Types of Fasting

This list below recommends ideal fasts for those who are healthy according to their vata, pitta, or kapha constitutions. For those who are unwell, they should follow the fast that matches the dosha that is most disturbed and that is responsible for their health imbalance:

·         Vata considerations for V±ta body types or/and imbalances: 

1.      Fast on orange juice or similar juices  / fruit during regular meal times only; add pepper or similar pungent spices and some lemon juice for additional effect

2.      Fast for 2-3 consecutive meals one day per week only

3.      No snacking; plain (hot) water ok

4.      Consider fasting on Saturday for the pacification of Saturn energy (weakness of muscles, bones, joints, nervous system), Monday for Moon energy (emotional considerations), or Thursday for Mercury energy

·         Pitta considerations for Pitta body types or/and imbalances or for hypoglycemic person:

1.      Fast on pomegranate juice or similar juices / fruit (also try carrot, romaine, celery juices) during regular meal times only; add cilantro or/and lime juice for additional effect

2.      Fast for 3-4 consecutive meals one-two days per week only

3.      No snacking; plain (hot) water ok

4.      Consider fasting on Tuesday for pacification of Mars energy or Sunday for Sun energy.

• Kapha considerations for Kapha body types or/and imbalances:

1.      Fast on apple juice or similar juices / fruit  (also try carrot, romaine, celery juices) during regular meal times only; add pepper or similar pungent spices for additional effect

2.      Fast for 3-6 consecutive meals one – two days per week only

3.      No snacking; plain (hot) water ok or hot water with 1 tsp raw honey added with 10 drops lemon or lime juice or apple cider vinegar.

4.      Consider fasting on Thursday for pacification of Jupiter energy. 

Some specific Jyotish astrological advice on fasting:  

• Fast on Monday (day of Shiva and Moon) for mental peace. 
• For anger or mania (pitta), fast on Tuesday for Mars. 
• Kapha-Pitta and Kapha-Vata folks should fast on Thursday (for Jupiter). 
• For depression (kapha) and anxiety (vata), fast on Wednesday (day of pineal gland - Mercury). 
• Fast on Thursday for prosperity (Lakshmi - Jupiter). 
• For love and compassion in relationship, more romance, and to build shukra-artava dhatu (male-female reproductive tissue), fast on Friday (Venus). 
•  For lack of confidence and self-esteem, fast on Sunday

NAVRATHRI FASTING

Navratri Vrat or Navaratri Vratam is an important fast observed by Hindus during Ashvin (September – October). It is believed that those devotees who perform Navratri fasting will find happiness on earth and will receive ‘moksha.’ Legend has it that, how to observe the Navarathri Vrat was once narrated by Goddess Durga to one of her ardent devotee. The Vratam is observed by both men and women and Navratri mantra is repeated during the period.


Navratri Fast


The Navratri fast is observed from the first day to the ninth day of Ashvin month. People take bath in the morning and evening during this period and some even drink water only after the ritual bath in the morning.

Most devotees take only a single meal during the day. Non-vegetarian food is totally avoided. Some people confine to milk and fruits during the nine days.

Some devotees only observe fast during three days i.e., first fast during any one of the first three days and second fast during any one of the next three and last in any one of final three days.


How to perform the rituals?


A Kalash is prepared at home and the water is changed daily for nine days. The kalash is placed on grains on raised platform or in the Puja room. Goddess Durga is worshipped during the first three days, Goddess Lakshmi for the next three days, and Goddess Saraswathi during the last three days. (Some people make clay figures of the Goddesses during the period).


Each day fresh flowers and fruits are offered to the Goddess. Arati is performed and bhajans are recited.


The Mantras and Bhajans to be recited


Devi Mahatmya (Durga Saptashati) and Sri Lalita Sahasranama are recited during the period. The important Navratri mantra is ‘Aaim hreem kleem chamundayai vichche.’


Some devotees conduct special homas and pujas during the period.


On the ninth day, all books, pen and whatever implements that a person uses for his/her livelihood is worshipped and is not touched on the day.


On the tenth day, that is the Vijayadashami day in South India, especially in Kerala, young children are initiated into the world of learning.


There are no hard and fast rules for any fasting in Hindu religion. There is always scope for flexibility. Some people just abstain from non-vegetarian food during the period.

To keep fast during the period,
Eat one meal a day and on one sitting.
The food should be cooked without onions and garlic and should be pure vegetarian meal.
First the devotee may offer the prayers and food to MataRani and then eat the meal as prasad.
Do chant "JAI MATA DI" nine times before starting and after finishing the meal.
It should preferably be taken after sunset. (If the time after sunset is not possible, then any other time is also fine, but should be taken after offering prayers and as prasad.)
During the rest of the day, fruits, juices, milk and kheer could be taken. (However, some devotees keep fast for all the days by consuming only fruits or liquids This is purely the devotee's choice and offering to the Great Maa Vaishno Devi.)
Please be noted that it is not a compulsion to keep fasts for devotees who have health problems, medical reasons or for any other problems. MataRani is all-knowing and kind and showers her blessings on all her devotees.
All the time during the period of Holy Navratras, the devotee must keep his mind, body and thoughts pure.
Try and visit MataRani temples and offer prayers and Aarti daily during this period. You should start the prayers with the name of LORD GANESHA with Ganesh Vandana.
Try and light a JYOT in front of MataRani picture or statue. MataRani is also called JYOTA-WALI and is present in the flame which becomes holy.
Try and sleep on the floor during this period. Do not shave or cut hair during this period.
Try and avoid wearing black cloths and leather during the period of fasting. (Like leather cloths, belts, handbags etc.)
The devotee observing the fasts should avoid sensual and procreation activities during Navratri.

