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The Manchineel - World's Most Poisonous & Dangerous Tree

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The manchineel tree, Hippomane mancinella, is a species of flowering plant in the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae), and the only species in the monotypic genus Hippomane. Manchineel is native to Florida in the United States, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Central America, and northern South America.

The name "manchineel" (sometimes written "manchioneel") as well as the specific epithet mancinella is from Spanish manzanilla ("little apple"), from the superficial resemblance of its fruit and leaves to those of an apple tree. A present-day Spanish name is in fact manzanilla de la muerte, "little apple of death". This refers to the fact that manchineel is one of the most poisonous trees in the world.


















Unusual Coffins And Ghana - Amazing Coffin designs and ideas

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The Ga-Adangbe are an ethnic group in the African nation of Ghana. The village is famous for its celebrations Ga and funeral processions. The Ga believe that when someone dies, they move to another life. Therefore, special coffins are often manufactured by highly skilled carpenters. Caskets can be anything desired by the family of the deceased of a pencil to an animal like an elephant. The coffins are generally designed to reflect the essence of the deceased in the way a character trait, a profession, or a symbol of their status in the community.

The safes are designed to represent an aspect of the life of the deceased - as if it were a car driver, a fish if their livelihood was the sea - or a sewing machine for a seamstress. They can also symbolize a vice - like a bottle of beer or a cigarette.

Ablade Glover, an artist who employs carpenters, says the coffin acts as a home in the afterlife, so it's nice. But he laments the use of so much time on the outcome of a case, it becomes hidden underground.

For example, a taxi driver is most likely buried in a coffin-shaped car. These coffins are usually very expensive because of their nature, means that skilled carpenters will take longer than they are compared to traditional coffins.



















































Realistic piece of art! : High-Velocity Paintings By Joel Rea

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Australian artist Joel Rea creates cinematic paintings pulsing with the intensity of the wind and ocean waves. Rea captures the dynamic motion of natural elements, placing human protagonists into environments that make our species appear minuscule in comparison to the elemental forces. Rea’s dramatically-lit works transmits a sense of vertigo as one watches his characters (both human and canine) tumble and fall through the clouds or confront tumultuous waters. Take a look at some of Rea’s paintings below, images courtesy of the artist.















Miyoko Shida's Power of Concentration & Balancing : Really Amazing

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Miyoko Shida Rigolo's Amazing Concentration


There are no words to describe Miyoko Shida’s performance for the Spanish TV program “Tu si que vales” (“You can do it.”).In many ways, Miyoko’s performance is a macroscopic reflection of an equally awe-inspiring dance of molecules within each cell of our body each and every moment.

Her performance reminds us that, as Walter Miller once said, ‘We don’t have  a soul, we ARE a soul, we have a body.’





Amazing Leopon : Cross Breed Of A Leopard Male And Lioness

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Leopon


A leopon is a hybrid resulting from the crossing of a male leopard with a lioness. The head of the animal is similar to that of a lion while the rest of the body carries similarities to leopards. These hybrids are produced in captivity and are unlikely to occur in the wild.

The first documented leopon was bred at Kolhapur, India in 1910. Its skin was sent to Reginald Innes Pocock by Walter Samuel Millard, the Secretary of the Bombay Natural History Society. It was a cross between a large leopard and a lioness. Two cubs were born, one of which died aged 2.5 months and the other was still living when Pocock described it in 1912. Pocock wrote that it was spotted like a leopard, but that the spots on its sides were smaller and closer set than those of an Indian leopard and were brown and indistinct like the fading spots of a juvenile lion. The spots on the head, spine, belly and legs were black and distinct. The tail was spotted on the topside and striped underneath and had a blackish tip with longer hairs. The underside was dirty white, the ears were fawn and had a broad black bar but did not have the white spot found in leopards. Pocock wrote that the closest he had previously seen to this type of hybrid was the lijagulep (Congolese Spotted Lion) bred in Chicago.

They have been bred in zoos in Japan, Germany, and Italy (the latter was a "reverse leopon" i.e. from a male lion and a leopardess). Karl Hagenbeck, who produced many different hybrids, recorded the birth of leopons at the Hamburg Tierpark in Germany, but none survived to maturity. A leopon skin and skull at the British Museum comes from the animal bred at Kolhapur Zoo in India and was donated by Lt. Col. F.W. Wodehouse of the Junior United Services sometime between 1920 and 1940.

The most successful leopon programme was at Koshien Hanshin Park in Nishinomiya City, Japan. A lioness called Sonoko was mated by a leopard called Kaneo. The lioness voluntarily assumed a position on her side to allow the much smaller leopard to mount her. A litter of 2 hybrids was born in 1959 and 3 more were born in 1962. In captivity, the normally solitary male leopard remained with the family (social behaviour is sometimes seen in captive specimens of normally solitary big cats). The hybrids proved to be sterile and the last one died in 1985. However, later leopons have successfully fathered cubs with liguars, hybrids between a male lion and a female jaguar. The resulting animal is called a leoliguar. The programme of cross-breeding was popular with the public, but it was criticised in zoological and animal welfare circles.

Based on the data from the Japanese cats, leopons are larger than leopards and combine features from the leopard and lion. They have brown, rather than black, spots and tufted tails. They will climb like leopards and seem to enjoy water, also like the leopard. Male leopons may have sparse manes about 20 cm long.



Courtesy : wikipedia.com


Komondo : Amazing Hungarian Guard Dog

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The Komondor, Canis familiaris pastoralis villosus hungaricus, (in Hungarian the plural for komondor is komondorok, not used in English) is a large, white-coloured Hungarian breed of livestock guardian dog with a long, corded coat.

Sometimes referred to as 'mop dogs,' the Komondor is a long-established powerful dog breed that has a natural guardian instinct to guard livestock and other property. The Komondor was brought to Europe by the Cumans and it was mentioned for the first time in 1544 in a Hungarian codex. The Komondor breed has been declared one of Hungary’s national treasures, to be preserved and protected from modification.





















Wow! What an Art : Sand Dance on the circle

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Really amazing Sand Dance on the circle using clay, pottery wheel, music, improvisation...


