Most children fear doctors; hence, having a plan in place, to pacify their fears can help you as well as your little one, as children can suddenly become fussy and resistant.

Below are mentioned few tricks to prepare your small child for his/her first visit to doctor’s clinic:

1. Information Is the Key: We all fear unknown and small children are no different. To banish the fear of unknown, take time to explain it to your child what doctors are and what they do for other human beings. Tell your child doctors are smart and intelligent people, who work towards keeping people healthy.
Small children also worry about procedures that could hurt them like vaccination. If you know that you are visiting clinic for vaccination then gently inform your child about it. The news won’t make him/her happy but you will have time to explain that vaccination is necessary to stay immune to various nasty diseases.

2. Answer Your Child’s Questions: After explaining to your child who are doctors and what they do, ask if s/he wants to ask questions regarding what you have explained. There are bound to be questions in your little one’s mind and if s/he decides to share them with you then listen carefully and try to clear the confusions and doubts. Let your child know that you will be by his/her side during the examination.

3.  Play Make-Believe: Routine visits to doctor’s clinic, mostly, follow a set pattern and almost everyone except your kid, knows how it will go. Try to inform you child about the visit beforehand by playing make-believe/role-play. Pretend to be a doctor, check his/her temperature and have your kid say “ahhhh”, then reverse roles and allow your kid to be a doctor.

4.  Find a Child Friendly Doctor: Lastly, find a doctor, who’s not just qualified but also friendly with little children. Physician’s aloof, detached, critical, uncommunicative and disinterested assessment can offend your kid, making him/her believe that doctor doesn’t like them. Hence, finding a doctor, who’s qualified, competent and can also understand and sympathize with children, is important.

Dos and Don’ts

1.  Be ready to be extremely patient with your child even if s/he throws a tantrum at doctor’s clinic. Don’t punish the child as s/he might be acting up due to fear. If you punish him/her for misbehaving then chances are they will start linking punishment with doctor’s clinic.

2. Refrain from presenting doctors in negative light. Don’t scare your child by saying things like “you’ll take him to doctor’s clinic if he misbehaved again.”

3.  Also, prepare a list of questions you would like to ask doctor about your child’s condition as even after your best efforts you cannot dictate your kid’s reaction.

The best way to prepare your small children for doctor’s visit is to lead by example. Next time, take your small child along when either you or your older child visit doctor’s clinic for routine check-up. This practice will help in familiarizing your child with clinic and physician, when he/she isn’t sick and hopefully, won’t be creating a scene when it’s his/her turn to visit doctor’s clinic.

Priyanka Sharma

There are so many people out there, who are so sensitive that even a tiny remark to correct their mistake can hurt them, as in their opinion (probably) entire world is out to get them. But what they need to understand is when people don’t have enough time for themselves how they can possibly think about others.

And taking things personally all the time either in your personal or professional life can hurt you or make you resentful, angry and bitter.

Below are listed some tips on how not to take every little comment personally:

• Know Their Side Of Story: Don’t become a self-proclaimed martyr just because someone said something nasty to you. Remember, there are always two sides to every story. It’s possible that other person was in a bad mood and in irritation ended up being hurtful to you without being aware of it. Since life is too fast and hectic these days, keeping your calm all the time is not possible, same goes for others as well. Also, observe how that person is behaving with others around. If his/her behavior is nice with others, except you, then confront him/her and firmly tell him/her to stay away from you, if s/he cannot change their attitude.

• Give Vent To Your Hurtful Feelings: Don’t ever bottle up hurtful feelings inside you, either make the conscious decision of discarding them or give vent to them. Talk to a family member or a friend about how you are feeling. The best option, be brave enough to tell the person, who made the nasty comment that his/her comment had caused you hurt and you don’t appreciate such comments/behavior.
  
• See The Larger Picture: Understand, not every remark is a pre-mediated attack on you or meant to degrade you, e.g. your boss’s curt email regarding an assignment. In this scenario, assess the situation before shooting an equally curt reply just because you felt hurt. What if point raised by your boss is right? Even if it isn’t, be polite anyways. Lift your mood and move on with your life, not every trifling issue is worth wasting time on.

• Control Your Emotions: Realize, whether you are at home or at your workplace, acting as a sulking party would not work in your favor. At home this behavior will affect your relationships with your family and at workplace it will ruin your reputation.
  Instead of reacting badly, be assertive and learn not just to control your emotional response but also to tackle the situation with integrity.

Lastly, don’t give people unnecessary power to hurt you. Some people can manipulate your sensitive nature to cause you more suffering. Most importantly, stop being so sensitive that even someone’s harmless joke seem like an offensive remark.

