DocDivaTraveller

Alright if you are new to my blog, let me tell you that I am a Bong (cool lingo for Bengali 😆) who has been brought up in Delhi/ North India. Also I am married to a Banarasi so everything makes me a pot pourrie of cultures. Although I am a true Bengali at heart (by the richness of literature, dance, music, movies) but have never been able to explore much because of the remoteness from the actual hub. I am pretty much dependant on internet for Bangla entertainment as I want my toddler to understand her half background. During this lockdown, I found so many jewels on ZEE5, that I couldn't help sharing.

As you know already, ZEE5 has some great regional content. 12 Indian languages to be precise and over 1.25 lac hours of entertainment. Of course I was drawn to the Bangla genre as my eyes fell on same familiar, classic names.

Image Source: ZEE5

Here are 5 Bangla classics that you should definitely watch.

1. Chhoto Jigyasha: The title translates into 'A small inquiry' . I remember watching this movie with my parents when I was really small; maybe 20 years back? However the movie was so touching that I remember crying my heart out and recalling the plot and sharing it with my husband.

This movie is directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee in 1968, the man behind the innumerable loved classics like Anand, Chupke Chupke, Golmaal, Bawarchi, etc. Known as the Pioneer of 'Middle Cinema' his movies were filled with emotions.

The star cast was really interesting with Biswajeet (the beloved hero of Bengali cinema) and his real son Prosenjit Chatterjee (another heartthrob of Tollywood) who was very young then. Prosenjit received multiple awards for his performance in this film as a child artist.

The story is about a little boy whose mother dies. However he refuses to believe that his mother is no more and goes on a hunt to find her. He finds a woman in Dakshineshwar Temple who he pestures to be his mom. Ironically, that women had lost her son too. Eventually he gets his mother and she her son. A heart wrenching emotional story.

Image Source: ZEE5

2. Bomkesh Bakshi: This eponymous movie is Bengal's favourite detective. If you are a thriller lover (who is not duh) then this one is a must watch. I really love the seriousness with which Mr Byomkesh Bakshi solves the cases. Based on the fictional character 'Satyanweshi' meaning the inquisitor, by novelist Sharodindu Bandyopadhya, there have been numerous serials and movie remakes of this detective character.

This is the first and foremost movie so this one deserves a watch.

3. Byomkesh Bakshi Fire Elo: Translating to Byomkesh Bakshi returns. Now since you are in love with thrillers, that too of the 'Inquisitor' you need to watch it in the modern set up. This new Byomkesh Bakshi character is played by Abir Chatterjee, one of my favourite Tollywood heroes and he has done an excellent job. I happened to watch one in the theatres way back in 2012 and have been a fan ever since. The cinematography is alluring and so is the background score. The performances are stellar. All the movies in this series deserve a watch.

4. Punascha: Meaning 'Again'. This one is a serious adult drama. Starring the veteran Soumitra Chatterjee and Rupa Ganguly, the plot revolves around the relationship between an elderly author and his ex. Things go wrong when their affair surface out. Directed by Souvik Mitra.

Image source: ZEE5

5. Bhoot Bhuture Shomudure: Meaning ghosts in the sea.

So after a share of emotions, drama and thriller, here I am with a ghost story for kids. This movie is directed by Swapan Ghoshal and is based on a short story by Prafulla Roy (a Bengali short story writer)

The plot involves two siblings, Titli and Tabul, who goes to Digha (a popular coastal town in Bengal) in a family vacation. They find that Lalkamol babu, who occupied the next room, has disappeared without any trace. The two children, getting involved with this mystery, unexpectedly finds a group of ghosts. Intriguing? Watch it!

My lockdown is sorted with loads of content from my mother tongue. What about you?

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6/02/2020 No comments

Detoxification or 'Detox' means getting rid of the toxins. Everything needs cleaning and maintenance from time to time whether it's a home appliance or the human body. Our body accumulates unwanted materials and of course toxins over the years. The more frequent you flush them out, the easier it would be to remain healthy. With pollution so high in our environment and food loaded with junk, this has to be done regularly. Our ancient scriptures talk about fasting and Neti and Basti and many other things. These are ways to detoxify. So here are a few easy ways by which we can get rid of toxins on a regular basis.

1. Drink lots of water. Water flushes out everything so it's the easiest way. If you find plain water boring, you can have infused water. That is even more effective in flushing out toxins. Some options for infused water: Mint leaves and lemon slices, ginger slices and lemon, watermelon slices, strawberry slices, etc. During summers, you can refrigerate the bottle. Remember to consume within 12 hours and then refill. It's not only refreshing but really good for the system.