Unusual & Weird Pepsi Flavours From Around The World - Weird Pepsi Flavors

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Over the years Pepsi have come up with a lengthy list of alternative flavoured drinks both good and bad.

Most of the new flavours produced for the US & UK markets, such as Crystal Pepsi which was introduced in 1992 and sold until 1993 as a rival to New Coke, were quickly discontinued amidst poor sales.

Many of the different flavours featured in this gallery are regional variations from around the world.


Pepsi Cappuccino is widely available in Romania and Bulgaria with another coffee flavored cola called Pepsi Tarik that’s only on sale in Malaysia whilst Pepsi Twist has been successfully marketed in Brazil (with lime instead of lemon).

Pepsi X is an energy drink which contains more caffeine than regular Pepsi-Cola and in addition also contains taurine and guaranine, similar to other energy drinks such as Red Bull.

Another type is Pepsi Samba which was released in Australia in 2005. It is Pepsi with a tropical taste of tamarind and mango.

Others have only been produced or sold for a limited time, such as Pepsi Holiday Spice, a spicy Hanukkah/Christmas seasonal finish of ginger and cinnamon.

I think I’ll stick with regular Pepsi…







































Azuki Sweet Bean Pepsi (Japan)


Pepsi Holiday - cinnamon (USA and Canada)

Ice Cream (Russia)

Crystal Pepsi (USA, Canada, Australia and select parts of Europe)

Pepsi Gold - white sapote flavor (Japan, Germany, Finland and Central Europe)

Pepsi Mont Blanc - based on a French chestnut dessert (Japan)

Pepsi Pink - strawberry milk flavor (Japan)

Pepsi Shiso (Japan)

Pepsi Red - spicy ginger (Japan)

Pepsi Cappuccino (Russia and Romania)

Pepsi Jazz (USA)

Pepsi Baobab - monkey bread fruit flavor (Japan)

Pepsi Ice Cucumber

Pepsi Blue Hawaii - pineapple lemon flavored (Japan)


Fire (hot cinnamon) and Ice (cool mint) Pepsi (Guam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Philippines)

Pepsi Summer Chill - apple soda (Poland)

Pepsi White - yogurt flavored (Japan)

Pepsi Jazz (USA)



Navratri Festival 2016 - Festival of Nine Nights, Festival of Dandiya and Garba Raas, Dance, Festival of Goddess Durga

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The festival of Navratri (nav = nine and ratri = nights) lasts for 9 days with three days each devoted to worship of Maa Durga, the Goddess of Valor, Ma Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth and Maa Saraswati, the Goddess of Knowledge. During the nine days of Navratri, feasting and fasting take precedence over all normal daily activities amongst the Hindus. Evenings give rise to the religious dances in order to worhip Goddess Durga Maa.

The beginning of spring and the beginning of autumn are two very important junctions of climatic and solar influence. These two periods are taken as sacred opportunities for the worship of the Divine Mother. The dates of the festival are determined according to the lunar calendar. Being the oldest religion in the world, Hinduism has numerous belief systems.

In Hinduism the adherents believe in one omnipresent Deity but may worship Her/Him in any of the numerous manifestations that are prevalent all over India. Navaratri represents celebration of Goddess Durga, the manifestation of Deity in form of Shakti [Energy or Power]. Dasahara, meaning ‘ten days’, becomes dussehra in popular parlance. The Navaratri festival or ‘nine day festival’ becomes ‘ten day festival’ with the addition of the last day, Vijayadashami which is its culmination. On all these ten days, the various forms of Mother Mahisasura-mardini (Durga) are worshipped with fervour and devotion.

The 9 nights festival of Navratri begins on the first day of Ashwina of the bright fortnight. Seeds are sown, sprouting is watched, the planets are consecrated, and on the 8th and 9th days, Goddess Durga, Vijayashtami and Mahanavami are worshipped. The Devi Mahatmya and other texts invoking the Goddess who vanquished demons are cited.


1st - 3rd day of Navratri 
On the first day of the Navaratras, a small bed of mud is prepared in the puja room and barley seeds are sown on it. These initial days are dedicated to Durga Maa, the Goddess of power and energy.

4th - 6th day of Navratri 
During these days, Lakshmi Maa, the Goddess of peace and prosperity is worshipped.

7th - 8th day of Navratri 
These final days belong to Saraswati Maa who is worshipped to acquire the spiritual knowledge. This in turn will free us from all earthly bondage. But on the 8th day of this colourful festival, yagna (holy fire) is performed. 

Mahanavami 
The festival of Navratri culminates in Mahanavami. On this day Kanya Puja is performed. Nine young girls representing the nine forms of Goddess Durga are worshiped.  

Navaratri is celebrated five times a year. They are Vasanta Navaratri, Ashadha Navaratri, the Sharada Navaratri, and the Poushya/Magha Navaratri. Of these, the Sharada Navaratri of the month of Puratashi and the Vasanta Navaratri of the Vasanta kala are very important.
1. Vasanta Navaratri: Basanta Navrathri, also known as Vasant Navratras, is the festival of nine days dedicated to the nine forms of Shakti (Mother Goddess) in the spring season (March–April). It is also known as Chaitra Navratra. The nine days of festival is also known as Raama Navratri.
2. Gupta Navaratri: Gupta Navratri, also referred as Ashadha or Gayatri or Shakambhari Navratri, is nine days dedicated to the nine forms of Shakti (Mother Goddess) in the month of Ashadha (June–July). Gupta Navaratri is observed during the Ashadha Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon).
3. Sharana Navaratri: This is the most important of the Navratris. It is simply called Maha Navratri (the Great Navratri) and is celebrated in the month of Ashvina. Also known as Sharad Navaratri, as it is celebrated during Sharad (beginning of winter, September–October).
4. Poushya Navaratri: Poushya Navratri is nine days dedicated to the nine forms of Shakti (Mother Goddess) in the month of Pousha (December–January). Poushya Navaratri is observed during the Pousha Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon).
5. Magha Navaratri: Magha Navratri, also referred as Gupta Navratri, is nine days dedicated to the nine forms of Shakti (Mother Goddess) in the month of Magha (January–February). Magha Navaratri is observed during the Magha Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon).