Priyanka Sharma

Diwali is incomplete without mouth watering delicacies. There is a tradition to serve sumptuous meal at Diwali evening. Diwali platter remains filled with vegetarian delights. Mainly vegetarian recipes are cooked on Diwali, because festival is associated with Lakshmi ji. Diwali is also a time for family reunion for many families, so the served food should be finger licking and healthy too. Recipes like Matar Paneer, Aloo, Palak Paneer, Pav Bhaji ,  Vegetable Biryani, Mushroom and so on  are quite traditional. If you are looking for rich Diwali dinner recipes then following are some authentic dinner ideas to make your Diwali special:

Paneer Tamatar Ka Khut

Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients

Paneer 300 gms
Garlic 10-12 crushed
Tomatoes 5-8 (roughly chopped)
Tamarind pulp 1 tsp
Ginger 2 inch piece
Whole dry red chilies 3-4
Cooking oil 1 tbsp
Mustard seeds 1 tsp
Cumin seeds 1 tsp
Turmeric powder 1 tsp
Coriander powder 1 tsp
Cumin powder 1 tsp
Cinnamon 2 inch stick
Chana dal ¼ cup (roasted)
Curry leaves 5
Coconut milk ¼ cup

Method

1. Cut paneer into long strips.
2. Dip tamarind pulp into half filled bowl with water. Let it soak in water at least for an hour. Later strain it, and keep it aside.
3. Put a pan on flame, add tomatoes, ginger, garlic and whole dried red chilies.
4. Pour a cup of water. Let it bring to boil. This process will take 10- 12 minutes.
5. Once boiled remove it from flame and let it cool, then coarsely blend it and pass through a strainer. Keep the puree aside.
6. Take another pan add cooking oil.Let mustard seeds, cumin seeds and cinnamon crackle in the hot oil. Add curry leaves, cinnamon, turmeric powder, coriander powder and cumin powder.
7. Now pour in already prepared tomato puree. Sprinkle salt, add chana dal. Let it cook for few minutes.
8. Finally add paneer pieces and coconut milk. Cook it for another 5 minutes.

Paneer tamatar ka khut is ready!

Vegetable Korma

Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4

Cauliflower 1 medium sized (florets)
Cottage cheese 1 (cubed and fried)
Green Beans ½ cup (cut in 1 inch pieces)
Frozen green peas ½ cup
Capsicum 1 cup (chopped)
Carrot 1 cup (sliced)
Tomatoes 1 cup (chopped)
Coriander leaves 1 cup (chopped)
Ginger 1 tsp (shredded)
Green chilies 2-3 chopped
Asafetida a pinch
Cumin seeds ½ tsp
Turmeric powder ¼ tsp
Red chili powder ½ tsp
Coriander powder ½ tsp
Mango powder ½ tsp
Garam Masala ½ tsp
Salt to taste
Corn starch 1 tsp
Bay leaves 2
Milk 3 cups

Method:

1-Heat oil in a pan; add cumin seeds, asafoetida and bay leaves. Let the cumin seeds crackle in the hot oil.

2-Put some water in bowl; add green chilies, ginger, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, coriander powder to this. Mix in thoroughly and make a fine paste. This way powdered spice will not burn while frying.

3-Add this paste to the heating oil. Stir until oil starts trickling. Add in all vegetables except capsicum.
4-Sprinkle few drops of water and let the vegetables get cooked. When vegetables are slight tender add capsicum. Let it cook on medium flame.

5-Add milk in separate bowl. Also, add corn starch. Mix in with milk and pour it into cooking vegetables. Combine milk with all the ingredients properly.

6-Add fried paneer. Sprinkle salt and mango powder. Finally add garam masla and let it cook for few minutes. Remove it from flame.

Garnish with coriander leaves.

Vegetable korma is ready!

Serve it with hot rice or missi roti.

Tips:  You can serve Raita with these two above mentioned dinner recipes.

A lavish dinner is incomplete with out mouth watering desserts. Following are some dessert recipes to complete your fiesta: Phirni,  Pista rolls, Chocolate burfi, Balushahi, Ladoo, kheer, Rasgulla.

Happy Diwali!

