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HH Karmapa Arrives In Switzerland On Third Official Visit To Europe

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 By -Shyamal Sinha,New Delhi

His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa arrived in Geneva last week to give a series of teachings and empowerments. From kayuoffice.org
His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa arrived in Geneva last week to give a series of teachings and empowerments.

Karmapa” in Tibetan means one who upholds the activities of the Buddhas. The Karmapa also founded the Karma Kagyu branch of the Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism.

His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa arrived in Geneva on Wednesday last week, having agreed to give teachings as well as the Medicine Buddha empowerment on 21 and 22 May, followed by the Avalokiteshvara empowerment and further teachings in Bülach, near Zurich, on 28 and 29 May. Switzerland is home to the second largest overseas population of ethnic Tibetans outside of India.

The Karmapa’s third official visit to Europe also includes dates in Paris, where he will give a teaching on the Four Noble Truths, a guided meditation, and another Avalokiteshvara empowerment.

He will also participate in several conferences during his European stay.

Upon his arrival in Switzerland, the Karmapa was formally received by Ringu Tulku Rinpoche, president of the Karmapa Foundation Europe, Ngodup Dorjee, representative for His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and Sangye Dorje, president of the Rigdzin Swiss Association, which organized the visit and is part of the International Nyingmapa Rigdzin Community.

During a visit to Thegchok Ling, a Nyingma Dharma center in Lausanne, last Friday, the Karmapa was presented with long-life offerings by the center’s founder Rigdzin Namkha Gyatso Rinpoche and other members of the center. After giving the oral transmission of the Seven-Line Prayer to Guru Rinpoche, the Karmapa observed: “The Nyingma and Kamtsang Kagyu lineages have an old and deep connection. When the 16th Karmapa came to India, he knew good relationships with Nyingma masters and khenpos, who were his profound Dharma friends.” (Karmapa: The Official Website of the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa)

His Holiness expressed his intention to ensure that the two traditions continue to work together to spread the Dharma for the benefit of sentient beings, complimenting the Nyingma tradition for its emphasis on practice and for the numerous realized masters it has fostered and continues to yield. “This is a special quality of the Nyingma lineage, distinguishing it from others,” the Karmapa said. “We should take these masters as our role models to sustain the practice and develop the qualities of the tradition so that all living beings may be benefited. This is the goal. My wish is that you practice this lineage with a strong motivation.

His Holiness gives a guided meditation at the Theatre of Geneva. From kayuoffice.org
His Holiness gives a guided meditation at the Theatre of Geneva.

“The main reason I came to Switzerland is because there are so many Tibetans to meet here,” His Holiness continued. “I am happy to have met you and whatever the situation might be, I will help you as much as I can.” (Karmapa: The Official Website of the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa)

The Gyalwang Karmapa is the head of the Karma Kagyu, the largest lineage of the Kagyu, one of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism, the others being Gelug, Nyingma, and Sakya.

the 17th Karmapa also feels a strong personal connection to Europe. He often says that he feels that in one of his former lives, he was born as a farmer in Europe.

Korean Museums Hold Art Exhibitions to Mark the Birth of the Buddha

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By Shyamal Sinha,New Delhi

Shakyamuni Buddha’s birthday, observed in Korea on 14th May this year, the National Museum of Korea in Seoul and the Ho-am Art Museum in Yongin are holding exhibitions of Buddhist art, both of which will run until 6 November.

The centerpiece of the National Museum of Korea’s exhibition, Buddhist Hanging Scroll at Bukjangsa Temple: The Buddha Listens to Prayers, is an unusual giant scroll painting depicting Shakyamuni teaching on the mountain Yeongchwisan.

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This giant scroll painting depicting Shakyamuni teaching on the mountain Yeongchwisan is currently on display at the National Museum of Korea. From

At 43 feet high and 26 feet wide, the painting, believed to have been completed in 1688 and designated National Treasure No. 1,278, is one of the largest of its kind in Korea and the largest painting ever displayed at the museum—the scroll is actually three feet longer than the height of the museum wall.