"Shloka"
Sarva mangala mangalye shive sarvartha sadhike |
Sharanye trayambake gauri, Narayani namostute ||

Meaning: O Mother ! You are the personification of all that is auspicious, You are the benevolent form of Lord Shiva, You bestow Divine energy and help people achieve Righteousness, wealth, fulfill desires and Liberation, You are worthy of being surrendered to. Three eyes adorn You. O Narayani Devi, I pay obeisance to You ! 

Happy Navratri

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Navratri/Navratra Festival Photos











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Happy Thanksgiving Day - A joyous family festival celebrated with lot of enthusiasm in US, Canada and several other countries

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Thanksgiving Day is a harvest festival celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Traditionally, it has been a time to give thanks for a bountiful harvest. While it may have been religious in origin, Thanksgiving is now primarily identified as a secular holiday. It is sometimes casually referred to as Turkey Day.

In Canada, Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on the second Monday in October, which is Columbus Day in the United States. In the United States, it falls on the fourth Thursday of November.

Thanksgiving Day is also celebrated in Leiden, in the Netherlands. A different holiday which uses the same name is celebrated at a similar time of year in the island of Grenada.

Thanksgiving Day is a joyous family festival celebrated with lot of enthusiasm in US, Canada and several other countries. Thanksgiving Day Festival commemorates the feast held by the Pilgrim colonists and members of the Wampanoag people at Plymouth in 1621. On this day people express gratitude to God for his blessings and give thanks to dear ones for their love & support. Feasting with family is an integral & most delightful part of Thanksgiving Day celebrations. 

Origin of Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving is America's preeminent day. It is celebrated every year on the fourth Thursday in the month of November. It has a very interesting history. Its origin can be traced back to the 16th century when the first thanksgiving dinner is said to have taken place.

Journey of Pilgrims
The legendary pilgrims, crossed the Atlantic in the year 1620 in Mayflower-A 17th Century sailing vessel. About 102 people traveled for nearly two months with extreme difficulty. This was so because they were kept in the cargo space of the sailing vessel. No one was allowed to go on the deck due to terrible storms. The pilgrims comforted themselves by singing Psalms- a sacred song.

Arrival in Plymouth
The pilgrims reached Plymouth rock on December 11th 1620, after a sea journey of 66 days. Though the original destination was somewhere in the northern part of Virginia, they could not reach the place owing to winds blowing them off course. Nearly46 pilgrims died due to extreme cold in winter. However, in the spring of 1621, Squanto, a native Indian taught the pilgrims to survive by growing food.

Day of Fasting and Prayer
In the summer of 1621, owing to severe drought, pilgrims called for a day of fasting and prayer to please God and ask for a bountiful harvest in the coming season. God answered their prayers and it rained at the end of the day. It saved the corn crops.

First Thanksgiving Feast
It is said that Pilgrims learnt to grow corn, beans and pumpkins from the Indians, which helped all of them survive . In the autumn of 1621, they held a grand celebration where 90 people were invited including Indians. The grand feast was organized to thank god for his favors. This communal dinner is popularly known as “The first thanksgiving feast”. There is however, no evidence to prove if the dinner actually took place.

While some historians believe pilgrims were quite religious so, their thanksgiving would've included a day of fasting and praying, others say that the Thanksgiving dinner did take place.

Turkey and First Thanksgiving Feast
There is no evidence to prove if the customary turkey was a part of the initial feast. According to the first hand account written by the leader of the colony, the food included, ducks, geese, venison, fish, berries etc.

Pumpkin and Thanksgiving Feast
Pumpkin pie, a modern staple adorning every dinner table, is unlikely to have been a part of the first thanksgiving feast. Pilgrims however, did have boiled pumpkin. Diminishing supply of flour led to the absence of any kind of bread.

The feast continued for three days and was eaten outside due to lack of space. It was not repeated till 1623, which again witnessed a severe drought. Governor Bradford proclaimed another day of thanksgiving in the year 1676. October of 1777 witnessed a time when all the 13 colonies joined in a communal celebration. It also marked the victory over the British.

After a number of events and changes, President Lincoln proclaimed last Thursday in November of thanksgiving in the year 1863. This was due to the continuous efforts of Sarah Josepha Hale, a magazine editor. She wrote a number of articles for the cause.

Thanksgiving Day Symbols

Thanksgiving symbolizes the joy of loving, caring, sharing. It is all about togetherness and merry making. The festival stands for the 'Oneness' of people. It epitomizes peace, harmony and union. People world over thank the Lord almighty for all the blessings and material possessions bestowed on them.

A symbol is an arbitrary sign (written or printed) that has acquired a conventional significance. Special thanksgiving symbols prevalent world over are:




Pumpkin
Pumpkins are a Thanksgiving favorite for about 400 years.Another modern staple at almost every Thanksgiving table is the customary 'Pumpkin Pie'. It is not sure whether pumpkin was one of the dishes in the first thanksgiving dinner. Pilgrims probably made a pumpkin dish sweetened with honey or syrup. They were however a part of all traditional meals long before the arrival of pilgrims. Pumpkin leaves were also used as salads. According to historians, other seasonal vegetables included squash. People at that time were not particularly fond of vegetables, they were mostly meat eaters. Pumpkin is one of the important symbols of the harvest festival and has been an American-favourite for over 400 years now.

Turkey


Turkey is an inseparable part of Thanksgiving celebration. The celebration of Thanksgiving will be incomplete without the legendary Turkey. It derives its name from the 'turk turk' sounds it makes when scared. Turkey was at one time being considered as the national symbol of America. Benjamin Franklin felt that turkey was the right choice because it was a good runner and had a sharp sight. A bald eagle later became the national symbol of America.  

First Thanksgiving Feast
The famous 'Turkey' adorns the table of every household as a main course during the celebration. The customary dinner reminds of the 'Four Wild Turkeys' served at the 'First Thanksgiving Feast'. 