Shipra Srivastava

1. 1 ½ cup gramflour (besan)
2. 1 ½ cup maida (plain flour)
3. 3-4 tablespoon ghee
4. 2 cup powdered sugar or to taste
5. 2-3 tablespoon milk
6. 1 ½ cup water
7. 2 tsp. charmagaz (Mixture of dried seeds of watermelon, muskmelon, cucumber and pumpkin seeds. You can grind them or can use as whole)
8. ½ teaspoon cardamom seeds crushed
9. Cookie sheet

Method to Prepare Yummy Patisa/Soan Papdi Recipe This Diwali:

1. Start with mixing both flours together, plain and gram flour, thoroughly.
2. Put saucepan on the burner and heat ghee in it. Then put flour mixture to it and roast on low flame until it turns into light golden colour. Remove it from the burner and allow it to cool.
3. Now prepare syrup out of water, sugar and milk. Boil ingredients till it reaches 2 ½ thread consistency. Immediately, pour it into the flour mixture and beat thoroughly with large fork until mixture turns into thread like flakes.
4. Then spread the mixture on to greased cookie sheet and roll mixture to 1 inch thickness. Sprinkle charmagaz over the mixture and then cut square pieces.
5. Patisa or Soan Papdi is ready to be served. You can store it for up to 3 weeks but store only in air-tight container.

Enjoy!
Wishing you happy Diwali!
Priyanka Sharma

Things Needed to Make Diwali Cards:

1. Coloured and white card stock paper
2. Pencil, eraser
3. Sketch pens/pencils or poster colors
4. Scissors
5. Glitter pens and glue
6. Coloured letter stickers

Fireworks Diwali Greeting Card:

1. Cut white card stock paper in a rectangular sheet and fold it in half.
2. Now use pencil and draw a triangular/round shape cone in the center on the bottom of the card. Then show some lines that resemble fireworks coming out of the cone. You can overlap three or four such lines to make your display look beautiful and attractive.
3. Fill the cone with colour and then start tracing sketch pens over the firework lines to make display colourful. You can use two or three different sketch pens on firework lines. Also, you could make your card look even more appealing by touching firework lines with glitter glue.
4. Allow glitter glue to dry and then fill the background with colour or simply write “Happy Diwali” on the leftover space.
5. Now write your message inside the card.

Diya Diwali Card:

1. Take a piece of black card stock paper and cut it to size of card you want to prepare.
2. Now take couple of coloured card stock papers. Let’s take brown for the lower portion of diya and yellow for the flame. Draw outline of lower body of diya on the brown card stock paper and with the help of scissor cut it out neatly. Then draw outline of flame on the yellow paper and cut it out as well.
3. You can make two or three different coloured diyas for your card, but do consider the space available on the card.
4. Then glue together diya’s body and yellow flame on the card to make it look like one whole entity. Do the same with other diyas as well. There’s no hard and fast rule for placement, you can place diyas anywhere on the card in any pattern.
5. Use coloured letter stickers to spell “Happy Diwali on your card. And print your message or well-wishes inside the card.

Above mentioned ideas are quite easy and your child can try them out without losing his/her interest.

Wishing You Happy and Prosperous Diwali!
Priyanka Sharma

The Hindu Council of Birmingham established in the year 1986 usually hosts the Diwali celebrations in Birmingham. The 2009 Diwali celebrations in Birmingham were held at Millennium Point a very popular place there and in 2010 the celebrations took place at NIA. This year Diwali celebrations in Birmingham will take place on 30^th October at NIA Birmingham once again and the participation is absolutely free. NIA, The National Indoor Arena is the busiest large scale indoor sporting and entertainment venues in Europe.

Diwali is celebrated as a secular festival in Birmingham and people from all the communities and religious beliefs are welcomed. There will be as usual an exuberant display of fireworks as grand finale of the celebrations. The day at Birmingham is going to be memorable as there will be food stalls, sports events, cultural activities organized by the council. There are also art displays, exhibitions and workshops that heighten the mood of ecstasy on the day.

Bhangra is typical to the event and last year Bhangra was performed by the famous duo Naveen Khundra and Karen David. Children get their fair share too at the event. Alongside eateries serving traditional lip smacking vegetarian food, many fun events are specifically organized for the kiddos.

Diwali celebrations in Birmingham offer platform for charity organizations to showcase their motives. In them are included Aston Villa Football Club, Birmingham City Council Visual Impairment Team, The Institute of Asian Businesses (IAB, Solihull Council Fostering Service, South Birmingham College, Rathbones Charity and Lycatel Mobile. The Mayor and Mayoress of Birmingham also become part of the festivities.

The splendiferous event backed by the Birmingham City Council believes in amalgamating people from across the communities and spreading the message of peace and happiness. Diwali celebrations live to the expectations of the sponsors and even beyond that.

Please share information about Diwali Celebrations in Birmingham you might be in possession of. It will be wonderful knowing from you.

