The Golden Continuum Journal

Narak Chaturdashi

Indian festivals almost always have a beautiful story surroundinv them and the festival of Diwali, in particular, is one that has a rich history attached to it. Every single day of Diwali has a particular meaning behind it and as we slip into the festive weekend, we wanted to shed some light on what each of these days means, and how they are celebrated. Today is November 3rd, a day when Hindus, Jains and Sikhs around the world celebrate Narak Chaturdashi - popularly known as choti diwali. As per Hindu mythology, the festival revolves around the story of Narakasura - a powerful demon king - who was blessed by the Lord Brahma that he would only die at the hands of his mother, Bhudevi (also known as the Goddess of Earth). Knowing that his mother loved him and would never harm him, Narakasura turned evil and began harassing the demi-gods. Troubled by his atrocities, the demi gods soon approached Lord Vishnu and asked him to find a solution to their problem. When Lord Vishnu was reincarnated as the Lord Krishna, he married Satyabhama - Narakasura’s mother Bhudevi in reincarnated form. Having no recollection of her past life as his mother, Satyabhama asked her husband, Lord Krishna, to fight Narakasura and put an end to his evils. Knowing his part, Krishna soon entered into battle with Narakasura. As Satyabhama watched her husband get injured in the battle, she decided to take on the demon king himself. Fighting him with immense determination and courage, she finally killed him. Upon understanding the role that destiny had chalked out for her as Bhumidevi and her son, Narakasura, she declared that his death be celebrated as it was a sign of victory over evil. And as he took his last breath, Narakasura prayed to his mother to celebrate his death with light and color - or Narak Chaturdashi as we know and celebrate it today. Even today, Narak Chaturdashi is celebrated by burning effigies of the demon king. People wake up early and take a bath; houses are cleaned to rid the space of negative and stale energy. Rangolis are drawn at the door and at the entrance to the house using colorful powder and rice paste. Narak Chaturdashi is also celebrated with specially cooked sweets and festive snacks. Soha Joshi

Indian Chutney Recipe

This is one of my all time favorite chutneys. It has been a hit as a spread for platters, sandwiches or simply for adding a little flavor to shredded chicken breast (my personal favorite!) I also love mixing it with some rice and ghee for some spicy goodness what you will need: one cup chopped onion half cup whole peanuts one tsp of each: split white and yellow lentil (aka urad and channa dal) one small lime size tamarind four red chilies one spring curry leaf salt to taste and a pinch of turmeric RECIPE: Sauté all of the above (except the salt) in a teaspoon of oil until the onion is tender and cooked. Allow it to cool and add salt and some water to this mixture and grind. Season it with mustard, cumin and curry leaf Enjoy this delicious goodness, and let me know what you think! Anisha Vinjamuri

The UMM Diwali Gift Guide 2021

Diwali is almost here and if you, like us, have been scrambling around for gifts then our guide below is just what you’ve been looking for. We’ve curated an edit of some of our favorite South Asian brands across skincare, wellness and food and we hope you are able to find something you love here (we also have some discount codes for you - you’re welcome ;))! SHAZ & KIKS Shaz & Kiks is a haircare brand founded by two sisters - Shaz and Kiku - and while every single one of their products is absolutely amazing, we especially love their BALANCING CLAY HAIR CLEANSER that comes packed with the goodness of multani mitti (an UMM favorite!), jojoba, moringa, vetiver and a host of other hair loving natural ingredients. THE VEDIC CARTEL The Vedic Cartel is an Ayurveda backed wellness brand founded by Sheena and Sapan Patel and while we love all their amazing single ingredient supplements (think Ashwagandha, Amla, Tulsi and so many more!), we especially love their PARTY PILL - a hangover aid that is made with all-natural ingredients such as moringa, turmeric, willow bark, milk thistle and more and helps you prevent hangovers. Use code DIWALI for 20% off all supplements AHISTA TEA Ahista Tea is an Indian and Indian inspired tea brand that was founded by Ashmit Patel and working with tea farmers across India to bring unique tea blends to Michelin starred restaurants, plant based cafes and luxury boutique hotels across the world. They also retail directly via their website; check out their OM TEA BLEND that makes for the perfect way to start your day. Use code Diwali15 for 15% off across their website AAVRANI AAVRANI is a New York City based Ayurveda inspired skincare brand and we love their newly launched HEALING ROSE CLAY MASK for sensitive skin, along with the rest of their stunning product range - including the Balance Restoring Serum and the Glow Activating Exfoliator. HAVAH HAVAH is a haircare brand by Shikha and Sakshi that retails some of the most exquisite Ayurvedic hair oils and we love their BRAHMI KA TEL, a power-packed concoction of Ayurvedic favorites Brahmi and Sesame that help soften, nourish and moisturize both your hair and scalp. We hope you enjoy shopping from these brands and encourage you to support and empower South Asian owned businesses whenever + wherever you can! Soha Joshi