Some people just visit temples all the nine days. Some people read Bhagavad Gita or other holy books during the period.

Navratri: Fasting, feasting the healthy way

Festivities are in the air and you can almost taste it! Pakodas, laddoos, puris, let the sumptuous feast begin. But wait, ever thought if all this delectable food might land you in an unhealthy muddle?

Do you know the scientific reason behind fasting during Navratris?

These occur twice a year, every time during change of season, from winter to summer and second time when the chill starts to set in. During these periods, our immunity is low and we are often advised to take a light and nutritious meal. Therefore, we abstain from meat, alcohol, grains, normal salt, all of which are harder to digest.

Fasting during Navratri is not meant to be some food feast. It enables us to indulge in the practice of cleansing and purifying one's body and soul, or simply de-toxing as they say these days.

You don't want to be binging on these heavy calorie delights and having to juggle with various maladies later or face the weighing scale tipping to the wrong side. That is why this Navratri we suggest you tread the healthy way. Slap your hand off that plate of pakodas and devote yourself to these:

•  The miracle liquid, water and sure, it is. It is advisable to have as much of it as possible. Maybe more than what your intake would be on non-fasting days. Also drink a lot of fluids like milk, fresh juices etc. These help you cleanse your toxins and maintain an optimum fluidity flow.

•  Fasting could prove to be tedious especially for your stomach. Long gaps between meals and very few options to eat could lead to acidity and your metabolism goes astray. Store your tuck in the form of roasted makhanas or dry fruits for your mid-meal snacks.

•  Sabudana, we love to chomp on those sabudana tikkis, don't we? It is a pure source of carbohydrates and gives a quick boost of the much-needed energy during fasts. So we wouldn't ask you to ditch these tiny little pearls but how about opting for a healthier sabudana khichdee or kheer?

•  Ever wondered why onions and garlic are avoided during Navratras? These are known to generate a lot of heat in the body. On the other hand curd helps to cool you down and make you feel fresh and active. So dote on that bowl of refreshing curd, throw in a few cucumbers, tomatoes etc. to make it more filling.

•  Rock salt or sendha namak used during these fasts is a pure form of salt that is not chemically processed. It is rich in potassium and very helpful in digestion, relieving gas and soothing heart burns.

•  Eating fruit chaats/salads can actually help you bridle your cravings. Fruits contain healthy sugar fructose that charges up your metabolism. So pump up your fruit intake.

•  Most importantly, do not starve yourself. Try to maintain a balanced diet. Revel in the festivities rather than deprive yourself of nutrition and weaken your body and mind.

•  We know it's hard to resist those crispy little fried delights. But maybe you can switch to techniques like steaming, grilling or baking and taper off your guilt trips.

•  Experiment and enjoy these fasts. Marry different flavors and textures, which give you your health's worth. Tease your palates and make your platter exciting with chironji ki dal, arbi kadhi or how about an exotic pumpkin halwa?

•  Paneer: Like it or not, you cannot ignore it. It is light, easy to digest and a great source of calcium. Mix in a little curd with chunks of paneer, dusted with a few spices and dig in.

A Navratri diet is an ideal antidote to calm and soothe away your mind and bodily tensions. So don't give up on your favorite kaddu ke pakori or kuttu ki puri, just make sure you balance your nutrition well. Don't let festivities land you in trouble. Happy Feasting!

Utterly butterly Amul ad turns 50 years old

One of India’s most iconic brands Amul, owned by the Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation, is in its 50th year. The brand’s mascot — the round-faced little girl in a polka-dotted frock with a matching bow in her hair — has over the years, served as an inimitable chronicler of our life and times.

The Amul ad campaign has now gone international, through Dubai’s top English daily Khaleej Times. These ads, created by the Mumbai-based advertising agency DaCunha Communications, already appear in 25 Indian newspapers twice a week, and are aired by six television channels and are spread across 190 billboards in the country. It also reaches out to over 15 million people through the social media.


Over the past five decades, Amul has not only been India’s most favoured butter brand but also its most trusted social commentator. Through its topical toons and witty slogans week after week, it has celebrated the country’s heroes, taken classy digs at social ‘villains’ and tirelessly won over consumers with its razor-sharp wit and tongue-in-cheek humour.