Wishing you all a very Happy Diwali!!

Anu Veluri

The Trafalgar Square a very popular public place in London hosts Diwali celebrations every year. This year the Diwali celebrations were held on 16^th October although the festival is scheduled to be celebrated on 26^th October, 2011. The Trafalgar Diwali event is a visual treat. People across the continents and communities notwithstanding geographical/religious barriers take part during the event that lasts usually between noon and late evening.

The Brahma Kumaris Society of London usually organizes a free saree distributing event. Free food courts sate hunger and taste bud cravings of hundreds of people that gather to either participate or catch a glimpse of the event. There are musical performances held by famous pop stars like Raghav and so. Speeches are made by eminent Indian diaspora. The event also sees performance of Indian regional folk dances and folk songs.

Trafalgar Square that is located in central London hosts the Diwali event in which there is magical lights displays, floating lanterns and story-telling. Traditional Indian classical dances like Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi and many more are performed as part of Diwali celebrations.

Beyond Trafalgar Square the Diwali zest is felt allover London with restaurants like Dishoom and Cinnamon Kitchen serving mouthwatering traditional Indian cuisine, selectively cooked on the occasion of Diwali.

About Diwali: Diwali is celebrated by the Hindu, Jain and Sikh Communities settled in London. It is also celebrated by the Indian student community and business professionals that arrived there by virtue of deputation. It is believed by the people there that Diwali has come into existence when Lord Krishna killed the Demon King Narakasura and set free almost 16,000 women that the Demon King held captive. The legend teaches that power should never be wrongly utilized.

The traditional Hindu communities go along with the conventional ritualistic procedures. They celebrate Dhanteras and Naraka Chaturdasi just like their Indian counterparts. The actual Diwali in London is celebrated on the Amavasya night (no moon night) of the Kartik season. Diwali is celebrated on the eighth month of the Hindu Lunisolar Calendar.

Since Diwali signifies the end and commencement of a new chapter it is celebrated with lots of enthusiasm by people around the world. Diwali spreads the message of victory of good over evil. The Indian families settled in London celebrate Diwali by arranging rows of oil lamps or diyas all around their houses. By dusk children are found indulging in a colorful firecrackers display. There are sweet meals and other familial gatherings common to the place and event.

Please share anything about Diwali celebrations in London that you might know. We would be glad hearing you.

Wishing you all a very Happy Diwali!!

Anu Veluri

Pakistan too is a diverse society in which people belonging to various religious groups live together. The festivals of various communities are celebrated too in equal enthusiasm and fervor. The Pakistani muslims help their friends celebrate a memorable festival. To this effect they aid in arranging familial, friends’ gathering. Children too take over and arrange fun-filled programs like quizzes and other games. All the popular places of Pakistan witness earnest Diwali celebrations- Islamabad, Karachi, Rawalpindi, Hyderabad and many more.

The Pakistani organizations are facilitating festival arrangements for their Hindu and Sikh brethren to celebrate Diwali this year on 26^th October, 2011. The Pakistanis too believe that festivals are messengers of peace and especially Diwali is the festival that vanquishes Darkness. Darkness that symbolizes evil and other negative energy. In Pakistan Diwali is a two day ritual. The day before Diwali is meant for cleaning the house and decorating it. The Hindu women also design beautiful rangoli patterns on the floors of their households. Sweet meals and familial gatherings are organized.

The actual Diwali is celebrated on the Amavasya (no moon) night of the eighth month of Hindu calendar, Kartik. The day of Diwali is considered the financial New Year by the Pakistani Hindu Businessmen. No transactional activity however happens this day. Money is not given away specifically. Goddess Lakshmi is invoked by form of worshipping. It is believed that Goddess Lakshmi visits the households during evenings carrying with her abundance of prosperity and wealth. To this effect a Lakshmi Pooja is performed during the evenings.

Fireworks are displayed by children and prior to that oil lamps or diyas are arranged in rows all around the households. The diyas are placed at the entrances and along windows too. Diwali is celebrated by the Pakistani Hindus and Sikhs not considering the geographical barriers.

Please share with us any additional information that you may like to. We would be glad hearing from you.

Wishing you all a very Happy Diwali!!

Anu Veluri

Diwali in Nepal: India and its neighboring countries Nepal and Sri Lanka celebrate Diwali with equal festive fervor and enthusiasm. In Nepal the festive rituals are not similar to that found in the subcontinent. In Nepal the festival Diwali is celebrated for five consecutive days and each day has a specific tradition that is followed. Nepalis call Diwali ‘Tihar’ or ‘Swanti’. On the first day of the Diwali celebrations, the Nepalis offer prayers to crow and it is called ‘Kaag Tihar. Nepalis believe that crows are messengers of God. Food is also offered to these crows.