All About Red Clay

For centuries, Red Clay has been sourced from Morocco where Moroccan women have been using it on their hair and skin since a long time. It is rich in iron compounds and minerals such as magnesium, silica, sodium and calcium and is a mainstay in a lot of skincare products because of it’s ability to bind the impurities from your skin once dried. It’s ability to draw out toxins from the skin also make it great as a cleanser for acne-prone or oily skin. Read below for some of the many wonderful benefits that red clay can have on your skin: - It gently + effective dries up and removes blackheads. - Tightens and reduces the size of your pores. - Reduces early signs of aging. - Improves skin tone and texture. - Reduces dryness by not stripping off the skin’s natural oils. Shop our Imperfectly Perfect Soap that contains Red Clay along with many other wonderful (all-natural!) ingredients here.

Pesarettu Dosa Recipe

Pesarettu Dosa (Pesara + Attu) The Pesarettu Dosa is my childhood favorite recipe and is a staple in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India. I grew up eating this dish and love it for it’s delicious taste but over the years have also learnt to appreciate it for the many health benefits that it provides. INGREDIENTS: Whole Green Gram Ginger Onion Cumin seeds Green Chilli Salt RECIPE: - Soak 1 cup Pesarlu (whole green gram) overnight. Drain the water and grind it into a smooth paste with a ginger root, one green chili and a little salt to taste. - Spray some cooking oil on a hot pan and spread the batter to make the crépe. Garnish with chopped onion and cumin seeds. - Serve hot with ginger or tamarind chutney. This is one of my fav breakfast options that I replace my carb portion with. One crépe is approximately 60 Cal, 6 G Protein and 15 G carbs.

All About Bodycare

Body care for us goes beyond just the products that we use; quite often it is an intentional mix of the food that we eat, how much (and if at all) we stay hydrated, how often we move and whether we treat our bodies with the love, kindness and respect that she deserves. It is also important to understand that taking care of our bodies is largely dependent on how we work to cultivate a dialogue with ourselves - every thought that we have and every word that we speak has the ability to impact the health of our body. Here are some of the ways that we practice body care: 1. Strike a balance with your food Eating right is not as much about eating what is prescribed to you by someone else as it is about understanding what your body needs (and when!). This will require some time, attention and compassion on your part but know and understand that eating a slice of cake once a week or drinking an extra glass of wine occasionally is not going to affect you as much as depriving yourself of your favorite foods altogether will. 2. Stay hydrated We cannot stress this enough. Drinking water has so many amazing benefits both inside your body and on it’s surface and it’s important to get in at least eight glasses of water every single day. Warm water works best for your body, but if you cannot do it, even regular water is just fine. 3. Pick products that are made for the skin on your body A good body care routine includes products that help you cleanse, exfoliate and moisturize the skin on your body - a part of us that we quite often fail to attend to. If you’re having trouble understanding the kind of products that you should be using, send us a DM here! 4. Get moving! Anything that you can do to get moving and start working out is great - yoga, weight training, running, dancing all have the ability to provide you with the many wonderful benefits that working out gives. If you are wondering where to begin - start with just once a week and gradually build up to five times a week with a trainer or specialist. 5. Be mindful of how you talk to your body Our bodies hear everything that we say to them and that is why it is important to always be kind, respectful and loving with our thoughts + words. How do you practice bodycare? Let us know here. Soha Joshi