2. Reduce alcohol consumption and quit smoking: Alcohol gets converted to acetaldehyde in the body which is hepatotoxic (bad for the liver) Alcohol harms the body in ways more than one. Try drinking socially very ocassionally or not consume at all. Smoking really does not have any relaxation. JUST QUIT.

3. Intermittent fasting or fruits only diet once a week. Our digestive system needs rest and this is an excellent way to do so. Your body will thank you.

4. Move more. By this I mean get more active, work out, sweat it out. Toxins get flushed through perspiration.

5. Reduce salt and sugar intake in your diet. Increase the intake of antioxidant rich foods. Sugar is one of the major contributors for ageing and cancer. Salt causes water retention and raises our blood pressure. That's why processed foods are bad as they contain an overdose of both of these.

A 'Rainbow diet' or a diet filled with colours is rich in antioxidants. These help in nullifying the free radical damage caused by various factors and hence promote healthy longevity.

6. Switch to a natural lifestyle. Whether it's the cleaning products at home or the wall paint, cloth you wear or the bed linens, switching to all natural/cotton would largely hep to eliminate the toxins from the body and our life. Quit using plastic or other hydrocarbon products. Have plants in your home.

7. Take a supplement that would help detox our body. The major organs involved in detoxifying our body are the liver and kidney. Nature Sure Good Liver is an excellent, all natural supplement for our liver.

Why do we need Nature Sure Good Liver?

Nature Sure™ Good Liver Capsules are an ayurvedic proprietary formulation made from top quality herbs known to detoxify liver naturally, remove metabolic waste, promote healthy digestion, maintain healthy hepatic function and help protect liver against alcoholic and non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases.

The body’s hepatic system is a powerful structure to detox blood, metabolize glucose and build proteins. Daily use of Nature Sure™ Good Liver Capsules boosts the body’s defense against free radicals and provides a powerful shield against damage to the liver and hepatic system.

The natural herbs in Nature Sure™ Good Liver also have amazing properties to support healing of lymph, gut and gall bladder.

What does it do?

Helps stimulate regular secretion of bile, keeps liver healthy
Helps prevent damage due to free radicals, removes pollutants and waste from digestive tract
Can protect the liver against toxin exposure from alcohol, smoking and certain medications
Can help in easing symptoms of enlarged liver (hepatomegaly), enlarged spleen (splenomegaly), jaundice, discomfort in urination (dysuria) and menstrual cramps aggravated by liver problems
Nature Sure™ offers assured quality products made with 100% pure & top-grade ingredients at GMP- & ISO-certified units approved by Dte of AYUSH

What is it made of?

Each 500mg capsule contains extracts of Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum), Kutki (Picrorhiza kurroa), Punarnava (Boerhavia diffusa), Kalmegh (Andrographis paniculate), Makoy (Solanum nigrum) and Kasni (Cichorium intybus)

How to take?

For adults only. Take two capsules in morning and two capsules in evening preferably after meals, or as suggested by your physician.

Price: 1179 INR for a bottle of 90 capsules. Available at Naturessure.com and all major E commerce sites.

PRECAUTIONS/ SAFETY INFORMATION

Not intended for use by pregnant women. If you are on any other medication, please consult with your doctor. Keep away from reach of children. Store at room temperature.

What ways have you adopted to get rid of toxins?

5/29/2020 8 comments

Holy baths have been an age old tradition in Indian culture. They are called 'Nahaan'. You can see crowds of people flocking on the banks of Ganges, Yamuna and other rivers in holy places. The Kumbh Mela is an epic example of the holy baths. However this ritual is not only there in India. Indonesia maybe the country with the largest Islamic population in the world, but Bali, one of the islands of that nation has purely Hindu tribe. There are lots of similarities between Balinese culture and Indian Hindu culture. The Gods are similar (Lord Rama, Goddess Saraswati etc ) and so are a few customs like taking out footwear and holy baths. Pura Tirta Empul or the Holy Water Temple is one place which you would not want to miss when in Bali.

All the temples in Bali require entrance fees. It may seem surprising to many. The tickets are worth thousands of Rupiah which adds upto few hundreds in Indian currency. The highest tickets are of Tanah Lot Temple and my favourite Pura Ulun Danu Beratan (which is around 600 INR per person)

Pura Tirta Empul means Holy Water temple (Pura=Temple)

The temple was built in 962 A.D. The spring is the source of Pakerisan river. The bathing complex is called 'Petirtaan' and there are 2 pools with 30 showers. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

The temple is situated in Tampaksiring, Gianyar and we rode our bike from Ubud to that place. The entry fees are 50,000 IDR (250 INR) .

