Archives for October 2012

Feel at home away from home with a visit to a Hindu temple in the United States. The US is a multicultural nation home to many different cultures and religions, including practitioners of the Hindu faith. For this reason there are many Hindu temples in the United States that you can visit. Here are some of the most famous American Hindu temples.

The Sri Venkateswara Temple is located in Penn Hills, Pennsylvania and was one of the first temples to be constructed in the United States. This temple houses such deities as Lord Shiva, Lord Balaji, Goddess Parvathi and Lord Ganesha. You can visit in the daytime until 8.30pm and there is a canteen as well as an auditorium on site. Another famous temple is located in New York, called the Ganesha Temple. This temple is a busy, social place where Indians come to worship as well as to meet each other and keep ties to their home country. The temple is also home to a senior center and a youth center, and there are meditation and yoga classes.

The Hindu Temple at Central Indiana is in Indianapolis and is open during the day. The temple runs guided tours and also provides services from its priests. The Hindu Center and Temple at Iowa is located in Madrid and is also a busy place where Indians meet, worship, eat and take part in a variety of cultural activities. There are regular worships as well as religious services conducted in the home or at other venues.

In addition, the Sunnyvale Temple is in South Bay and has a community center attached. Classes in yoga and meditation are held, along with meetings and services on a regular basis. Classes are also held to introduce people to the basics of the Hindu religion and Hindu religious observances.

A trip to Niagara Falls is one you’ll remember for years. Niagara Falls is the name for a collection of three impressive waterfalls in total. These three waterfalls reach across the border between the United States and Canada, in the province of Ontario in Canada and New York State in the USA. These three waterfalls are called the Bridal Veil Falls, which is the smallest, the American Falls, and the largest, the Horseshoe Falls. On the Canadian side are the Horseshoe Falls while on the American side are the American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls. Niagara Falls is located in between the cities of Niagara Falls, New York, and Niagara Falls, Ontario.

The Falls are set on the Niagara River. The combination of all the water in the three falls adds up to the highest flow of water of any global waterfall. These impressive natural wonders were formed when the last ice age produced huge glaciers, which receded and formed the structure of the waterfalls. Niagara Falls is both a tourist attraction and a producer of hydroelectric power for the surrounding area.

Most tourists visit Niagara Falls in the summer and during both the day and the night. At night the falls are lit up with floodlights and are often colored with different lights. One of the most popular tourist attractions at Niagara Falls is the boat cruise called Maid of the Mist. The Maid of the Mist transports visitors into the mist at the foot of the falls, close to the pounding water.

Many visitors like to see the falls from a number of different walkways that reach alongside the water. On the American side you can walk from Prospect Point Park to an observation tower. Travel to Goat Island to see the falls from a different angle – you can get to Goat Island by foot or by car via the bridge. From Goat Island you can take an elevator to the Cave of the Winds and also hike to below the Bridal Veil Falls. You can walk to see the rapids and the gorge. If you don’t want to walk, take the Scenic Trolley alongside the American Falls and to Goat Island. You may also splash out on a balloon ride over the falls or a helicopter trip. There are a number of discovery centers and many different shops, bars, restaurants and casinos to discover around the falls area.

It’s allergy season again and you’re coughing and spluttering your way through the summer. Ever wished for some home remedies for allergies so you don’t have to make yourself drowsy with antihistamines? Why not try some of these ideas to help you enjoy dry eyes and calm breathing.

Cut the clutter in your home. All those ornaments, dried flowers, toys and books are great homes for dust, which make your allergies worse. If you can, put items in drawers or glass-fronted cupboards. Make sure you wash your clothes on a hot cycle – a warm or cool cycle won’t kill the dust mites that make your allergies flare up. If you don’t want to turn the heat up that high, take your sheets and bedding to a professional cleaners.

Speaking of beds, make sure yours is covered with allergy-proof covers. These covers help protect against breathing in dust mites. If you are dusting, vacuuming, or doing chores in the house then wear a face mask. This is a simple way to cut your exposure to dust. You should also do the same when you garden, to make sure you are not breathing pollen.

Use a dehumidifier in your home and the air conditioning in your car. Keeping dry air in your house helps stop dust mites from multiplying, and the air conditioning means you don’t need to open the windows and breathe in all that pollen. Make sure no one smokes in your house and install an air filter so that you can breathe easily in your home. If you have pets then at least try and keep one room – preferably the bedroom – a pet-free zone. Pets make allergies worse but at least if they are banished from the bedroom you can get a better sleep. Make this your allergy sanctuary and escape there when the dust and pollen gets too much.

Navarathri is a Hindu festival celebrated for 10 days in prayer to Goddess Durga. Devotees gather every evening to pray, eat and dance together. Folk dance called garbha or dandiya is the most popular feature of this festival. People dress in ethnic traditional attires and get ready for a night long dancing session with sticks. With increasing number of students and working professionals in USA, it is now organized and celebrated at various parts of US. Many universities, offices arrange DJ and worship stage for Navarathri puja and celebration.

It starts with singing prayers and devotional songs for Goddess Lakshmi. The idol of goddess is decorated with flowers and colorful attire with bright red and orange. The goddess is offered assortment of fruits and sweets and then everyone rushes to their favorite and fun part of the celebration: dandiya or garbha. The divine vibrations make the atmosphere full of enthusiasm and positivity. Goddess Durga is known for removing any evil and impurities from the world and bring peace and prosperity in our lives.

In various universities students organize the festivities at a grand scale in USA. University of Houston, Hindu Students Association, Hindu Student Council, Penn’s Indian community and Young Jains of America’s annual Navarathri Garbha celebration etc. are some of the famous entities in America that come together and celebrate Navarathri in USA every year. If you are new to USA and not being able to come home for the celebrations, don’t get disheartened. There is a large pool of young, energetic and friendly Indian people whom you can contact and celebrate the festivities in its full excitement.

Enjoy the feel of your culture and its values with Navarathri celebrations while your stay in USA. Feeling homesick at the time of festivals is a thing of past. With more and more people joining hands to make the 10 day festival memorable, there is a lot forward to.

Are you hiring a car in the US? Are you planning on a road trip on your US vacation? If you are from overseas and want to drive in the United States there are a few things to think about before you get behind the wheel. Being prepared and knowing the rules and regulations helps ensure a safe drive in the States.

You should get an International Driving Permit for hiring a car and driving in the United States. An International Driving Permit is a form that translates the key information on your original driver’s license into ten foreign languages. This lets officials in other countries understand and interpret your documents. However, you must have both a valid license issued by your own government and an International Driving Permit – one is not enough and if you are stopped when driving you should produce your two documents.

If you are planning on living in the States you can get a US license but plan on the process taking a while. You get your license from the state where you live instead of from the US federal government. You can find out how to apply and all about each state’s particular rules and regulations on the motor vehicle department’s website. Of course, once you get a license from one state you can drive all over the US. Be careful though – the rules of the road differ from state to state.

Make sure you know the rules of the road before you set out in your car. Regulations may be much different in the US than they are in your country. Don’t assume you know – check before you get behind the wheel. Drive considerately and safely, keeping up with the traffic flow and making sure to pay attention to traffic signals. Penalties for running a red light or driving in a restricted area may be more severe than you are used to at home.