It is said, that pilgrims had a feast consisting of cooked turkey after their first harvest in the year 1621, which popularly came to be known as 'First Thanksgiving Feast'. It continued for three days and included ninety Indians. There is however no evidence to prove that turkey was cooked during the first feast. It could have been Venison-flesh of a deeror wild goose meat. 

According to folklore Queen Elizabeth of 16th century England was chewing a roast goose during a harvest festival. During the meal, she got to know that the Spanish Armada, on its way to attack England had sunk. In the joy of good news, she ordered for a second goose. Goose became a favourite bird at harvest time in England. However, when the pilgrims arrived in America, they replaced the roasted goose with roasted turkey as main course as it was easier to find and in plenty. 

Today, every house cooks turkey as the main dish during the celebration. It is the main mascot of the modern-day thanksgiving. The festivity completes with the customary 'Turkey Song'. 

Thanksgiving Day Turkey Song
O turkey dear
O turkey dear
How lovely are thy feathers

O turkey dear
O turkey dear
There could be nothing better!

We celebrate Thanksgiving Day
By putting your carcass on display.

O turkey dear
O turkey dear
You thought we were friends who came to greet you.

O turkey dear
O turkey dear
We gathered here to eat you!

O turkey day
O turkey day
The family is all together

O turkey day
O turkey day
We've over come bad weather

Seeing the family is so fab
We'll see ya'll again in rehab.

O turkey day
O turkey day
We'll drink away your memory.

Corn

Corn were a part of first thanks giving feast & are popular till date. Corn is one of the popular symbols of thanksgiving. It came in many varieties and colours-red, white, yellow and blue. Some Americans considered blue and white corn sacred. It is said that native Americans had been growing corn a long time before the pilgrims arrived in their country. The oldest corns date 7000 years back and were grown in Mexico. Americans taught pilgrims how to grow corn and help them survive the bitter winter of 1620. It is certain that corn were a part of the first thanksgiving dinner.

The tradition continues and corn finds its place on every dinner table world over during thanksgiving dinner. Ornamental Corncobs are quite popular during the festival. They are used to decorate dining tables and make harvest wreaths- A popular gift item among Americans. Ornamental popcorns are also widely used. Corn reminds us of the importance and heritage of the famous harvest festival. It also remains America's foundation of 'Modern-Agriculture '. 


Cranberry
Cranberry sauce is turkey's favorite thanksgiving feast partner. Cranberry, is a symbol and a modern diet staple of thanksgiving. Originally called crane berry, it derived its name from its pink blossoms and drooping head which reminded the pilgrim of a crane. The name was later changed to what is popularly known as Cranberry. Pilgrims soon found out a way to sweeten the bitten cranberries with maple sugar. Ever since cranberry sauce is a permanent companion of turkey during thanksgiving feast. 

Cornucopia
Cornucopia is a horn-shaped basket filled with fruits & goodies. Cornucopia is the most common symbol of a harvest festival. A Horn shaped container, it is filled with abundance of the Earth's harvest. It is also known as the 'horn of plenty'. The traditional cornucopia was a curved goat's horn filled to brim with fruits and grains. According to Greek legend, Amalthea (a goat) broke one of her horns and offered it to Greek God Zeus as a sign of reverence. As a sign of gratitude, Zeus later set the goat's image in the sky also known as constellation Capricorn.



Beans
Beans are regarded as the third of the Indian Three Sisters. Beans are a special symbol of thanksgiving. Native Americans are believed to have taught the pilgrims to grow beans next to cornstalks. This was so that beans could grow and use cornstalks as their pole. Thus American beans are also known as 'Pole Beans'. Famously known as one of the 'Three sisters', beans are a part of thanksgiving feast.







Courtesy : http://www.thanksgiving-day.org/, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving

Incredible Art - "Piyush Vani" with Glue and Gum

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Piyush Goel is an incredible artist, he always surprises the world with his unique and creative pieces of art. Have a look some of the earliier posts with his creative ideas.



Piyush Goel now-a-days writing his own published book "Piyush Vani" with the help of Glue and Gum,before this Piyush Goel has completed 15 Books in Mirrror Image, with Pen, Needle, Mehndi Cone,Iron Nail,Carbon Paper, now he is doing with Glue&Gum.










Holi - Colorful Festival of India, Festival of Colors in India, biggest color festival in the world

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Holi, also called the Festival of Colours, is a popular Hindu spring festival observed in India, Nepal, Srilanka, and countries with large Hindu diaspora populations, such as Suriname, Guyana, South Africa, Trinidad, UK, USA, Mauritius, and Fiji.

In West Bengal of India and Bangladesh it is known as Dolyatra (Doul Jatra) or Basanta-Utsav ("spring festival").

The most celebrated Holi is that of the Braj region, in locations connected to the god Krishna: Mathura, Vrindavan, Nandagaon, and Barsana. These places have become tourist destinations during the festive season of Holi, which lasts here to up to sixteen days.

The main day, Holi, also known as DhulhetiDhulandi or Dhulendi, is celebrated by people throwing colored powder and colored water at each other. Bonfires are lit the day before, also known as Holika Dahan (burning of Holika) or Chhoti Holi (little Holi). The bonfires are lit in memory of the miraculous escape that young Prahlad accomplished when Demoness Holika, sister of Hiranyakashipu, carried him into the fire. Holika was burnt but Prahlad, a staunch devotee of god Vishnu, escaped without any injuries due to his unshakable devotion. Holika Dahan is referred to as Kama Dahanam in Andhra Pradesh.

Holi is celebrated at the end of the winter season on the last full moon day of the lunar month Phalguna (February/March), (Phalgun Purnima), which usually falls in the later part of February or March. In 2017, Holika Dahan is on March 12, 2017 and Holi (Dhulandi) is on March 13, 2017 .

Rangapanchami occurs a few days later on a Panchami (fifth day of the full moon), marking the end of festivities involving colors.