Now why should you visit this temple when holy baths are nothing new for us?

The pilgrims are extremely displined. I mean there is no rush, every one wanting to take a holy dip would wait for their turn.

The water quality is nothing similar to the 'Jal' found in "Kund'. The water is absolutely clean and has been declared safe for health.

The water is not stagnant. The complex is built on a natural spring. So the water is fresh.

You have wear a different robe for stepping into the water. The robe has to be hired for a small fee. It gives an uniformity to the visuals.

Moving ahead from the spring area, the entire temple complex has mind blowing architecture.

Every Balinese temple is beautiful but this one is charming in its own way.

To sum up, visiting this place is an experience you would never forget. The moss covered statues and the intricate Balinese architecture married with the beauty of the ritual bath is a delight for the eyes as well as the soul.

5/23/2020 12 comments

There is so much hoopla about weight amongst us. Some are struggling hard to lose while some want to gain those pounds. Body builders are trying to expose those abs while skinny girls are trying to gain some voluptuousness before tying the knot. (Believe me it's true!) So how to gain those extra, healthy kilos without risking your overall health? Here are some tried and tested ways.

Maximise muscle building: Muscles are formed from proteins, so you need to take a diet rich in that. For normal mortals the requirement is 0.8 gms per kg body weight. However it is much higher for those who are trying to build body.

Increase protein intake in the natural way: External protein supplements would increase blood uric acid levels and hence pose a threat to the kidneys. Try to increase protein intake through diet: lean meat, eggs, chickpeas, soyabean, milk, cheese etc.

Hypercaloric diet: The concept of weight gain or weight loss is very simple. For weight gain: calorie intake>calorie burn

Hence consume a calorie rich diet. A combination of carbohydrates and proteins and fats.

Workout: Such sitting at home won't do the trick. You have to start lifting weights and work your biggest groups of muscles; but all under an expert supervision and guidance.

Eat meals frequently: Try to eat something every three hours and that too which is calorie dense.

Have milk before bed: Milk is a complete food and has loads of proteins+calories. When you take it before sleeping, the calories stick to you and protein breakdown is also prevented.

External supplements. There are lots of products doing rounds in the market but what about their safety and efficacy? Well one should be very careful while taking such things and should always rely on GMP and ISO certified units as ingredients.

Nature Sure Double Mass Tablets are a unique fusion of Ayurvedic herbal extracts and proteins that help gain weight easily, quickly, and above all, naturally.

How does Double Mass work?

Unique formula packed with herbal extracts and protein power
Helps gain weight quickly, easily and naturally
Increases appetite, calorie intake and absorption
Suitable for underweight men & women
A natural, vegetarian food supplement from Nature Sure™, made with top-grade ingredients at GMP & ISO-certified units approved by FSSAI and Directorate of AYUSH

Each 1000mg tablet contains Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Shatavar (Asparagus racemosa), Safed Musli (Asparagus adscendens), Dadhimastu (Whey protein), Kiwanch (Mucuna pruriens), Vidarikanda (Pueraria tuberosa), Jeshtamadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra), Anantmool (Hemidesmus indicus), Chitrak (Plumbago zeylanica), Chavy (Piper retrofractum), Nagarmotha (Cyperus scariosus).

DOSAGE

Take 1 to 2 tablets twice or thrice a day with milk (recommended) or water.

PRICE:

950 INR for a pack of 90 tablets. Available at all major E commerce sites and of course at naturessure.com

PRECAUTIONS

Not recommended for pregnant and lactating women, children and infants. Consult doctor for possible contraindications if you are on other medication.

5/22/2020 9 comments

This lockdown has been a blow to everyone of us. To put in a better way, this Corona pandemic has disturbed our lives like nothing else. Lockdown is like a protective shield from the infection. Whether you are working from home, have to go to the hospital amidst infections (medical professionals like me and my husband), frontline workers, have lost their jobs or are working overtime to make ends meet, we all are in desperate need of a wonder oil that can infuse life in us.

If you are suffering from hairfall or premature greying of hair from all the stress regarding the future/ economic meltdown or health concerns, you need a head massage with Nature Sure Kalonji oil to beat those. Kalonji oil is known to fight hairfall and premature greying of hair.

If your joints and back are aching from the daily sweeping, mopping and cleaning, then you can massage your joints with Kalonji oil. It's known to reduce inflammatory pains.

If you are suffering from constipation because of the lack of movement (lockdown duh) then Kalonji oil acts as a laxative.

If you want to keep your blood pressure in control and prevent it from shooting up because of the increasing stress, Kalonji oil would help.

