Kumbha (Kumbh) Mela is a mass pilgrimage centered on the ritual of riverside bathing, it is variously called the the Great Indian Bathing Festival, the Urn Festival, the Pitcher Festival and so forth. It occurs four times every twelve years rotating between Allahabad/Prayaga at the confluence of the rivers Ganga (Ganges), Jamuna (Yamuna) and the concealed Saraswati, Haridwar (Hara Dwar) on the river Ganga (Ganges), Ujjain on the river Kshipra (Shipra), and Nasik on the river Godavari (Gomati)
Bathing in these rivers during the Kumbha (Kumbh) Mela is considered an endeavour of great merit, cleansing both body and spirit. The Allahabad and Haridwar (Hara Dwar) festivals are routinely attended by five million or more pilgrims; the Kumbha (Kumbh) Mela is the largest religious gathering in the world. It may also be the oldest
Two traditions are in circulation regarding the origin and timing of the festival: one that stems from ancient texts known as the Puranas, and the other that connects it with astrological considerations. According to the Puranic epic, the gods and demons had churned the milky ocean at the beginning of time in order to gather various divine treasures including a jar containing a potion of immortality - Ambrosia. As the jar emerged from the ocean the gods and demons began a terrific battle for its possession. During the battle, which according to one legend the gods won by trickery, four drops of the precious potion fell to earth, when Jayantha (Jayanth) the son of the chief deity Indra carried the jar (Kumbha/kumbh) that held the ambrosia in the form of a giant bird - these places became the sites of the four Kumbha (Kumbh) Mela festivals, according to another legend he ran away with the jar and hid them on twelve locations on earth where few drops of ambrosia fell, four of these places are known and identified as the four sites for the Kumbh (Kumbh) Mela, the other eight locations are being researched by our team
The astrological tradition (ascribed to a lost Puranic text and not traceable in extant editions) seems to stem from a very ancient festival called the Kumbha Parva, which occurred at Hardwar every twelfth year when Jupiter was in Aquarius (the Indian name being Kumbha/Kumbh) and the sun entered Aries
At some later time the term 'Kumbha (Kumbh)' was prefixed to the Melas held at Prayaga, Ujjain, and Nasik and these four sites became identified with the four mythical locations of the immortality potion - Ambrosia. In theory the Kumbha (Kumbh) Mela festivals are supposed to occur every three years, rotating between the four cities. In practice the four-city cycle may actually take eleven or thirteen years and this because of the difficulties and controversies in calculating the astrological conjunctions. Furthermore the interval between the Kumbha Mela at Nasik and that at Ujjain is not of three years; they are celebrated the same year or only a year apart. This deviation in practice is intriguing and cannot be fully explained by either astrological or mythological means.
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When a child is diagnosed with cancer, their family is presented with treatment options – often a combination of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Radiation and chemotherapy have been used to treat kids’ cancers for more than 50 years and often come with long-term late effects including secondary cancers, heart damage and cognitive issues. Often a child’s best chance at survival is a clinical trial which offers them the newest treatment options available.
In recognition of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation will highlight the critical need to fund lifesaving research and share stories of kids affected by cancer – like Micah, who is alive today because there was a clinical trial available.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8284352-st-baldricks-foundation-conquer-childhood-cancers/
Entry-level employees are becoming less proficient in the skills most needed to succeed in today’s workplace, according to a recent national survey of human resources (HR) managers responsible for hiring. The survey, sponsored by leading early education provider Primrose Schools®, revealed skills like adaptability, teamwork and problem solving are critical to workplace success. Yet, 70 percent of seasoned HR managers report that entry-level employees are rarely proficient in these skills.
According to the survey, critical thinking, problem solving, teamwork, self-control, adaptability and working memory – collectively referred to by educators as executive function skills – are more highly valued in entry-level candidates than technical abilities, academic background and other factors. And while respondents state that entry-level employees are rarely proficient in these skills, two-thirds say hiring entry-level employees with good executive function skills is a top priority for their company’s long-term success.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8014453-primrose-schools-early-childhood-career-success-survey/
The Corporate Executive Board (CEB) (NYSE: EXBD), a leading research and advisory services company, today announced the publication of Executive Guidance 2011, the company’s year-end analysis of industry trends and corporate best practices designed to inform and support business planning. This year’s Executive Guidance focuses on “Intelligent Growth”—a long-term pattern of above-industry performance in both revenue growth and efficiency—and highlights four key management principles that are critical to achieving it. While most companies aspire to create this balance, currently less than 10 percent of global organizations are considered Intelligent Growth companies.
