Japan's Die-Hard Courage in Adversity
Ganbatte Nihon!!! (Good Luck Japan !!!)

The news about the massive earthquake and tsunami in Japan was devastating. I feel terrible about the loss of human lives that such calamities always bring with them. I have been very sad about this tragic incident and have been getting in touch till date with all my friends out there to find out how they're doing. What surprised and deeply impressed me was how calm they are even in this adversity. They're concentrating on how to help each other and how to deal with the setbacks rather than complaining about the injustices of Nature...Any other country would have crumbled by now...They are sad but not letting the sadness become their weakness. They're not letting the destruction retard their strength. 


One can only hope and pray that there is an end to such destructive designs of Nature...Nature reminds us how powerful it is by intimidating us with such force that causes damage beyond comprehension.


Japan is at it's best when it comes to disaster management though. The strength of the Nation of the Rising Sun can never be diminished...They may have been crushed by the unfortunate disaster of Nature but they can never be defeated. Japan always rises above setbacks and challenges and overcomes them successfully...


I always draw inspiration from Japan in difficult times...About a year back I'd even mentioned this in my article “My Inspiration Story". Japanese people are a fine example of strength who despite having suffered in a Nuclear War rose from the ashes like a Phoenix ...I am confident that as courageous as they are they will once again re-construct their lives...Even in this tragedy they are demonstrating immense courage and stand united in combating the destructive forces of Nature in silence with faith and determination. The series of earthquakes and tsunami may have crippled the great Nation's life in every way but it has not scarred the country's silent determination to fight whatever may come their way. My heartfelt respects to the Japanese people who have suffered in this tragedy and my sincere prayers for Japan to overcome these challenges. These are harsh and difficult times for Japan and I fervently hope that they're able to shine brightly once again. We all are with you Japan... Good Luck & All the best Japan !  Gambatte Japan!!!  


[ Ganbatte or Gambatte means good luck or do your best... Ganbatte is sometimes pronounced as Gambatte or atleast sounds like Gambatte even though the spelling is with a 'n' and not 'm' . In Japanese an 'n' followed by a 'b' sounds closer to 'mb'.  ]  
   

FRAGRANCES OF CULTURES

Incenses and Candles have always surrounded me wherever I go. I feel that fragrances must be present in a woman's life in different forms. I have a huge collection of fragrances from various cultures. I have incenses from everywhere from Ladakh to Auroville in India. I also have candles, incense cones and incense sticks from Japan and Thailand as well. I love collecting incenses, incense holders and candle stands from all over the world. Fusion of cultures in fragrances creates beautiful aromas around your daily life…Fragrances soothe and heal the mind.

 No dinner or bath is complete without scented candles, perfumes or naturally fragrant herbal soaps. All time favourites in scented soaps are Yardley’s Rose and Lavender soaps. India's Mysore Sandalwood Soaps are also an all time favourite. Sachets lend fragrance to clothes for a long time as well. I like sandalwood and spiced rose sachets. I particularly enjoy buying sachets. Incenses leave a lasting fragrance in a room…I like Patchouli, Sandalwood and Rose incense sticks.

Scented candles come in all colours, shapes and sizes. They’re easy to carry when one is travelling. Candles can be put in attractive and colourful glass containers or can adorn glass, porcelain, brass or copper candle stands at parties. Honey Suckle, Lavender, Rose, Sandal and Lemon are some of my personal favourites in fragrant candles.

The Art of incense is known to many cultures and in some countries they’re used mostly for religious purposes though now people all around the world appreciate the fragrance of incense in their daily lives as well. Incense is appreciated everywhere and has been used in many cultures since ancient times (India, China, Japan, Persia, Greece and Rome) . Incense is used for religious ceremonies, meditation and aromatherapy.



Charcoal based incense

 The oldest source on incense is the Vedas. Since time immemorial, the Holy Men or Rishis of India had knowledge of the Art of Incense and used them for various religious and healing purposes. Since the time of Ayurveda, fragrances and perfumes had been part of Indian culture while it was still obscure and not known in other cultures. In Ayurveda, incenses were used to aid healing and thus had medicinal properties.



Sandalwood Dhoop in Marble incense holder

Dhoop, Agarbatti (incense sticks) as incenses are referred to in India are handmade and are obtained from nature’s essential oils and prepared from herbs and fragrant woods like sandalwood. India is famous for the most calming Sandalwood incenses which are used a lot in meditation. The most valued Sandalwood comes from Mysore, the State of Karnataka in India. My brother recently gifted me a beautiful white marble lotus shaped incense stand with “Mysore Sandalwood” cones (charcoal based). In India, incenses are used for both religious ceremonies and prayers at home as well as to purify the atmosphere. In ancient India, it was also used when drying one’s hair to leave a soft fragrance in the hair.

Recently I was doing a research on the Art of Incense. As we know, Buddhism originated in India and later when Buddhism spread in China, the Buddhist monks introduced the Art of Incense making to China. There are different forms of incense. For instance “Cored stick incense” (stick incense having a support core of bamboo or sandalwood) is produced in India and China and are sometimes referred to as “joss sticks”. Charcoal incense is also used in India. This type of incense (Dhoop) is mainly used for religious ceremonies and for purification.



A Japanese Incense Stand

 “Solid stick incenses” (without supporting core) are commonly produced in Japan and Tibet though they’re used everywhere. This type of incense can be broken into pieces leaving you to choose the amount of incense you want to burn. I picked up some Tibetan solid stick incenses from Ladakh and they’re so therapeutic and enable one to meditate easily with it’s soothing fragrance.  Incense Cones were developed in Japan. The Art of Incense in Japan is known as ‘Koh-do’ or Kodo.



Our collection of atthars for abroad  

 I like ‘Atthar’ too. Attar or Atthar is the purest form of perfumed oil obtained from various flowers, herbs and spices and does not contain chemicals or alcohol. Attars are natural herbal concentrated perfumes. Attar is derived from a Persian word meaning "to smell sweet". They too come in various fragrances like Rose, “ Raat ki Rani” etc. My grandmother used to add attar to her bath for lasting natural fragrance. It is the perfect essence of flowers for a bath. Atthar is usually dabbed on cotton to apply on pulse points.

I feel that fragrances from all around the world are the perfect gifts for any woman. While in Japan, I would always carry incenses and fragrant herbal soaps for the other foreign teachers as they were greatly appreciated. Sometimes my friends from Scotland would request me to bring different types of incenses. It is nice to spread fragrance in everyone’s life!  Through fragrances I could share the scent of my culture with my friends abroad …Fragrance connects various cultures through history.