There are many stories of the origin of Holi. The most widely held belief is that Holi marks the day when the devotee of lord Vishnu, Bakt Prahlad, seated on the lap of demoness Holika, was saved from the effect of the fire by God and the demoness got burnt instead. Other stories relate to the death of demon Putana at the hands of lord Krishna and to the burning of demoness Hoda by children. Some link the festival with the worship of Karma, God of pleasure and destiny. The main day, Holi, also known as DhulhetiDhulandi or Dhulendi, is celebrated by people throwing colored powder and colored water at each other. Bonfires are lit the day before, also known as Holika Dahan (death of Holika) or Chhoti Holi (little Holi). The bonfires are lit in memory of the miraculous escape that young Prahlad had when Demoness Holika, sister of Hiranyakashipu, carried him into the fire. Holika was burnt but Prahlad, a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu, escaped without any injuries due to his unshakable devotion. Holika Dahan is referred to as Kama Dahanam in Andhra Pradesh. Holi festival has an ancient origin and celebrates the triumph of 'good' over 'bad'. The colorful festival bridges the social gap and renews sweet relationships. It is the second most important festival of India after Diwali. Holi in India is a festival of fun and frolic and has been associated with the immortal love of Krishna and Radha. The exuberance and the festivity of the season are remarkable. On this day, people hug and wish each other 'Happy Holi'. People rub 'gulal' and 'abeer' on each others' faces and cheer up saying, "bura na maano Holi hai". Holi also gives a wonderful chance to send blessings and love to dear ones wrapped in a special Holi gift. Unlike all the other festivals of India, Hindu Holi festival is one such festival where one can put down the social taboos and indulge in the intoxicating drinks and sweets prepared by using opium. It is a festival of romance often represented by the love-play of Radha and Krishna. Brij Holi is famous all over the world for its gaiety in spirit. Each year, young and old, men and women, all indulge themselves in the spirit of colors and for once forget the social taboos. There are mouthwatering delicacies to savor such as 'Gujhias' and 'Papris' and there are interesting traditions and customs of Holi that have their own regional variances. We will also talk about making natural and healthy colors and safety precautions that  one must take to enjoy Holi.




 



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Amazing & EPIC Escape of Sea Iguana from Deadly Snakes

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This close-up video of a marine iguana hatchling escaping from many venomous and deadly snakes filmed by BBC Earth Unplugged for their episode "Planet Earth II: Islands" became very popular. It shows struggle of newly born sea Iguana run for its life to the safety. Watch the video below:

World’s youngest bodybuilder - Giuliano Stroe

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Giuliano Stroe, the world's youngest body builder. He is a 5 year old boy from Romania. Listed in the Guinness Book of Records.






 

 

Spooky & Scary Halloween - The Day of Fantasy and myths of All Hallows

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 Halloween 

Happy Halloween

Halloween (or Hallowe'en) is an annual holiday observed on October 31, primarily in the United States, Canada, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. It has roots in the Celtic festival of Samhain and the Christian holiday All Saints' Day, but is today largely a secular celebration.

Common Halloween activities include trick-or-treating, wearing costumes and attending costume parties, carving jack-o'-lanterns, ghost tours, bonfires, apple bobbing, visiting haunted attractions, committing pranks, telling ghost stories or other frightening tales, and watching horror films.

The history of Halloween Day, as culled from the net, is being depicted here in this light. This is to help out those who are interested in washing off the superficial hues to reach the core and know things as they truly are. 'Trick or treat' may be an innocent fun to relish on the Halloween Day. But just think about a bunch of frightening fantasies and the scary stories featuring ghosts, witches, monsters, evils, elves and animal sacrifices associated with it. They are no more innocent. Are these stories a myth or there is a blend of some reality? Come and plunge into the halloween history to unfurl yourself the age-old veil of mysticism draped around it. 

The word Halloween is first attested in the 16th century and represents a Scottish variant of the fuller All-Hallows-Even ("evening"), that is, the night before All Hallows Day. Up through the early 20th century, the spelling "Hallowe'en" was frequently used, eliding the "v" and shortening the word.

Development of artifacts and symbols associated with Halloween formed over time encompassing customs of medieval holy days as well as contemporary cultures. The souling practice of commemorating the souls in purgatory with candle lanterns carved from turnips, became adapted into the making of jack-o'-lanterns. The carving of pumpkins is associated with Halloween in North America where pumpkins are both readily available and much larger – making them easier to carve than turnips. Many families that celebrate Halloween carve a pumpkin into a frightening or comical face and place it on their doorstep after dark. 

The imagery of Halloween is derived from many sources, including national customs, works of Gothic and horror literature (such as the novels Frankenstein and Dracula), and classic horror films (such as Frankenstein and The Mummy).

Halloween is a holiday celebrated on October 31. The day is often associated with orange and black. Halloween activities include trick-or-treating, wearing costumes, ghost tours, bonfires, costume parties, visiting haunted attractions, carving jack-o'-lanterns, pranking people, reading scary stories, and watching horror movies.

Because the holiday comes in the wake of the annual apple harvest, candy apples (known as toffee apples outside North America), caramel or taffy apples are a common Halloween treat made by rolling whole apples in sticky sugar syrup, sometimes followed by rolling them in nuts.

Other foods associated with the holiday:
  1. Apple cider
  2. Báirín Breac (Ireland)
  3. Bonfire toffee (in the UK)
  4. Candy corn Chocolates, caramels, and gum
  5. Cider Colcannon (Ireland)
  6. "Fun-sized" or individually wrapped pieces of small candy, typically in Halloween colors of orange, and brown/black.
  7. Novelty candy shaped like skulls, pumpkins, bats, worms, etc.
  8. Popcorn Pumpkin and apple pie ice cream.
  9. Pumpkin pie and pumpkin bread
  10. Roasted pumpkin seeds
  11. Roasted sweet corn
  12. Small bags of potato chips, pretzels and caramel corn

