 extra-ordinary vessels, sedation and tonification by using byol meridians etc.) and if done with grace and blessing of Almighty God gives miracle results.

 There is no need for any precautions to be taken during the treatment since the therapy is most natural & curing only the natural forces in & around the body. It is one of the safest therapies with absolutely no side effects.

 The technology of a nation reveals the best brains turning their knowledge into real applications. Advances in technology have done much to transform the way we live and communicate.

 Science has showed the way to a better future. The communications revolution led to ample accessibility of Hi-tech gadgets. New space programmes took India to where it had never been before. The Internet reached handheld devices and small pockets. In medicine, new frontiers contravened with every passing year. No breakthrough revolutionized life as much as the advent of the wireless world. The broadband technology presented the benefits of connectivity to rural areas and long distances.

             The Indian automobile industry moved through a technological change where each firm got engaged in changing its processes to sustain the competitive advantage and provide customers with optimized products. Starting from the two wheelers to multi utility vehicles, commercial means of transportation and the luxury vehicles, the Indian automobile industry achieved tremendous success in the recent years. Having firmly established its presence in the domestic markets, the Indian automobile sector is now penetrating the international arena. Vehicle exports from India are at their highest levels.

 What was perceived as an impossible and crazy idea finally turned into reality when Tata Nano was launched in March 2009. What has really happened during the Nano launch is the awareness of creating low-cost high-quality product with confidence in Indian Technology and using that to solve a common man’s need.

                         Indian software services industry saw one of the biggest bogies as it entered this decade—Millennium bug. And since then, it set a boom that continued till 2009 despite a few hiccups like the slowdown following the dotcom bust. IT-enabled services such as back office operations, remote maintenance, accounting, medical transcription, insurance claims, and other bulk processing have rapidly expanded.

India has a dominant position in enterprise products, embedded software, BPO, product design, telecom applications and in semiconductor chip design. This decade saw the rise of the BPO industry which suddenly changed the landscape.

                        The Indian telecommunications network grew at very fast pace and represented unique opportunities for U.S. companies in the stagnant global scenario. The wireless technologies currently in use are Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA).

                         In medicine, India has successfully mapped the human genome that will help develop effective drug development in the country, an achievement that puts the country among an elite league of six countries that have achieved the feat so far.

 Stem cell banking came of age in 2004 with the launch of the first family cord blood bank in India to usher in the revolutionary breakthrough of umbilical cord stem cell banking. LifeCell in Chennai was opened with a tie-up with Cryo-Cell International USA, the world’s biggest cord blood bank.

                        The space technology made a remarkable break through with ISRO Chandrayaan, within a short span achieving what it was set to accomplish in two years. The biggest moment for Chandrayaan came in Sep, 2009 when Moon Mineralogy Mapper reported traces of water on moon. Data from Chandrayaan has in a way broken the earlier theories and scientists are now studying the mechanism of how water is produced on moon.

ISRO is now working on Chandrayaan-2 and plans to land motorized rover on the Moon in 2012.

 The year 2009 looked like the end of the fairytale. The world suddenly saw visions of a great depression and only massive intervention in financial markets by world governments stabilized the imbalances. The Indian economy survived the global downturn well. It posted one of the highest rates of economic growth in the world.

The strong rate of economic growth boosts prospects for the Indian Rupee in 2010. With such a high rate of growth, interest rates are likely to be higher in India than elsewhere. Hopefully, 2010 will offer tremendous opportunities in all areas in IT, engineering, manufacturing, art, culture, entertainment and sports.

 “The great spirit of healing and love is releaved in the hands and feet designed similarly to the human body.”      Prof. Park Jae Woo

 Sujok Acupuncture/Acupressure therapy developed by South Korean Professor Park Jae Woo in the last quarter of 20^th century is proving a boon in the hands of modern and traditional health practitioners in the world.

Sujok word is a combination of two words i.e. Su and Jok meaning hand and foot respectively. It is a therapy that matches the classical science of west to the knowledge accumulated by oriental medicine from ancient times. Sujok method is known for its simplicity, quick healing and is a known therapy in various countries.

 Sujok therapy, a part of onnuri medicine, is a system of treatment comprising of a variety of techniques to prevent & cure diseases and restore health without medicine. The theoretical basis of this system of healing is based on homo energy system of human body whereby each hand and foot carries information of each organ of human body. Hands and feet by anatomical structure possess the most apparent likeness to the human body. Each body part (organ)/acupoint /area of human body is represented on hand and foot. This truly mysterious similarity is important in healing illness. Hands and feet thus act as a remote control to treat any disease of human body.