National Museum of Korea curator Yoo Kyung-hee noted that the hanging painting is significant because it depicts the Buddha standing. “Other Buddhist hanging paintings depict the Buddha sitting down. It is usual to have Buddha sitting down as they pray,” Yoo said. “But for this painting, it’s said that the monk painters wanted to portray this Buddha like a messiah.” (Korea JoongAng Daily)

According to the chief monk of Bukjangsa Temple, in Sangju, North Gyeongsang Province, where the giant painting originates, the image is said to “listen to prayers for rain.” (Korea JoongAng Daily)

“This painting was not for displaying inside the Buddhist sanctum, but for hanging outside during outdoor ceremonies,” Yoo observed. Indeed, there are records of the hanging painting being used during rain-calling ceremonies. (The Korea Times)

The assembled collection also features various other paintings of Buddhas that are said to listen to prayers—for curing diseases, for going to paradise after death, for conceiving a child, and so on. Among them is a seven-piece set of hanging scrolls of arhats, which has been dated to the Goryeo kingdom (918–1392) and is being displayed in its entirety for the first time. These paintings of the Buddha’s disciples would have served as the object of prayers to preserve the peace and safety of the country. Also on show is a painting acquired by the museum last year which depicts the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, who embodies the compassion of all Buddhas and was often the focus of prayer for people seeking salvation.

 

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This Amitayus Triad on display at the Ho-am Art Museum shows the Buddha Amitayus and attending bodhisattvas. The rear of the nimbus bears an inscription stating that five people sponsored the production of this Buddha of Infinite Life. Its production date is believed to be 571, the 13th year of the reign of King Pyeongwon (r. 559-90), which would make this the oldest extant image of Amitayus.

The Ho-am Art Museum’s exhibition, Three Jewels: Buddhist Art of Korea, brings together some 40 exhibits, including ancient Korean paintings, sculptures, documents, and artifacts related to Buddhism, divided into three thematic sections.

The first section offers visitors a tour of the “World of Buddha,” featuring both Shakyamuni and the Buddha Amitabha/Amitayus. Here, visitors can view The Eight Scenes of Buddha’s Life, a series of large paintings dated to the Joseon kingdom (1392–1897) that depict the life of Shakyamuni. The second section enables visitors to learn about Buddhism through a diverse selection of scriptures containing Shakyamuni’s teachings, while the third section features a variety of ritual objects used in Buddhist ceremonies.

The anniversary of the Buddha’s birth is a national holiday in Korea, observed on the eighth day of the fourth month of the lunar calendar. The day is known as 석가탄신일 (Seokga tansinil), “the Buddha’s birthday,” or 부처님 오신 날 (Bucheonim osin nal), “the day when Buddha arrived.”

China admits Cultural Revolution was a mistake

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Ruins of Gaden Monastery in Tibet, destroyed during the Cultural Revolution

DHARAMSHALA, May 19: The official mouthpiece of Chinese Communist Party, People’s Daily, admitted in its editorial Cultural Revolution was a big blunder and should not happen again.

The editorial was published on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Cultural Revolution.

Brainchild of Moa Zedong, the Cultural Revolution initiated in 1966 till his death in 1976 resulted over millions of death including over 6,000 Tibetan monasteries and shrines destroyed by the Chinese military.

“History has proven that the Cultural Revolution was a complete mistake, it is not and could never be a revolution or social progress in any sense,” the newspaper wrote.

“We won’t and will never allow a mistake like the ‘cultural revolution’ to happen again.”

The editorial also stated that China and the CCP must keep in mind the lessons learnt from the revolution and stick to the party’s political conclusions of it and ‘avoid and combat the interference from the ‘left’ and the right concerning Cultural Revolution issues’.

Similarly, the state-owned Global Times with title ‘Society firmly rejects Cultural Revolution’ also criticized the Cultural Revolution which it called ‘the decade of calamity that caused severe damage, leaving permanent pain for many Chinese’.

Evidently, no celebrations and official memorial event took place. Reportedly, a gala was held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. When the words got out, the sponsors claimed they had been duped by an ‘unauthorized’ event organiser and all the post pertaining to that event were deleted from the social media.

Beijing fears that remembering it may bring discussions over the actions of the CCP during that era.