Happy Halloween
Halloween Masks, Costumes, Photos
 Enjoy Some Photos Of Halloween Day, Halloween Costumes, Halloween Pictures, Halloween Masks as following:
http://fullmoonmasks.com/library/wolf_silver.jpg
http://www.merlinsltd.com/WebRoot/StoreLGB/Shops/62030553/478A/9B2A/5C59/BDAF/FD35/D5C1/1612/6B41/REAL_0020_MASKS.gif


http://www.halloween-mask.com/Lubatti/lub07/bigfoot_02_lub.jpg

http://www.halloween-masks.com/ds/prysm/halloween-masks_prysm_DistSKMickS.jpg

http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/halloween-mask.jpg

http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/9/2009/07/504x_wowmasks.jpg

http://www.scaryforkids.com/pics/kids-halloween-costume.jpg

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41-FbDl-yGL._SL500_AA280_.jpg
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_k3eVpoCa6WI/ShURoCP-AhI/AAAAAAAABpQ/IRxebDF3_ig/s400/scary-halloween-costume.jpg
http://images.halloweencostume.com/kids-zombie-costume.jpg

http://images.buycostumes.com/mgen/merchandiser/33384.jpg
http://www.scaryforkids.com/pics/adult-halloween-costumes.jpg
http://www.whedon.info/IMG/jpg/michelle-trachtenberg-2008-halloween-party-hq-01-1500.jpg
http://www.capnwacky.com/brodie/album/2008/september/disney/halloweenparty/hauntedcoupleatmansion.jpg
http://etckt.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/mk_adv_pl_002_a.jpg
http://www.disneyeveryday.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/MNSSHP_Haunted_Mansion.JPG




Fun with Vegetables, Fruits & Breads - Funny & Strange Vegetable, Strange Fruits & Strange Breads Pictures

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See the following pictures of Funny & Strange Vegetable, Fruits & Breads which shows us how we can make Fun with Strange Vegetables, Strange Fruits & Strange Breads.




















































Amazing Collection Of Albino Animals - Photos Of Most Amazing Creations Of The Nature

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Nature is a great designer, it always creates something special, like Albino Animals. Scientifically, pigments are the chemicals in our bodies that give us our colors. When a bird or other animal makes no pigments, the condition is called albinism, the animal being called an albino.
Albinism is the lack of melanin pigment in the eyes, skin and hair on living things. The condition is known to affect mammals (including humans), fish, birds, reptiles and amphibians. While the most common term for an organism affected by albinism is "albino
However, personally, I still believe it is an amazing creation of nature. Here is a collection of albino animals, probably one of the cutest galleries yet. Hope you enjoy.
Amazing Albino animal pictures




















Gorilla

Albino Squirrel

Kangaroo



Albino Deer



Albino Elk



Albino Moose



Albino (White) Billy Goat



Albino (White) Llama



Albino Alpaca



Albino Camel



White Giraffe



Albino (White) Moth



Albino Hedgehog



Albino Cat



White Bengal Tiger



White Lion



Albino Ferret



Albino Bison



Albino Dingo



Albino Koala



Albino Seal



Albino Whale



Albino Fish



Albino Turtle



Albino Frog



Snakes



Albino Alligator



Albinism in Birds



Albino Mockingbird



Snowy Egret



White Heron



Albino Kookaburra



Albino Owl



Albino Ostrich



Albino Penguin

Unbelievable Animals : Believe It Or Not But They are Real

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The Shoebill



The Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex) also known as Whalehead or Shoe-billed Stork, is a very large stork-like bird. It derives its name from its massive shoe-shaped bill. Although it has a somewhat stork-like overall form and has previously been classified in the order Ciconiiformes, its true affiliations with other living birds is ambiguous. Some authorities now reclassify it with the Pelecaniformes. The adult is mainly grey while the juveniles are browner. It lives in tropical east Africa in large swamps from Sudan to Zambia.

Okapi




The okapi, Okapia johnstoni, is a giraffid artiodactyl mammal native to the Ituri Rainforest, located in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in Central Africa. Although the okapi bears striped markings reminiscent of zebras, it is most closely related to the giraffe.

The animal was brought to prominent European attention by speculation on its existence found in popular press reports covering Henry Morton Stanley's journeys in 1887. Remains of a carcass were later sent to London by the English adventurer and colonial administrator Harry Johnston and became a media event in 1901. Today, about 10,000–20,000 remain in the wild and as of 2011, 42 different institutions display them worldwide.

The Panda Ant




The Mutillidae are a family of more than 3,000 species of wasps (despite the names) whose wingless females resemble large, hairy ants. Their common name velvet ant refers to their dense pile of hair which most often is bright scarlet or orange, but may also be black, white, silver, or gold. Black and white specimens are sometimes known as panda ants due to their hair coloration resembling that of the Chinese giant panda. Their bright colours serve as aposematic signals. They are known for their extremely painful stings, hence the common name cow killer or cow ant. Unlike a real ant, they do not have drones, workers, and queens. However, velvet ants do exhibit haplodiploid sex determination similar to other members of Vespoidea.  

The Narwhal





The narwhal, or narwhale, (Monodon monoceros) is a medium-sized toothed whale that lives year-round in the Arctic. One of two living species of whale in the Monodontidae family, along with the beluga whale, narwhal males are distinguished by a long, straight, helical tusk, actually an elongated upper left canine. Found primarily in Canadian Arctic and Greenlandic waters, rarely south of 65°N latitude, the narwhal is a uniquely specialized Arctic predator. In the winter, it feeds on benthic prey, mostly flatfish, at depths of up to 1500 m under dense pack ice. Narwhals have been harvested for over a thousand years by Inuit people in northern Canada and Greenland for meat and ivory, and a regulated subsistence hunt continues to this day. While populations appear stable, the narwhal is particularly vulnerable to climate change due to a narrow geographical range and specialized diet.

Red-Lipped Batfish




The red-lipped batfish or Galapagos batfish (Ogcocephalus darwini) is a fish of unusual morphology found on the Galapagos Islands in depths of 30m or more. Red-lipped batfish are closely related to rosy-lipped batfish (Ogcocephalus porrectus), which are found near Cocos Island off the coast of Costa Rica. This fish is mainly known for its bright red lips.