To view Mulimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/executiveboard/45060/
Invacare Corporation (NYSE:IVC), the global leader in home and long-term care medical products, today is launching “Real Life,” a new campaign dedicated to raising awareness of the everyday struggles and achievements of those living with disabilities, ailments or advancing age. For these individuals, even “ordinary” tasks like getting dressed, preparing for the day ahead, caring for children, driving a car or going to work can require extraordinary effort — yet few people are aware of these everyday struggles and achievements. Invacare has created this awareness campaign and platform so that people can share their ‘real life’ stories — or the story of someone who inspires them — for a chance to win cash prizes for themselves and the charity of their choice.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/invacare/49159/
Today the Confederation of Meningitis Organisations (CoMO) is urging people all over the world to “Join Hands Against Meningitis” in an effort to reduce the global impact of the disease. The call-to-action encourages individuals, families and communities to learn the signs and symptoms of meningitis, the importance of urgent treatment of the disease, and that prevention is available through vaccination against some forms of meningitis.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/55808-world-meningitis-day-join-the-fight-to-stop-meningitis
Huawei, a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solution provider, unveiled its FusionCube for SAP HANA solution for Sinopec at the CeBIT 2015 today.
Sinopec is one of the world's largest integrated energy and chemical Groups, ranking No.3 in Fortune Global 500 in 2014. With continuous expansion of Sinopec's services, the financial report system data rapidly increases. “With the increasing applications in these years, our user base and service plane grow continuously and more and more data needs to be processed. In the era of Big Data, efficiency data processing and analysis was high on the agenda." said Li Jianfeng, Deputy Director of the Information Management Department of Sinopec, "We decided to use SAP Enterprise Data Warehouse (EDW) HANA after comparison. But this technology cannot work without a hardware platform. Finally, we chose Huawei as our long-term partner to test and optimize the platform."
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7479051-huawei-joined-hands-with-SAP/
Hilary Duff, new mother to 22-month-old son Luca, is volunteering her time to help the March of Dimes raise funds to help give more babies a healthy start in life.
”As a mom, I'm proud to support the March of Dimes helping more women have full term pregnancies and healthy babies. That’s why I walk in March for Babies,” she says in a new public service advertisement. “The money we raise funds research and local programs that help babies overcome the challenges of premature birth and birth defects. Together we can help make healthier babies possible for thousands of families.”
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/65164-march-of-dimes-march-for-babies-2014/
The first comprehensive long-term study comparing different medications for type 2 diabetes is launching nationwide. The GRADE (Glycemia Reduction Approaches in Diabetes: A Comparative Effectiveness) Study will compare the long-term benefits and risks of four widely used diabetes drugs in combination with metformin, the most common first-line medication for treating type 2 diabetes.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/64578-grade-glycemia-reduction-approaches-in-diabetes-comparative-effectiveness
A new survey from the Gout & Uric Acid Education Society (GUAES) finds many Americans with gout may be placing too much emphasis on diet when it comes to managing the disease and controlling painful flares. Of all the steps taken to manage gout, respondents cited changing their diet by eliminating or reducing consumption of certain foods as their top step taken (50 percent)—even ahead of taking medications to lower their uric acid levels (40 percent) and maintaining an overall healthy fitness level (33 percent). Furthermore, nearly one in three with gout incorrectly believes that the disease can be completely avoided by eliminating certain foods; and more than one in four said they would not take medications if they were making dietary changes.
“Physicians all too often see patients who believe they can successfully manage their gout with diet alone,” said N. Lawrence Edwards, M.D., a rheumatologist and GUAES chairman. “But even with extremely rigid diet restrictions, most gout patients will only be able to lower their uric acid levels slightly—not nearly enough to achieve a healthy level to control flares and reduce risk for long-term damage.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7835451-guaes-diet-survey/