If your menstrual cramps are reducing your productivity and you can't manage your periods with kids, household and work, kalonji oil would rescue you.

If you want to strengthen your immunity (who doesn't want to at this stage?), Kalonji oil would do wonders.

Last but not the least, if you are lacking in energy (which is much needed for the added chores), take Kalonji oil would do the needful.

To sum up, it's a wonder oil. But what actually is Kalonji oil?

Kalonji oil is extracted from Nigella sativa seeds or black seeds or onion seeds (yes the ones used for cooking.)

Nature Sure Kalonji Oil is cold pressed oil extracted from 100% Nigella sativa seeds. The moment you open the bottle, you get the familiar smell of onion seeds.

It is 100% pure and hence fit for both local application and oral consumption.

To sum up, Nature Sure Kalonji oil is helpful in the following conditions and even more.

Manages Diabetes
Stimulates digestion, acts as a laxative.
Potects eyes, heart and kidneys
Cures headache, joint pain and cramps.
Treats hemorrhoids
Boosts energy, stamina and immunity.
Useful in asthma, hepatitis and cancer.
Aids breastfeeding
Useful in deworming

Nature Sure Kalonji Oil is priced at 309 INR for a 110 ml bottle and available at all e commerce sites.

Are you getting yourself one bottle? What is your secret formula for surviving this lockdown?

5/15/2020 11 comments

Our crowning glory is our most prized possession. Whether its male or female, hair is one's greatest weakness. We spend so much time, efforts and money on maintaining our mane. Still we are seldom satisfied. The truth is that beautiful hair depends on so many factors. We do all the things to damage our hair: erratic lifestyle, unhealthy diet, stress, lack of proper hair care and so on. Being a physician who mainly deals with hair and skin, I handle hundreds of hair patients daily. And the numbers are on the rise!

Which girl does not dream of hair like Rapunzel's? Or which guy does not fantasy a girl who has Rapunzel hair? I bet there is hardly a guy who likes short hair in girls. However we girls have to deal with so many things that keeping long hair may or may not be feasible. First of all, they are tough to grow. Secondly they are even tougher to maintain! Also we girls prefer to change our looks from time to time. If our profession does not permit us to have long hair that does not mean that we can't have our Rapunzel moment! eg a gynecologist has such a busy schedule that she can't afford to maintain long mane. "But she definitely can glam up during party time with hair extensions like this: https://www.hairgets.com/hair-extensions-c-3.html

In this super fast, super busy life, what we need is some magic that can fix our hair without having to compromise our lifestyle. I mean everyday we are into different hairstyles. In the morning a sleek pony or straightened hair for work, dipping hair in chlorinated water during swimming in the evening, again pulling it and straightening it for work the next day, then a completely new hairdo for partying on weekends. Not to mention all the junk food and booze that deteriorates our hair further. Is there a solution for all this? Yes! HAIR EXTENSIONS!

There is a site Hairgets that offers you the most diverse range of hair extensions. From all kinds of length: short, medium, long, colour and all sorts of texture: curly, wavy, straight, natural straight etc, there is not a type that you won't find. You can choose the one that suits your natural hair colour or you can go for a radical new look!

Let's focus on four different hairstyles that are required for everyday life.

Straight Hair: Universally, the most desirable hair style is the smooth, silky long hair. Whether its appearing for an interview or delivering a presentation or meeting your boyfriend's parents, this is the most perfect hair do. Straightening your natural hair daily is not a wise thing to do. So you can go for these clip hair extensions. They are 100% natural human hair and are very easy to use!

Coloured Hair: If you are looking for easy and coloured hair, tape in extensions are perfect! Very easy to use and there are hundreds of options. So you can don a new style everyday!

Soft Waves: This looks dreamy with soft waves. Goes beautifully with flowy dresses or gowns.

Which of these styles would you go for?

I have been a short hair girl since my childhood. My mom used to believe that the time 'wasted' for maintaining long hair should be put into studies. She was absolutely right. But being an avid dancer I always needed long hairstyles. Be it a braid, a long pony or a bun, a dance performance made me nervous because of my hair deficiencies. The accessories which I used in those times were not efficient. I mean I remember using socks for buns, ready made synthetic braids and synthetic ponytails. Not only they looked fake but fixing them was a nightmare for me. I wish there was something like Hairgets in those times. They have excellent human hair extensions which look 100% natural!

Recently when I was styling a friend with short hair, I wanted long locks for her. I started searching the web for hair extensions when I stumbled across this wonderful site.