However, Dr. Tomas Plänkers in his interview to NYT said that it might disappear from ‘individual memory and public discourse’ but that does not ‘change the fact that it will carry on in the unconscious’.

“These are themes that aren’t tied to time. It has been well demonstrated with the Holocaust in Germany that the psychic consequences don’t stop with one generation. They go into the second, third, fourth. They stay around somewhere in the culture,” Dr. Tomas Plänkers said.

The Ultimate Fruit for Beautiful Skin,Health

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healthPomegranate is known to have originated in Iran and is popularly known as the ‘fruit of paradise’. Those juicy, ruby red seeds are considered a symbol of prosperity and fertility in many cultures. In fact, it has been speculated that pomegranates and not apples grew in the Garden of Eden.

Besides its unique tarty taste, pomegranates pack more benefits than what you’d imagine.  Studies have shown that it helps in promoting heart health by increasing blood flow and lowering blood pressure. The power of pomegranates lies in its antioxidant activity. Pomegranates are a rich source of three types of antioxidants –  tannins, anthocyanins, and ellagic acid. These antioxidants are known for their anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and anti-ageing properties.

The fruit also helps in repairing, rejuvenating and replenishing your skin in many ways. From an anti-ageing product to imparting a natural glow, here’s how you can use the fruit for skin nourishment.

Powerful antioxidant: Skin nutrition is essential in tackling one of the biggest causes of aging – free radical damage. Pomegranates are rightly known as superfoods for their high antioxidant content. According to a 2008 study, pomegranate juice has a higher antioxidant content than acai and blueberry juice.

Cellular regeneration: Not only is pomegranate anti-inflammatory and high in essential fatty acids, it has also been shown to stimulate Keratinocyte skin cells which help with cellular regeneration. (More: 6 Healthy Foods You’re Probably Neglecting)

Anti-ageing: Dermis, the outer layer of the skin, is made up of collagen and elastic fibres. Wrinkles arise in the dermis as collagen and elastin degrade. Vitamin C is an integral part of collagen formation enabling proteins to become stronger. Just one pomegranate contains about 48 percent of the daily value of Vitamin C. Need we say more?

Hydration and exfoliation: Pomegranate juice is highly beneficial for the skin. Its small molecular structure helps to penetrate more deeply into the skin to deliver hydration rich in micronutrients and phytochemicals. Pomegranate juice helps in recovering dull, dry skin. It is a great source of Vitamin C which is known to reduce roughness when applied on the skin. The crushed seeds of pomegranate are also perfect for exfoliation. (Recipe: Health Juice)

Natural glow: Pomegranate juice improves digestion and increases blood flow which gives your skin a radiant glow. A glass of pomegranate juice daily can give you great results.

Fights acne: Inflammation plays an important role in developing acne. The antioxidants present in pomegranate neutralize free radicals that damage cells and tissues, causing inflammation in the body. The vitamin C content also helps in regulating the production of sebum, an oily secretion which may cause acne.

Sun-Damage Protection: Did you know that pomegranate can act as a natural sunscreen? The ellagic acid, a polyphenol antioxidant found in large quantities in pomegranates, helps in healing sunburn and is known to reverse sun damage. Scientists have found that the incredible antioxidant activity in pomegranates may reduce the harmful effects of ultra violet radiations and inhibit the growth of skin tumours.

US trying to sow discord between China and India

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi extends his hand to Chinese president Xi Jinping in 2015. File photo/BCCL

By K J M Varma | PTI

Accusing the US of “sowing discord” between China and India, Beijing today said the two neighbours are wise enough to resolve their boundary dispute peacefully through talks and asked America to respect their efforts.

Dismissing as groundless a Pentagon report that claimed the Communist giant was deploying more troops along the Sino-India borders, China said that it was a misrepresentation of its military development.

“Maintaining peace and tranquility along the China-India border areas is an important consensus reached between the leaders of the two countries,” the Chinese Defence Ministry said in written response to PTI here about the US report.

“Currently, the border forces of China and India are actively carrying out exchanges, working towards establishing hotline between the two militaries, and are in close communication through the mechanism of border personnel meetings,” it said.