Indian Chutney Recipe

Chutneys are an ubiquitious Indian staple that are versatile, delicious and very easy to make! One of the reasons that I love chutney so much is for it’s ability to pair well with all kinds of cuisines - I myself love to enjoy it with everything from a slice of sourdough bread to a bowl of dal and rice. It comes together really quickly too and is packed with just the right amount of flavour + nutrients to keep your body and skin healthy and glowing! INGREDIENTS: 1 Onion 1 tsp of each (peanuts, split white and channa lentils) Curry leaf Tamarind Turmeric Salt Olive Oil RECIPE: -Heat 2 tsp of olive oil in a pan. -Add the above ingredients except salt, onions and turmeric. -Fry until it starts to turn light brown. -Add onions and turmeric sauté in medium flame for ten minutes. -Blend them once cooled with salt. Enjoy with your favorite meal and don’t forget to share photos with us here! Soha Joshi

Turmeric Milk Recipe

The weather is getting cooler and as we slip into fall, it’s important to keep our body nourished with lots of warm water and warm drinks and if you’re looking for ideas on the latter, our Haldi Doodh aka Turmeric Milk aka Golden Milk recipe might be just what you’re looking for. As a kid, I rarely gave this drink a second glance but now with time, have learnt to appreciate it SO MUCH for all the wonderful benefits it can give us. Aside from it’s uniquely delicious taste, one of the reasons I love to have turmeric milk is for it’s ability to aid in the treatment of so many skin problems (acne, inflammed skin, scars and so many others!) because of it’s antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Turmeric milk is also a fantastic antiseptic and blood purifier, helping in the treatment of many of our bodies’ internal conditions such as PCOs, digestive trouble and hormonal problems. It can also improve quality of sleep and drinking turmeric milk just before bedtime ensures a sound, restful sleep that will leave you waking up bright and refreshed. To make your own glass of turmeric milk, here’s what you’ll need: INGREDIENTS: Milk Saffron Cardamom A pinch of turmeric Pepper powder RECIPE: Bring milk to a boil and allow to cool. When it has slightly cooled down, add turmeric powder (or paste) and pepper powder. You can also add a sweetener of your choice. Stir the milk so that the powders blend in well. Pour into a cup or glass and garnish with saffron and cardamom. Enjoy it at night just before bedtime to ensure you get all it’s benefits! Soha Joshi

All About Jojoba Oil

As we slip into fall season, it’s important to elevate your wellness routine to ensure that you are giving your skin and body just the right type of care that it needs to combat the dryness that is a given during this season. One of the ways that we love to do this is with our Body Oil. The oil was created to be used all over your body - hair, face and wherever else you think you need you need extra hydration - using ingredients that have been revered since centuries for their ability to heal and hydrate dry, dull skin from the inside out. One of the ingredients that we particularly love is Jojoba Oil. This oil is sourced from the seeds of the jojoba plant and while it looks like oil, it is actually wax that mimics the texture and consistency of oil. Here are some of the amazing benefits that Jojoba Oil can give your skin: 1.It nourishes dry skin Jojoba oil works beautifully to nourish dry skin; because of its ability to mimic the skin’s natural oils, it tricks the skin into thinking it has produced enough oil and quickly seeps into your skin - even more if you use it just after a shower. 2.It can help relieve sunburns Because of it’s Vitamin E content, jojoba oil helps reduce inflammation and speed up cell regeneration both in the body and skin, making it perfect to heal sunburnt skin. 3.It reduces fine lines and wrinkles Jojoba oil contains Vitamin B complex that fights off free radicals and repairs cell damage and vitamin E that helps speed up cell regeneration, making it the perfect anti-aging ingredient. 4.It prevents split-ends Similar to its ability to heal dry skin, jojoba oil works to heal dry brittle hair and prevent split ends. It also helps promote hair growth and boosts the thickness of hair because of its high concentrations of B and E vitamins and minerals. 5.It nourishes dry and cracked lips Because of it’s high vitamin, mineral and fatty acid content, jojoba oil nourishes and heals dry, cracked lips. It is also easy to apply and doesn’t leave a greasy residue. Shop our Jojoba oil infused Body Oil here. Soha Joshi