Made with 100 % human hair they come in a variety of lengths and textures like curly or straight. Also they are available in a variety of colours. They are very easy to fix! Do you have any secret to beautiful hair in a jiffy?

5/13/2020 6 comments

For all the girls out there, everyone wants to 'crack' the code that smart 'it' girls seem to have. And for the guys out there, they have always wanted to date such girls. After researching quite a lot (it's my favourite hobby...studying human behaviour) I have reached a few conclusions.

1. Smile is their best accessory: Happy girls are the prettiest. However no one can be happy all the time. Happiness is like a muscle. You should learn to exercise it. Smart girls know that. No matter how much difficult situation they are in, they won't express it. And we normal mortals think that they have favourable circumstances all the freaking time.

2. They don't forget to take supplements. A hectic work and social life can take a toll on the health so it's important to nourish the body. So if you can't drink milk everyday, you need to take Calcium tablets daily to keep your bones strong. Smart girls take vitamins daily whether in the form of fresh fruits or a multivitamin capsule. They know that proper nutrition is indispensable for building immunity.

3. They put themselves first. Self care is not selfishness. In fact it's a mandate. No matter how busy they are, smart girls workout regularly. They take care of their skin and remove makeup before going to bed. They dress up confidently; even if it means five minutes more in the morning. Having kids definitely makes things tougher but smart girls carve out time for themselves.

4. Panty liners are their best friends.

We all have been there. Whether it's an unexpected show, prolonged spotting or forgetting dates (it does happen believe me) soiled clothes is the greatest blow to a girl's esteem.

So what to do? Always keep panty liners in your bag. The everteen Daily Panty Liners are literally life savers!

What are the features of everteen Daily Panty liner?

It is 180 mm long
Unscented
Individually wrapped
Has an antibacterial anion strip
Has odour control and is breathable.
100% cotton so no rashes.

What are these used for?

In between periods.
Backup for tampons and cup
For urinary incontinence
Light discharge
Maintaining daily hygiene

Price: 166 INR for a pack of 30 Panty liners.

So do you get it! No more unpleasant surprises! I am so relieved after finding this product. It's so light that you won't even feel anything.

5/08/2020 9 comments

Title: Arya Dharma The Nobel Dharma

Author: Bollachettira Dhyan Appachu

Genre: Non fiction

Pages: 610

I was really intrigued by the title and decided to take up this 600 plus page book (which is incredibly tough in my scenario) However the topics are so interesting that I finished reading quite soon.

I particularly liked this book as it took me back to my Yoga course days. I have done my Post Graduate Diploma in Yoga science and Naturopathy and we have been taught in detail about Upnishads, Patanjal Yoga Sutra, Sufism, Vedas, etc etc apart from Yoga. People think Yoga means only asana but it should be propagated that Asana is just one of the limbs of Ashtanga Yoga (eight limbed yoga) What I loved about this book was that the writer is very progressive yet is deep rooted in the ancient principles of our country. Nowhere he had mentioned India in his book; it has always been 'Bharat'.

The book starts with the meaning of the title Árya Dharma ie Nobel dharma. He highly condemns the Western world especially FUKUS (France, United Kingdom and United States of America) and has continued that throughout his book. According to him, this union has destroyed the world and would continue doing so. He calls the businessmen 'Pimps of Wall Street'who have dictated the foolish policies to the rest of the world. He starts with how men has created religion and caste system. No one is born a Brahman or higher caste, all are born Shudras. This has been mentioned in Manusmriti. It's our karma which decides what caste we are. This is the basis of Varnashram dharma.

He elaborates Ram Rajya and Arthshastra and Neetishastra by Kautilya.

He then talks about the various stages of life: Brahmacharya, Grihastha,Vanprastha and Sanyasa. I loved the story of Satyakama in Chandogya Upnishad where his guna and karma decided his caste and not his birth.

He proceeds on to say that men has created rifts by creating religions and heirarchies. There were no blue collar or white collar jobs in the ancient times. Even Lord Krishna had been a cattle herder. Maharana Pratap and Akbar were secular rulers. The solution for Ram Mandir is that Ayodhya should be declared as humanity's healing centre.

He comes to the eight limbs of Yoga, Sufism, Sanatan Dharma and that how tolerance is a virtue.

He throws light on the secret to happiness and then elaborates law in detail. He covers various departments of law like taxes, banking, contracts, civil issues, inheritance and succession, black money and tax dodging, corruption, theft and terrorism, etc. The last chapter of law deals with medicine and I was really interested in knowing his views of my profession. He has highly condemned modern medicine and has given importance to Ayurveda.

The book is a labour of extensive research, knowledge and logic. One would really gain a lot after reading this book.