“The situation in the China-India border is overall peaceful and stable. The relevant statements by US defence officials are clearly unsubstantiated and intended to sow discord,” between India and China, the ministry said.

Earlier, Chinese Foreign Ministry in a written response said the US must respect India-China efforts to resolve the boundary dispute peacefully through negotiations.

India and China last month held the 19th round of talks to resolve the border dispute stretching along the 3488 km long Line of Actual Control (LAC).

While China says that the boundary dispute is confined to 2,000 kms, mainly in Arunachal Pradesh in eastern sector which it claims as part of southern Tibet, India asserts that the dispute covered the whole of the LAC including the Aksai Chin.

“The Chinese side is committed to safeguarding peace and tranquility of the border areas between China and India, and resolving the boundary question through negotiation with India,” the Foreign Ministry said in written response to PTI.

“China and India are wise and capable enough to deal with this issue. It is hoped that other country would respect efforts made by China and India for the peaceful settlement of dispute, rather than the opposite,” the Foreign Ministry said, without directly referring to United States.

The US report also warned of increasing Chinese military presence in various parts of the world, particularly Pakistan.

US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for East Asia Abraham M Denmark told media in Washington on May 14 that “we have noticed an increase in capability and force posture by the Chinese military in areas close to the border with India.”

“It is difficult to conclude on the real intention behind this,” Denmark said after submitting Pentagons annual 2016 report to the US Congress.

“It is difficult to say how much of this is driven by internal considerations to maintain internal stability and how much of it is an external consideration,” he said when asked about Chinas military command in Tibet.

Buddhist-era lamps found near Indo-Pak border

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Amritsar: Earthen lamps dating back to Gautam Buddha’s era were found by a villager near the India-Pakistan border in Amritsar district.

Balwinder Singh, a resident of Bahadurnagar village situated on the border, found three earthen lamps from a mound. The three earthen lamps have unique features, and stand apart from the present-day earthen lamps. These can be hanged with a thread or a wire, and can be used as lanterns. “A few days ago, I chanced upon finding these three unique earthen lamps from the mound,” Balwinder told ToI on Thursday.

Bahadurnagar is situated close to Kotli Vasawa Singh village, where lie the remains of Buddhist civilization buried under mounds. These buried unique articles of the past are being plundered by amateur and professional artefact collectors. “Finding such archaeological objects dating back to the Buddhist era is not uncommon in this area, which once had a thriving Buddhist civilisation,” said BS Goraya, a historian.
He said it was strange that despite being in the knowledge of the Punjab Department of Cultural Affairs, Archaeology and Museums, and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), no one took the initiative to have a detailed survey of excavation of the mounds, to preserve the remaining cultural heritage and prevent it from being looted by a few private collectors.
Balwinder said the mound had several pieces of clay pottery embedded in it or just scattered on the ground. “During rains, many such utensils come out of the mounds, and most of them are broken, but it is strange to see how they are embedded in the soil for centuries,” he said, adding that he was lucky to have found the unique lamps.

SOURCE : Times of India

Buddhist Sculptures Discovered in the Ruins of Bazira, Pakistan

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By Shyamal Sinha,New Delhi
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This sculpture, unearthed during excavations of the ancient city of Bazira, illustrates the departure of the young Prince Siddhartha Gautama from his palatial home on his horse Kanthaka. Photo by Aurangzeib Khan.

The ruins of Bazira, also called Vajirasthana, are near the modern town of Barikot, where the Italian Archaeological Mission has been excavating since 1978. Over the years archaeologists have excavated the ancient city to reveal palatial quarters and shrines. Bazira is an important center for the study of Greco-Buddhist art.
Excavations of the ruins of the ancient city of Bazira in Pakistan’s Swat Valley have recently revealed a shrine and courtyard, where archaeologists have unearthed sculptures and carvings that date back more than 1,700 years and depict stories from Buddhism and other ancient religions.