Ingredient Spotlight - Sesame Oil

Rich, warming and extremely effective especially in the colder months of the year, sesame oil is sourced from the seeds of the Sesasum Indichum plant that was originally native to India but is currently grown in many other parts of the world as well. Sesame seed oil comes laden with antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties that make it a popular addition to your skincare routine and in Ayurveda, sesame oil is considered to be one of the best for abhyanga massages and due to it’s quickly penetrating nature, it works to nourish the skin from the inside out. Here are some of the reasons why you need to make sesame oil a part of your skincare routines: it is anti-aging Sesame oil contains two powerful antioxidants - sesamol and sesamin - that boosts the production of collagen in the skin and reduces the appearance of wrinkles. They also work to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine-lines. it is moisturizing Sesame oil has a high fatty acid and linoleic acid content that make it an excellent moisturiser and softener for the skin. it builds the immunity of the skin Sesame oil is used in Ayurvedic Panchakarma therapy (which is a complete detoxification process of the mind, body and soul) and when blended with other Ayurvedic herbs, helps to build the immunity of the skin. it boosts hair growth Sesame oil is packed with essential fatty acids (including omega 3, omega 6 and omega 9), that help promote hair growth. A regular hair massage with a sesame seed oil has wonderful benefits for both the hair and scalp and helps increase blood circulation to the scalp, leading to healthier hair. It helps treat sunburns Sesame oil helps treat sunburn and reverse any damage to the skin caused by extended UV exposure - including wrinkles, fine lines and hyperpigmentation. Shop our sesame seed infused Body Oil here. Soha Joshi

Ingredient Spotlight - Almond Oil

Sourced from almond skins, sweet almond oil is a powerful ingredient that has been used in ancient Ayurvedic and Chinese wellness practices since centuries. It is packed with a host of nutrients such as Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Omega 3 fatty acids and zinc that make for extremely potent additions to your skincare routine and since they are naturally sourced, they also offer a holistic wellness experience when used correctly and intentionally. Here are some of the benefits of adding almond oil to your everyday wellness rituals: reduces puffiness of the skin With it’s anti-inflammatory properties, almond oil works wonderfully to reduce swelling of the skin, making it a great addition to your AM skincare routine. helps reverse sun damage Almond oil contains Vitamin E that has long been revered for it’s ability to reduce the damage caused to the skin by UV exposure, including wrinkles, pigmentation and dark spots. helps treat acne prone skin Almond oil’s rich fatty acid content helps dissolve the excess oil on the skin to a considerable extent while retinoids help to reduce the appearance of skin and increase cell turnover for healthy, clear skin. evens out skin tone With it’s emollient properties, almond oil has the potential to even out and improve both skin tone and texture and consistent (and appropriate) application can help you achieve even skin. reduces the appearance of scars In ancient Chinese and Ayurvedic practices, almond oil has long been considered as one of the quickest and easiest ways to heal minor cuts and wounds and reduce the appearance of scars. Almond oil also helps reduce the appearance of stretch marks. How do you use almond oil in your skincare routine? Share with us at @ummskincare and explore our almond oil infused Body Oil here. Soha Joshi

All About Avocado (Oil)

Avocado needs no introduction. As a millennial favorite, this magical fruit is used in a ton of different ways - whether on toast or via it’s vitamin rich oil. If you already love this fruit, here are five reasons why the skincare lover in you will love it even more: hydrates the skin Avocado oil has a high concentration of monounsaturated fat that helps to soften the skin. With its superior occlusive properties, it also helps trap the emollients and humectants onto the surface of the skin for a clean, hydrated finish. alleviates redness With its anti-inflammatory properties, avocado oil is a great natural option to alleviate redness and help treat everything from eczema to psoriasis. Avocado oil also helps treat acne, so it’s always a good idea to include an avocado oil based product into your skincare rituals. treats dandruff Avocado seed oil is packed with antibacterial properties and when massaged into the scalp and hair, help treat dandruff and make way for lustrous locks and a healthy scalp. minimizes damage With it’s high antioxidant and Vitamin E content, avocado oil helps to minimize the damage caused by free radicals and other environmental damage. heals chapped lips If you constantly have chapped, cracked lips, then make sure you include avocado oil (or a avocado oil based product) as part of your lipcare. The oil works almost instantly to hydrate and heal your lips and over time, will leave you with naturally soft and healthy lips. Do you incorporate avocados or avocado oil as part of your wellness rituals? Share your tips with us @ummskincare xx Soha Joshi

The Golden Continuum Journal

Narak Chaturdashi

Indian Chutney Recipe

The UMM Diwali Gift Guide 2021

All About Red Clay

Pesarettu Dosa Recipe

All About Bodycare

Indian Chutney Recipe

Turmeric Milk Recipe

All About Jojoba Oil

Ingredient Spotlight - Sesame Oil

Ingredient Spotlight - Almond Oil

All About Avocado (Oil)

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