 There are many similarities of hands and feet to our body structure i.e. in number of protruding parts, their location, direction, number of joints, segments etc. There are five parts protruding from our trunk i.e. two arms, two legs, a head. Similarly from our palm and sole, fingers and thumb are emerging out. The index and little fingers are found to correspond to arms. The middle and the ring fingers correspond to legs. The palm corresponds to the trunk. The thumb corresponds to head and neck. The lifeline on the mount of the palm corresponds to the diaphragm, therefore above that lies the heart and lungs. Rest of the palm corresponds to the abdomen. There are a large number of controlling acupoints of our body which have been projected on our hands and feet.

If we sit like an animal on our feet and palm, the portion of our body that gets the sunlight will be tanned. Almighty God has tanned one side of our palm, feet and the back of our body. The tanned portion of our body is yang and the untanned portion is yin.

 Almighty God has gifted Sujok Therapy for the suffering human beings. The main principle of Sujok Therapy/Acupressure/Acupuncture is based on the concept of bioenergy, Qi. This bioenergy flows in very systematic and uniform manner. Qi must always circulate in each and every cell of the body otherwise it causes imbalances in different organs, tissues and cells of the body.

 Therefore the aim of Sujok Therapy is to balance the imbalanced bioenergy in the body which has been caused due to emotions (anger, sadness, fear, joy, worry, pensiveness, shock); pathogens (bacteria, virus, fungus) and diet. Sujok Therapy also uses byol magnets, star magnets and other types of magnets and seeds to balance the imbalanced bioenergy in the human body.

 The author is a practicing acupressure specialist in India. He is in Sydney for the next couple of months. He can be contacted for any free consultation at opluthra@gmail.com.

                                                                                                 Continued in next issue….

 Acupressure, a natural science, philosophy and rational method of therapy is based on an inbuilt mechanism provided in the human body by God/Tao. Acupressure treatment can be done in many ways – By needles (Acupuncture), Magnets (Magnet Therapy), Seeds (Seed Therapy), Colors (Colour Therapy),

Cupping, Moxibustion etc. on various acupoints situated on the body. The acupoints are low electrical resistance spots scattered all over the body. When there is an ailment of any organ, the electrical resistance falls down on it but when these points are stimulated they can bring about the cure by maintaining energy equilibrium.

 Acupressure/Acupuncture is based on certain principles i.e. five elements and their five energies, yin-yang, external-internal factors, hot-cold, excess-deficient, physical-metaphysical factors and so on. Our body is made up of five elements i.e. Akash, Vayu, Agni, Jal and Prithvi. These elements have five energies i.e. Dryness, Coldness, Wind, Heat, Humidity. Chinese experts have made some changes in the terminologies i.e. Wood in place of wind and Metal in place of Akash.

 Observations of Nature, including human beings, led the ancient Chinese to associate each Element with an extensive set of correspondences. For example, Wind is associated with spring, the color green, the emotion of anger, and the functions in the body governed by the Liver system. Water is associated with winter, the color black, the emotion of fear, and the Kidney system

 At any given moment, the proportion of the Five Elements in our system determines our physical and mental states. When one element grows out of proportion, we experience mental disharmonies (anger, grief, excessive joy, fear, worry), as well as physical complaints that correspond to one of the five organ systems.

 A Five Element practitioner attempts to identify which elements are imbalanced, source of imbalance and to locate blocks in the natural flow of nourishment from one element into the next. Once the body goes out of balance, the elements continuously interact with each other over time, creating layers of imbalance. Restoring harmony initially involves addressing current symptoms, which in turn allows the underlying imbalances to reveal themselves.

 The sum total of all five energies is called Bioenergy (Qi). It flows in meridians and organs and is known by different names in different countries such as bioelectrical energy, vital force, chi and so on. Meridians are the pathways of bioenergy. According to traditional Chinese system of medicine (TCM), meridians are the means whereby “man is created, illness occurs, man is cured.” 14 meridians are the basis of all theory and treatment of diseases in acupressure/acupuncture.

 Bioenergy causes vibrations in our body. Each and every cell of our body occupies a given space and cannot exist without vibration. This vibration is indicator of manifestation of energy, amount and type of energy differentiates each particle from other to be vessel of lesser or greater energy. More energy in particle indicates more dynamism and motion and hence more animation and contrary to it a particle is known to be inanimated. Each and every organ of our body is associated with a particular energy.