Also known as Vajirasthana, Bazira was established as a small town in the 2nd century BCE, eventually growing into a city as part of the Kushan empire (30–375). During the 3rd century, the city was devastated by a series of earthquakes and gradually fell into ruin. Today, the remains of Bazira can be found near the village of Barikot at the southern end of the Swat Valley. The Italian Archaeological Mission in Pakistan has been excavating the ruins since 1978, in the process unearthing sculptures and carvings that provide insights into the religious lives of the city’s inhabitants, who followed a number of ancient religions, including Buddhism.

One of the relics discovered at the shrine, a carving 13 inches wide and 11 inches high, illustrates the departure of the young Prince Siddhartha Gautama from his palatial home on his horse Kanthaka. Prince Siddhartha is believed to have grown up in a palace in Kapilavastu, the ancient capital of the Shakya kingdom, in present-day Nepal, until he decided to give up his privileged life to gain a greater understanding of the world and to seek enlightenment.

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An unknown deity with a wine goblet in one hand and a goat’s head in the other. Photo by Aurangzeib Khan.

In describing the sculpture for The Journal of Inner Asian Art and Archaeology, Luca Olivieri, the director of the excavation at Bazira, said that the figure depicted wearing a crown and holding her hands in veneration before Prince Siddhartha was the town goddess of Kapilavastu, while those supporting Kanthaka’s hooves below were spirits known as yakshas. Behind them is the figure of a man—possibly a deity—with his left hand held to his mouth and his right hand waving a scarf-like garment called an uttariya.

Another carving found at the site depicts a stupa flanked by two columns with lions on top. According to Olivieri, the scene could be a representation of a real stupa that once existed in the Swat Valley. “Real stupas with four columns—topped by crouching lions’ statues [sic]—at the corners of the lower podium have been documented in Swat,” Olivieri told Live Science. In the 1960s and ’70s, archaeologists excavated a similar stupa that is believed to have been in use between the 1st and 4th centuries.

A third carving unearthed in the courtyard has been dated to a time after the shrine was damaged in an earthquake. Olivieri described the relic as depicting “an unknown deity, an aged male figure sitting on a throne, with long, curled hair, holding a wine goblet and a severed goat head in his hands.” He noted that the figure resembled images of Dionysus, the Greek god of wine, fertility, theater, and religious ecstasy.It seems that Buddhist schools tried their best to curb the habit of consuming wine and other ‘intoxicating drinks’ even amongst the monastic community,”

Olivieri said the goat’s head in the carving represented a local passion: “The goat is an animal associated to the mountains in the cultures of [the] Hindu Kush, the local region,” he observed, adding that it was used as an icon in ancient rock art. (Live Science)

The archaeologist noted that viniculture and winemaking had been widespread in the Swat Valley to the degree that alcohol consumption had become a problem. “It seems that Buddhist schools tried their best to curb the habit of consuming wine and other ‘intoxicating drinks,’ even amongst the monastic community,” he said. (Live Science)

Lose Weight, This Breakfast Tip Is Just What You Need,Health

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Jae Payne Eggs and Weight Loss
If you’re reserving eggs for your brunch-filled weekends, you need to know a secret: they may just be the keys to weight-loss success. Here’s why you should be eating more eggs to lose more pounds.
  1. They’re proven to work: A 2008 study found that obese subjects lost more weight and had a higher reduction in waist circumference when they ate a breakfast of two eggs instead of bagels (both paired with a calorie-reduced diet), even though each group’s breakfast contained the same amount of calories.
  2. They’re packed with protein: Your morning meal should be full of protein to keep you feeling satisfied until lunch. In fact, many experts say that you should get at least 20 grams of protein with your breakfast to stay full and boost metabolism. The good news? Eating two eggs puts you on the right track – one egg contains about six grams of protein.
  3. They’re a healthy (and convenient) choice: When you’re starving and in need of something to sate your grumbling stomach, a hardboiled egg can be the quick, low-calorie snack that tides you over until your next meal. Pair one hardboiled egg (78 calories) with an apple (80 calories) for a substantial snack that will keep you satisfied without needing to resort to the vending machine.
Can’t bear the thought of grabbing another hard-boiled egg before you head out the door? Many of these healthy, creative egg recipes can be made ahead of time so you can still stay on the right track no matter how rushed you are in the morning.