Batfish are not good swimmers; they use their highly-adapted pectoral fins to "walk" on the ocean floor. When the batfish reaches maturity, its dorsal fin becomes a single spine-like projection (thought to function primarily as a lure for prey). Similar to the anglerfish, the Red-Lipped Batfish has a structure on its head known as illicium. This structure is employed for attracting prey.  

The Umbonia Spinosa






What exactly is this alienesque creature? Scientists are still quite confused about this species, although it is believed that they are related to cicadas. The Umbonia Spinosa use their beaks to pierce plant stems to feed upon their sap. We're fascinated by the creature's large and colorful body!  

Lowland Streaked Tenrec





This here is a Lowland Streaked Tenrec, and although it may have a cute face, just take a look at those sharp spikes on its body! This creature is found in Madagascar, Africa, and it is reportedly the only mammal known to use stridulation for generating sound – something that’s usually associated with snakes and insects. 

The Hummingbird Hawk-Moth







Macroglossum stellatarum, known as the Hummingbird Hawk-moth or sometimes the Hummingmoth, is a species of Sphingidae. Its long proboscis and its hovering behaviour, accompanied by an audible humming noise, make it look remarkably like a hummingbird while feeding on flowers. It should not be confused with the moths called hummingbird moths in North America, genus Hemaris, members of the same family and with similar appearance and behavior. The resemblance to hummingbirds is an example of convergent evolution. It flies during the day, especially in bright sunshine, but also at dusk, dawn, and even in the rain, which is unusual for even diurnal hawkmoths. Its visual abilities have been much studied, and it has been shown to have a relatively good ability to learn colours.  

The Mantis Shrimp









Mantis shrimp or stomatopods are marine crustaceans, the members of the order Stomatopoda. They may reach 30 centimetres (12 in) in length, though in exceptional cases have been recorded at up to 38 cm (15 in). The carapace of mantis shrimp covers only the rear part of the head and the first four segments of the thorax. Mantis shrimp appear in a variety of colours, from shades of browns to bright neon colours. Although they are common animals and among the most important predators in many shallow, tropical and sub-tropical marine habitats, they are poorly understood as many species spend most of their life tucked away in burrows and holes.

Called "sea locusts" by ancient Assyrians, "prawn killers" in Australia and now sometimes referred to as "thumb splitters"– because of the animal's ability to inflict painful gashes if handled incautiously – mantis shrimp sport powerful claws that they use to attack and kill prey by spearing, stunning, or dismemberment. Although it only happens rarely, some larger species of mantis shrimp are capable of breaking through aquarium glass with a single strike from this weapon.

The Venezuelan Poodle Moth









The Venezuelan Poodle Moth is a possible new species of moth discovered in 2009 by Dr. Arthur Anker of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, in the Gran Sabana region of Venezuela. It bears similarities to the Diaphora mendica, the Muslin Moth, but most likely belongs to the lepidopteran genus Artace. 

Amazing Black Mamba Snake - Black mamba Facts, Photos, Information, Habitats, News

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Black mamba Snake (Dendroaspis polylepis) - The longest venomous snake in Africa



The black mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis), also called the common black mamba or black-mouthed mamba, is the longest venomous snake in Africa, averaging around 2.5 to 3.2 meters (8.2 to 10 ft) in length, and sometimes growing to lengths of 4.45 meters (14.6 ft). Its name is derived from the black colouration inside the mouth rather than the actual colour of its scales which varies from dull yellowish-green to a gun-metal grey. It is the fastest snake in the world, capable of moving at 4.32 to 5.4 metres per second (16–20 km/h, 10–12 mph). It has a reputation for being aggressive and highly venomous: herpetologists have cited this species as both the world's deadliest and most aggressive, noting its tendency to attack without provocation. It is among the world's ten most venomous land snakes, and when threatened or cornered, becomes fiercely aggressive.

Black mambas are actually brown in color. They get their name from the blue-black of the inside of their mouths, which they display when threatened.

Black mambas are fast, nervous, lethally venomous, and when threatened, highly aggressive. They have been blamed for numerous human deaths, and African myths exaggerate their capabilities to legendary proportions. For these reasons, the black mamba is widely considered the world’s deadliest snake.

Black mambas live in the savannas and rocky hills of southern and eastern Africa. They are Africa’s longest venomous snake, reaching up to 14 feet (4.5 meters) in length, although 8.2 feet (2.5 meters) is more the average. They are also among the fastest snakes in the world, slithering at speeds of up to 12.5 miles per hour (20 kilometers per hour).

They get their name not from their skin color, which tends to be olive to gray, but rather from the blue-black color of the inside of their mouth, which they display when threatened.

Black mambas are shy and will almost always seek to escape when confronted. However, when cornered, these snakes will raise their heads, sometimes with a third of their body off the ground, spread their cobra-like neck-flap, open their black mouths and hiss. If an attacker persists, the mamba will strike not once, but repeatedly, injecting large amounts of potent neuro- and cardiotoxin with each strike.

Before the advent of black mamba antivenin, a bite from this fearsome serpent was 100 percent fatal, usually within about 20 minutes. Unfortunately, antivenin is still not widely available in the rural parts of the mamba’s range, and mamba-related deaths remain frequent.

The black mamba has no special conservation status. However, encroachment on its territory is not only putting pressure on the species but contributes to more potentially dangerous human contact with these snakes.


Fast Facts about Black mamba Snake

Type: Reptile
Diet: Carnivore
Average life span in the wild: 11 years or more
Size: Up to 14 ft (4.3 m)
Weight: Up to 3.5 lbs (1.6 kg)
Did you know? : Black mambas use their incredible speed to escape threats, not to hunt prey.

Courtesy : http://animals.nationalgeographic.com, http://en.wikipedia.org/

Black mamba Snake Images / Pictures


































15 Most Amazing Ways to Tie Your Sneakers

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Amazing Way to Tie Your Sneakers



1.Thelaceis run straight across the bottom and emerges through both bottom eyelets
2.The laces then go straight up and are fed into the next set of eyelets up theshoe
3.The ends are crossed over and are fed under the vertical lace section on the opposite sides of the shoe before going straight up and into the next set of eyelets up the Shoe
4.At the top set of eyelets, the laces can once again cross over and pass under the straight section as shown. This not only looks consistent with the rest of the lacing but also forms a High Lace Lock, which tightens the lacing even more firmly.