“The real history of India is not contained in history books but in Amul’s advertising campaigns,” says ad legend Alyque Padamsee, who created the iconic Liril girl for Hindustan Lever (now Hindustan Unilever) in 1975. “Amul’s ads have become an essential part of the country’s social heritage. Its lingo is everywhere,” he says.

RS Sodhi, the managing director of Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation, a client who has stood by its creative agency through thick and thin proudly said, “Amul’s advertising reflects the nation’s history over the last 50 years.”

What makes Amul ads so successful and appealing? “Amul is typically Indian in its idiom and the sentiment it evokes,” says Harsha Bhogle, cricket commentator and TV presenter. “Its creative consistency is legendary.”

Down the decades, the Utterly Butterly Amul girl has, quite literally, became the toast of the nation. In an increasingly humour-unfriendly era, she manages to stand out and tickle the nation with her charming takes on daily issues. Through her eyes, even the mundane becomes interesting.


The Amul girl was created as a response to rival brand Polson’s butter-girl. The idea was conceived in 1967 and executed by Sylvester Da Cunha, the founder-chairman of DaCunha Communications, and his art director Eustace Fernandez. They started advertising through hoardings, painted bus panels and posters in Mumbai.

“The great thing about the Amul girl is the round face that can be easily adapted to be anybody,” says Sylvester DaCunha. “With Manmohan Singh, put a turban on her. With Indira Gandhi, give her a white streak. So it’s a supremely adaptable creation.”
To celebrate her 50th birthday, Amul and DaCunha Communications have launched a coffee table book. Published by HarperCollins India,

James Bond movie list

Official James Bond films

1. Dr. No (1962-Sean Connery)
2. From Russia With Love (1963-Sean Connery)
3. Goldfinger (1964-Sean Connery)
4. Thunderball (1965-Sean Connery)
5. You Only Live Twice (1967-Sean Connery)
6. On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969-George Lazenby)
7. Diamonds Are Forever (1971-Sean Connery)
8. Live and Let Die (1973-Roger Moore)
9. The Man with the Golden Gun (1974-Roger Moore)
10. The Spy Who Loved Me (1977-Roger Moore)
11. Moonraker (1979-Roger Moore)
12. For Your Eyes Only (1981-Roger Moore)
13. Octopussy (1983-Roger Moore)
14. A View to a Kill (1985-Roger Moore)
15. The Living Daylights (1987-Timothy Dalton)
16. Licence to Kill (1989-Timothy Dalton)
17. GoldenEye (1995-Pierce Brosnan)
18. Tomorrow Never Dies (1997-Pierce Brosnan)
19. The World is Not Enough (1999-Pierce Brosnan)
20. Die Another Day (2002-Pierce Brosnan)
21. Casino Royale (2006-Daniel Craig)
22. Quantum of Solace (2008-Daniel Craig)
23. Skyfall (November 2012-Daniel Craig)

Other films

• Casino Royale (1954-Barry Nelson)
• Casino Royale (1967-David Niven & Peter Sellers)
• Never Say Never Again (1983-Sean Connery)

James Bond films celebrate 50th anniversary

On this day( Oct 5) 50 years ago, James Bond became a movie star.
The British superspy first hit the big screen on Oct. 5, 1962, when "Dr. No" opened in theaters, introducing Ian Fleming's suave 007 to the masses.


Now, a half-century and six Bond actors later, the series is one of the longest running in history, having made $4.9 billion in ticket sales over 22 films. The 23rd Bond movie, "Skyfall," will be released in U.S. theaters on Nov. 9

The first man to play "Bond, James Bond," was Sean Connery. George Lazenby was hired for a single film, "On Her Majesty's Secret Service," before Connery returned for "Diamonds Are Forever.'' Roger Moore took over for the next seven films, followed by Timothy Dalton's two and Pierce Brosnan's four. Daniel Craig debuted in 2006 with "Casino Royale," and the upcoming "Skyfall" will mark his third film in the franchise.

The films also introduced the world to the Bond girls. When Ursula Andress emerged from the sea, curves glistening, with a dagger strapped to her bikini in 1962's "Dr. No," she made the Bond girl an instant icon. Bond girls though the years have included Honor Blackman, Jane Seymour, Barbara Bach, Grace Jones, Denise Richards and Halle Berry.

Music has also been a part of the franchise. Singers from Shirley Bassey to Duran Duran, Sheryl Crow and Madonna have lent their voices to the theme songs for the Bond films. Adele is the latest star to join that list, having co-written and performed the theme to "Skyfall.

The anniversary is being celebrated in a number of ways. A new documentary, "Everything or Nothing: The Untold Story of James Bond," will premiere Friday on the EPIX channel.
That same day, a charity auction will take place at Christie's, where the items being sold include an Aston Martin featured in 2008's "Quantum of Solace."

There's a new Blu-ray anniversary box set called "Bond 50," containing all 22 released James Bond films, now available, and the Museum of Modern Art in New York is screening each of the films through October.

Are you a James Bond fan? Vote for your favorite Bond actor in our poll above and share your thoughts on the films in the comments.
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