Taiwan Temples Forsake Tradition for Environmental Responsibility

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By Shyamal Sinha,New Delhi
Despite the health and environmental risks posed by some devotional practices, tradition can be a hard habit to break. From telegraph.co.uk
Despite the health and environmental risks posed by some devotional practices, tradition can be a hard habit to break.

The potential damage to the environment and to the health of devotees from staggering levels of dangerous particles in the air is leading some temples and festivals to seek alternative – if less spectacular – practices, despite resistance from worshippers.

Temples in Taiwan are cleaning up their act and going against tradition for the sake of preserving the environment. Aiming to cut pollution and waste, and to reduce the health dangers to temple-goers posed by some traditional practices of devotion, progressive temples are turning to modern methods of religious expression that don’t carry such a heavy environmental toll.

Buddhism and Daoism are the two most dominant religions in Taiwan, representing 35 per cent and 33 per cent of the population, respectively, according to government data for 2006. And with millions of devotees attending regular ceremonies and festivals at temples and pilgrimage sites across the island, accompanied by smoldering sticks of incense, firecrackers, and the burning of paper symbols of devotion, environmental groups see a cause for concern.

“People come to temples to pray for good health, but the way they are worshipping is not healthy,” cautioned Yeh Guang-perng, founder of Clean Air for Taiwan. “They might not get sick right away, but long-term exposure would be harmful to their health.” (South China Morning Post)

Hazards associated with traditional practices include carcinogenic chemicals such as benzene and methylbenzene, which are released from burning incense and paper money. Monitoring a nine-day pilgrimage to honor the sea deity Mazu, Taiwan’s Environment Protection Administration (EPA) found that firecrackers produced levels of PM2.5 fine particle pollution that exceeded the safe level recommended by the World Health Organization by more than 60 times.

As awareness of the risks grows, changes in practices are becoming more widespread. The famous Nan Yao Temple in the city of Changhua is one of the largest and oldest Daoist temples on the island, yet despite its venerable history it has recognized the benefits of taking a more contemporary approach to respecting the environment by replacing the tradition of letting off thousands of firecrackers during festivals with recordings of the thunderous barrage, and by encouraging practitioners to clap their hands instead. Similarly, the popular Hsing Tian Kong Temple in the capital Taipei has banned the burning of incense, requesting instead that devotees simply bring their hands together to pray.

Yet despite warnings from environmental groups, some temple-goers remain attached to the comfort and familiarity of traditional customs. “The traditional belief is that the more firecrackers and incense used, the more sincere the faithful will appear and the more good fortune will be bestowed on them,” said Nan Yao Temple director Chiu Jainn-fuh. (South China Morning Post)

So far Taipei’s Hsing Tian Kong and the Buddhist Dharma Drum Mountain in New Taipei City are the only temples in Taiwan that are known to have banned the burning of incense and paper money outright, yet Chen Shyan-heng, head of the EPA’s air quality protection and noise control department, remains resolute that change is in the air. “We hope that with the scientific proof from [our] on-site data, we can persuade the public to change.” (South China Morning Post)“We need to cut down on the religious offerings that pollute the environment and hurt our health in a world with growing pollution,

Chiwda dahi, better than packaged cereal

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Chiwda dahi, better than packaged cereal

This cereal is real and natural, made without any chemical intervention. Chiwda dahi can be made by just mixing the ingredients instantly and we have an option of making it sweet or savoury. Chiwda is the flattened rice flakes that are made after parboiling the paddy grains of the fresh crop and then pounding them to make flakes. The flakes are then dried before packaging. The same chiwda is also known as poha in Maharashtra, cheere in Bengal and Assam, atukulu in Andhra Pradesh and aval in Tamil Nadu.

Flattened rice is consumed with home-made cultured yogurt almost all over India in different forms, although this is one rice product that is used in various other ways as well. Some like the chiwda dahi sweet and some like it savoury and spicy, some people make it richer by adding nuts, making this popular choice a little more versatile every day.
The chiwda comes in various qualities, made from red rice or aromatic rice or any other local variety of rice. For making chiwda dahi, a slightly thicker variety of chiwda is preferred as it retains its bite after getting soaked with yogurt.