 Treatment of all types of diseases is done by transferring, transporting, moving, holding, raising, protecting, warming, cooling by inducing Qi (bioenergy), blood, life essence and body fluids at locations where they are deficient from the locations where they are in excess within the body, thereby balancing Qi, blood, essence and body fluids. Once the balance is achieved, the disease is automatically cured.

 The author is a practicing acupressure specialist in India. He is in Sydney for the next couple of months. You can get in touch with him for any free consultation at opluthra@gmail.com.

 During the first few months of this year, my family was highly excited. My sister had decided to tie the knot and we got together to finalise the budget for the marriage, to be held in a couple of months time. After carefully considering all expenses, our budget overshot by a good Rs 100,000 mainly due to rising gold prices, a must for most Indian marriages.

Ruffled, my Mom deferred her plan to buy the precious yellow metal, waiting for the markets to cool off and supplies to normalise.

But, sadly that was not to be, and Mom had to buy gold at the much higher rates. In fact she kept ruing the fact that she had not had the foresight to buy the precious metal for my sis too, when I had got married about a decade back. I remember that during the first part of this decade, gold prices had been about a third of where they are this year.

A cocktail of sky high prices and record weakness in rupee (that makes the dollar priced gold costlier), has pulled down gold imports in 2009 to record lows.

In fact many wedding customers are opting to trade in old pieces of jelweelry to get newere pieces designed, in keeping with the changing fashions. Said Nidhi, out shopping for gold for her wedding in November, “My mother insists I buy at least one new set in gold. The rest of my wedding gold will be made up of her and my grandmother’s old sets which I am returning to the shop in lieu of new jewellery.”

In January, India imported a mere 1.9 tonne of gold, a drop of 89% from last year and in February, imports were virtually nil, while during the same month in 2008, imports were to the tune of 23 tonne.

India, which buys around 700-800 tonne of gold annually, purchased just around 400 tonne in 2008, as volatile prices and sharp currency fluctuations curtailed demand. This year, the rupee hit an all-time low of 51 per dollar last week, taking its cumulative losses in 2009 to 4.5%. The currency has fallen 19.1% in 2008 against the greenback.

“Incremental demand in the physical markets will be almost nil in the next few months and barring necessary buying for marriages, there doesn’t look like a immediate change in the import scenario,” said Anand James, senior analyst with Geojit Comtrade Ltd.

And, one reason for this is that at current prices, most households and also wholesalers are digging deep into their stocks to meet whatever demand is generated, which is further pulling down imports.

According to reports, a leading bank dealing in gold imports sold just around 200 kilograms in February, one third of its usual sales and that too from the stocks it held. “Jewellers are not keen on building long positions are price situation is not very clear,” said James.

It’s not that gold has lost all its allure from buyers, if demand is waning from jewellers and physical buyers, it is picking up in ‘paper’ form, that is in the form of exchange traded funds. The reasonably good returns that ETF have given in high prices are attracting more new investors towards gold ETFs.

According to rough estimates, the five gold ETFs in India have given an impressive return in the range of 22.38% to 24.38% in the last one year as on Feb 27, while during the same time returns on stock market have lost a staggering over 40%.

In the domestic market, gold prices have stayed in the Rs 14,000-15,000 for 10 g range for some time. At these high prices, there has been demand compression, especially from household buyers. Jewellery demand growth is muted.

Interestingly, attempts began in the last couple of years to project platinum (another precious metal) as an alternative to gold. Although the white metal is making small inroads in the jewellery sector, there is nothing to suggest it is taking gold’s market share away.

On the international front, one has been hearing hyped-up statements about the performance of gold and how prices could cross the psychological $1,000 an ounce.

Investor interest and safe haven buying have always been trotted as factors propelling gold prices higher.

It was on February 20 this year that gold prices touched $992/oz, a mere $10 shy of the all-time high reached a year ago. The uptrend reflected the support the metal had gained as a safe haven asset because of uncertainty about the health of the global financial markets and the global economy.

Following a series of measures initiated by many governments, there is now a sense of cautious optimism that the severity of the crisis is waning. This optimism, in addition to a surprisingly strong dollar, has proved negative for the yellow metal. If anything, the price performance of the yellow metal has left much to be desired.

With economic slowdown and loss of jobs and incomes, physical demand for the precious metal has taken a hit in India. As food inflation is still high in the country, the purchasing power is not strong enough. High prices discourage buyers.

Even the recent festive season did not inject the anticipated growth in the markets.

 CK Venkatraman, chief operating officer at Tanishq, the jewellery brand of Titan Industries had predicted, “demand could improve around big festivals in September and October, such as Diwali, when people traditionally like to splurge.”It will be better than the current situation. People must be getting fed up of holding back,” he said.