1.The lace is run straight across the bottom and emerges through both bottom eyelets
2.The ends are looped back under the lace where it feeds under the side of the shoe
3.The ends are then crossed over each other, then they go under and out through the next set of eyelets up the shoe
4.Steps 2 and 3 are repeated until both ends reach the top eyelets.

1.The lace runs straight across the second set of eyelets from the top of the shoe
2.Cross the ends over and feed into the fourth set of eyelets, skipping the third set
3.Continue down the shoe, two sets of eyelets at a time
4.At the bottom, run the laces vertically between the bottom and second from bottom eyelets
5.Double back and work your way back up the shoe through the vacant sets of eyelets.

1.The lace is run straight across the bottom and emerges through both bottom eyelets
2.The left (red) end is spiralled up the left side of the shoe, with the end fed under and emerging from each eyelet
3.The right (orange) lace is spiralled up the right side of the shoe, at each eyelet looping through the left (blue) lace in the middle of the shoe before feeding under and emerging from the next eyelet.

1.The lace is run straight across the bottom and emerges through both bottom eyelets
2.One end of the lace (orange end) runs straight up the right side, is fed into and runs straight across the second set of eyelets
3.Both ends now run straight up the left side, each skipping one eyelet before feeding in two eyelets higher up
4.Continue running both ends across the shoe, then straight up two eyelets at a time
5.At the top of the shoe, the laces end up on the same side and theshoelaceknot is tied at that point.

1.The lace runs straight across the bottom and the ends are fed into both bottom eyelets
2.One end of the lace (orange end) runs straight up the right side, emerges from and runs straight across the second set of eyelets
3.The other end (red end) runs diagonally underneath and, skipping the 2nd set of eyelets, emerges from and runs straight across the 3rd set of eyelets
4.Continue running each lace diagonally across and up 2 sets of eyelets until one end (orange in my example) reaches the top right eyelet
5.The other end (red in my example) then runs straight up the left side to emerge from the top left eyelet.

1.The lace runs straight across and emerges from the third set of eyelets from the bottom
2.Both ends run straight down and are fed into the second set of eyelets from the bottom
3.Both ends again run straight down and emerge from the bottom set of eyelets
4.Both ends now run straight up along the outside and are fed into the fourth set of eyelets (the first vacant pair)
5.The ends are crossed over each other, then they go under and out through the next set of eyelets up the shoe6.Repeat step (5) until both ends reach the top.

1.The lace is run straight across the bottom and is fed into rather than emerging from both bottom eyelets
2.The ends are crossed over, then inserted into the next set of eyelets u the shoe
3.This process is repeated until both ends each the top eyelets and end up inside.

1.The lace runs straight across the bottom and emerges through both bottom eyelets
2.Skipping two sets of eyelets, cross the ends over and feed into the fourth set of eyelets
3.Both ends now run straight down one eyelet and emerge from the third set of eyelets
4.Continue up the shoe, each time crossing over and going up three sets of eyelets, then straight down to emerge from the next set of eyelets below.

1.The lace is run straight across the bottom and emerges through both bottom eyelets
2.The ends are twisted together with one complete twist in the middle of the shoe
3.The ends then continue across to the opposite sides, where they go under and out through the next set of eyelets up the shoe
4.This process is repeated until both ends reach the top eyelets.

1.The lace runs straight across the bottom and emerges from both bottom eyelets
2.Cross the ends over and feed into the 4th set of eyelets up the shoe (skip past 2 sets of eyelets)
3.Both ends now run straight up and emerge from the 5th set of eyelets
4.Cross the ends over and feed into the 2nd set of eyelets up the shoe (skip past 2 sets of eyelets)
5.Both ends now run straight up and emerge from the 3rd set of eyelets
6.Cross the ends over, feed under and emerge from the top set of eyelets (skip past 2 sets of eyelets).

1.The lace is run diagonally and emerges from the bottom left and the top right eyelets
2.The top (red) end of the lace is zig-zagged from the top set of eyelets down to the middle eyelets in a similar manner to theShoeShopLacing
3.The bottom (orange) end of the lace is similarly zig-zagged from the bottom set of eyelets up to the middle eyelets.

1.Start with two pairs of different colour laces, preferably the wide, flat variety (I was lucky to receive two such pairs with my last runners!)
2.With one colour (orange in my example), lace the shoe using either Straight (Fashion) or Straight (Lazy) Lacing
3.With the other colour (red in my example), start at the bottom of the shoe and weave the lace in and out of the other lace until you reach the top
4.Fold around the top lace and head back down, weaving out and in until you reach the bottom
5.Continue across the shoe until you're out of room or out of lace, whichever comes first
6.Tuckall the loose ends of the laces into the shoe.

1.The lace runs straight across the bottom and emerges from both bottom eyelets
2.Cross the ends over and feed into the 4th set of eyelets up the shoe (skip past 2 sets of eyelets)
3.Both ends now run straight up and emerge from the 5th set of eyelets
4.Cross the ends over and feed into the 2nd set of eyelets up the shoe (skip past 2 sets of eyelets)
5.Both ends now run straight up and emerge from the 3rd set of eyelets
6.Cross the ends over, feed under and emerge from the top set of eyelets (skip past 2 sets of eyelets).

1.Take two different colour laces, each a tiny bit longer than the correct length for the shoes
2.Cut them not quite in half, but offset by two or three centimetres. See below for how to calculate the difference in length between the two halves
3.Tieone shorter piece of one colour (orange in my example) and one longer piece of the other colour (red in my example) firmly together and trim off the excess. For extra security, add a dab of glue. Use the remaining pieces to make the bi-colour lace
for the other shoe
4.Pull the longer (red) end out through the bottom right eyelet, feeding from inside the shoe, until you reach the joining knot 5. Now lace the rest of the shoe as per
Straight (Fashion) Lacing.

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