The second day of Diwali in Nepali is called ‘Kukur Tihar’. Dogs are prayed this day as dogs exemplify faith and honesty. Dogs are fed this day. The third day of the Diwali ceremonies in Nepal is the Lakshmi Pooja. The accountants round off the ledgers this day and no transactional activity takes place. This day is considered the last day of the year. Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped this day. The next day is celebrated as the New Year and grand processions are organized besides sweet meals and family gatherings. The Nepalis worship the human body this day in order to confer upon it strength, courage, physical and mental health.

The fifth and the final day of the Diwali festivity sees coming together of brothers and sisters in an occasion called ‘Bhai Tika’. Brothers and sisters exchange greetings and gifts during this event. Family gatherings are significant aspect of social life in Nepal. During festivals like Diwali people form groups and organize cultural activities called ‘Deusi and Bhailo’. These groups perform dancing and singing programs as they go around visiting homes of a specific community. The owner of the house then offers the group money, food and other gifts. The groups donate the collected money on charity purposes and retain a part of it and spend it on picnics.

People also enjoy swinging in Nepal. These swings are made of thick rope or wood called Dore Ping, Pirke Ping and Rangate Ping.

Diwali in Sri Lanka: In Sri Lanka Diwali is called Deepawali. The Tamil community of Sri Lanka indulges in Deepawali celebration. The Sri Lankan Deepawali is much different from the Indian Diwali. In the sense the event is not very splendiferous. There are no excessive firecrackers and other associated rituals. The only aspect that is common is a large family meal.

Sri Lankans arise early in the morning on Deepawali and have a head bath. They wear new clothes. Goddess Lakshmi is worshiped and invoked for prosperity and materialistic well-being. In the evening oil lamps or diyas are lighted and arranged in rows all around the individual households. On the occasion of Diwali, Sri Lankans indulge in making enamel toys and sugar (misri) figurines.

Sounds interesting, isn’t it? Please share with us any additional information you are in possession of. Just beneath this article. Hearing from you will be great.

Wishing you all a very Happy Diwali!!

Anu Veluri

1. 1 sweet potato (shakarkandi)
2. 1 liter whole milk
3. 2 tablespoon fine vermicelli (seviyan)
4. Few almonds, raisins, unsalted pistachios,
5. 3-4 teaspoon powdered sugar or as per taste
6. 1 teaspoon ghee
7. ¼ teaspoon cardamom powder

Method to Prepare Delicious Sweet Potato Kheer:

1. Boil sweet potato in a cooker until 3-4 whistles. Take it out and peel its outer cover. Then grate it and keep it aside.
2. Put ghee in a non-stick pan and heat it. Then add vermicelli in ghee and stir it until vermicelli turns light golden in colour. Get the vermicelli out of the pan and keep it aside in a plate.
3. Now pour milk in a pan and boil it for at least 7 minutes. Then add grated sweet potato, cardamom powder and sugar and stir the ingredients, so they mix up.
4. Then add almonds, raisins, vermicelli and unsalted pistachios into the mixture and mix. Allow ingredients to cook for 2-3 minutes more.
5. Sweet potato kheer is ready to be served. You can also serve it cold.

Dry Fruit Kheer:
Preparation Time: 30 minutes
Cooking Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 4-5
Calories: 178 per serving
Ingredients:

1. 1 liter whole milk
2. 3-4 teaspoon powdered sugar
3. ¼ teaspoon cardamom powder
4. 10-15 almonds
5. 10-15 raisins
6. 10-15 pistachios
7. 10-15 currants
8. 4-5 dried peaches
9. Few saffron strands soaked into 1 teaspoon hot milk

Method to Prepare Delicious Dry Fruit Kheer:

1. Start by soaking all dry fruits: almonds, currants, raisins, pistachios, peaches etc. in hot water for 10 minutes, so they become tender.
2. While dry fruits are getting soaked, pour milk in a deep pan along with saffron, cardamom and sugar. Stir this mixture for 10 minutes.
3. Get dry fruits out of water and add to the boiling milk. Keep stirring the mixture continuously. Cook the mixture for another 5 minutes before taking it off from the burner.
4. Dry fruit kheer is ready to be served. Serve hot. You can make it look attractive by garnishing it with few almonds and pistachios on the top.

Enjoy!
Priyanka Sharma