 But not much increase has been seen.  

Gold imports have fallen sharply this year, with the Bombay Bullion Association saying imports for the first eight months of 2009 were down 68 percent from a year earlier.

Venkatraman said retail demand has not fallen to the same extent as many consumers were trading in old jewellery when buying new pieces. “Import figures does not necessarily have a bearing on how the industry is doing,” he said. “The fall in imports could be affecting miners and traders. It need not affect Indian jewellers or manufacturers.”

In the first five months of 2009/10 (April-March), Tanishq’s sales fell only marginally in volume terms from the same period a year earlier, he said.

It looks like no matter how high gold prices go, consumers in India will continue to go for gold. But the trend to watch out for is whether they opt to invest in fresh stocks, or continue trade in old pieces of family jewellery.

Summer is round the corner. While most of us would love the welcome warmth of the sun, it is important to remember to take precautions as summer can wreak havoc upon us. Here are a few tips that most of us know, but might have forgotten, to help us sail through the summer with ‘breeze.’

 Sun Care
The first and most important tip for summer is to remember to use sunscreen or sun block every day make sure it has an SPF rating of 15 or higher. Any one who would have an extended period of sun exposure should apply and reapply sun block throughout the day to avoid sun rash, sun burns, or possible skin cancer. Wear appropriate clothing for outdoor activities during the summer season to stay cool and dry, and prevent possible heat exhaustion. Try loose cottons in light colours. Remember the give back to the body what it looses due to the heat. Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated. It is a good idea to carry a moisturizer with vitamin E and aloe. Use it liberally to replenish the lost fluids after sun exposure.

Seasonal Allergies
Allergies are very common during the summer months. If you are highly prone to seasonal allergies, many anti-histamine medications can help block the effects of indoor and outdoor allergens. Speak to your GP about it and take adequate medications. Those prone to allergies should stay indoors between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m., when outdoor pollen counts are usually highest. When mowing the lawn or being around freshly cut grass, wear a mask or a handkerchief. Take a shower, wash your hair, and change your clothes to remove pollen that may have collected in your clothes and hair. Even if you are not allergic, regular showers help you stay fresh through the long summer days.

Bites and Stings

Bites and stings are another natural fallout of the season. Children should be taught to stay away from all kinds of insects. Do not provoke insects, if possible; and use protectants and repellants while outdoors. Avoid perfumes and floral-patterned or dark clothing. Wear appropriate protective clothing, paying special attention to cuff areas at ankles, wrists, and neck. Use caution when eating outdoors, especially with sweetened beverages or in areas around garbage cans, which often attract bees. Those with a serious allergy to insect bites or stings, carry an emergency epinephrine kit (which requires a prescription). Friends and family should be taught how to use it if you have a reaction. In case you have been bitten or stung, wash the site thoroughly with soap and water. Then place ice (wrapped in a washcloth) on the site of the sting for 10 minutes and then off for 10 minutes. Repeat this process. If necessary, take an antihistamine or apply creams that reduce itching. Over the next several days, watch for signs of infection (such as increasing redness, swelling, or pain)

Food Safety
Summer is the time when food spoils the fastest. One should cook all food well, this is not the season to eat too much of undercooked meats and non-vegetarian food. Cook meat, poultry and seafood thoroughly. Use a meat thermometer to be sure grilled meats are sufficiently cooked. Wash hands, utensils, and cutting boards before they touch another food to prevent cross-contamination of foods. Refrigerate any leftover foods shortly after serving. In fact it is best to cook proportionately during summer so that no food id left over. Wash produce thoroughly to remove visible dirt, and discard the outermost leaves of a head of lettuce or cabbage.

 What to Drink and Eat

Try and consume the juices of grapes, watermelon, banana, jack fruit, lemon and pineapple. To put it simply, foods and juices of sweet and cold and easily digestible fruits and vegetables should be consumed. Try and prepare sugar, barely/green gram, sharbats, buttermilk with sugar candy to cool the body. Avoid pungent, sour, dry and salty foods. Meals of rice with milk, sugar candy, butter milk, lassie are good for good health. Ghee can be used. Consumption of coffee and tea should be reduced as they stimulate the central nervous system. Alcohol also heats up the body, and alcohol consumption should be reduced during the summers, if you must drink, drink it with plenty of water.

Jina and Shamik of WORLD TRAVEL HUB giving away free airline ticket to India to the Winner Mansi Trivedi at Gujrati Samaj Dandiya 2009 in  Lidcombe.