51 Famous Temples of India | Memorable Temple Tour of India

Famous Temples of India

India is a famous for its rich cultural heritage, and you will find temples all over the length and breadth of the country which are revered by devotees throughout the year. Several festivals are held in these temples and elaborate rituals followed. Here, we are providing you a brief description of the 51 famous temples of India that deserve mention in the list of anybody wishing to have a temple tour of India.

1. Akshardham Temple, Delhi: Swami Narayan Akshardham Temple displays a millennia of the traditional Hindu culture and spirituality, inspired by Yogiji Maharaj. The temple complex features an Abhishek Mandap, Sahaj Anand Water Show, a thematic garden, and exhibitions. The imposing 10-storey high building has intricate carvings, sculptures and filigrees, bearing witness to the amazing craftsmanship.

2. Badrinath Temple, Uttarakhand: The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and has his dual forms as Nar and Narayan. It was re-established as a pilgrimage site by Adi Shankar in the 9th century, Also known as Badrinarayan, the temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is significant pilgrimage center of the Vaishnavites. It is most important temples the Char Dhams.

3. Kadarnath Temple, Uttarkhand: The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, the destroyer of the universe. The ancient temple has been continuously reconstructed over a period of time. It sits among the snow-capped peaks.

4. Gangotri Temple, Uttarakhand: The temple is dedicated to the goddess Ganga. The temple is located the birthplace of Ganga and is situated amongst the magical surroundings.

5. Yamunotri Temple: Located opposite to Gangotri temple, it is dedicated to the goddess Yamuna who is made of black marble. The sanctity of the place provides a deep feeling of reverence. The temple is located that origin of rive Yamuna.

6. Vaishno Devi Temple: Located in Katra, Jammu, the temple is dedicated to Vaishno Devi also known as Mata Rani who is a manifestation of the goddess Durga. The temple is visited by nearly 8 million devotees each year. It is the second mist visited shrine after Tirumala Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh. The temple has three rock heads, called Pindis, instead of statues.

7. Dwarkadhish Temple, Gujarat: Also known as Somnath and Dwarka Temple, it is devoted to Lord Krishna. There is a flag on top of the temple that shows sun and moon, which is changed five times a day.

8. Jagannath Temple, Puri, Odisha: The temple has idols of Lord Krishna, his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra. The temple organizes annual Rath Yatra which is witnessed by millions.

9. Sri Ventakateshwara Temple, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh: Situated in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, the temple is dedicated to Venkateswara, a form of Lord Vishnu, who is said to have appeared here to save the mankind from trials and tortures.

10. Meenakshi Amman Temple, Madurai, Tamil Nadu: It is one of the ancient and largest temples of India. This 2500-year old temple is devoted to the goddess Meenakshi, an avatar of goddess Parvati, and her husband Sundareswar or lord Shiva. It has 33,000 sculptures and 14 gopurams or gateway towers. The temple is an exquisite work of art. It has enormous gopurams towering over the city of Madurai with rich carvings.

11. Chhattarpur Mandir, Delhi: Chhatarpur temple complex in Chhatarpur, near Mehrauli is made of white marble in both North and South Indian styles. The main deity of the temple complex is goddess Durga while there are also shrines for goddess Lakshmi, lord Shiva, Ganesha and Hanuman.

12. Golden Temple: Also known as Swan Mandir or Sri Harmandir Sahib, this the holiest shrine of Sikhs and remains alive with religious fervor throughout the year.

13. ISKCON Temple, Delhi: The temple in Delhi was built in 1998 by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Chants of Hare Krishna can be heard throughout the day in the temple. It follows a strict standard of worship with six aartis and six bhogas offered to the deities each day.

14. Kashi Vihwanath Temple: Located in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, the temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is one of the temples with Jyotirlinga, which are 12 in all. It was commissioned in 1780 by Rani Ahilyabai Holkar after earlier being destroyed by the Moghul Emperor Aurangzeb. It is located on the banks of river Ganga in Varanasi, the temple has one of the 12 Jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva, also known as Vishwanath or Vishweshwara. The darshan of Jyotirlinga is believed to liberate one from the bondage of maya or the earthy entanglements of the world.

15. Kamakhya Devi Temple, Assam: Dedicated to the goddess Kamakhya, this is a popular and one of the most important destinations of India. This is an important site of trantric worhippers. It is one of the 51 Shati Peethas or divine places of the goddess Shakti. The inner sanctorum or the garbh griha has a yoni-shaped stone filled with water located in a cave below the ground level.

16. Lakshmi Naryan Mandir, New Delhi: Also known as Birla Mandir, the temple is thronged by thousands of devotees on Janmashtmi and Diwali. It is built in the Nagara style of architecture and is adorned with rich carvings, depicting scenes from the Hindu mythology.

17. Lotus Temple, Delhi: Also known as Baha’i House of Worship, it is open to the people of all faiths. There are no idols but huge halls for prayers and meditation. It’s the only temple Baha’I faith in Asia.

18. Somnath Temple, Gujarat: Located in Junagarh district of Gujarat, it is one the 12 temples with Jyotirlingas in India. The temple is dedicated to Somnath or the God of Moon.

19. Siddhivinayak Temple, Maharashtra: Dedicated to Lord Ganesha, the temple, it is one of the most prominent temples of Maharashtra. The temple sees the maximum number of devotees on Tuesday. It was constructed in 1801 by Deubai and Vithu Patil.

20. Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, Uttarakhand: Located atop a hill at 1675m, this temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. According the legends, the venom oozed out during Samudra Manthan was ingested by the Lord Shiva at this very place.

21. Amarnath Temple, Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir: This cave temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It enshrines a lingam which is naturally formed on an ice stalagmite. The cave temple is covered with snow for the major part of the year except a short duration of summers. The temple cave is believed to be 5000 years old.

22. Bhairon Mandir, Delhi: The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is believed to have been constructed by Pandavas. It is unique in the sense that it allows the devotees to offer alcohol to the presiding deity Bhairon, a manifestation of Shiva.

23. Dakshineshwara Kali Temple, Kolkata, West Bengal: The temple was built by Rani Rashmoni in 1855. The temple complex houses 12 identical temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is one of the primary Hindu pilgrimage centers of the Eastern India.

24. Mansi Devi Temple: Located in Hardwar, Uttarakhand, the temple is temple is dedicated to the goddess Mansa Devi. This holy abode of Mansa Devi, a form of Shakti, is said to have emerged from the mind of Lord Shiva.

25. Jwalamukhi Temple, Kangra, Himachal Pradesh: The temple is dedicated to the goddess with a flaring mouth. The natural gas comes from inside the ground which is lit by the priest. The fire is considered as a manifestation of the goddess Jwalamukhi who is worshipped in the form of flames. It is one of the 52 Shakti Peethas located in India.

26. Har ki Pauri, Haridwar, Uttarakhand: Har ki Paudi has a sacred bathing ghat. Taking a dip in the waters here is believed to help achieve salvation of ancestors. The evening prayer or aarti is performed at dusk on the banks of river Ganga which is offers an enthralling experience.

27. Kalighat Kali Temple, Kolkata: Located in Kolkata at the banks of river Hooghly, it is dedicated to the goddess Kali. It is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas where various body parts of the goddess are believed to have fallen. It was originally built in the 16th century.

28. Tirumala Tirupati Temple, Andhra Pradesh: The temple located atop Tirumala hills near Tirupati is dedicated to Lord Shiva who is a form of Lord Vishnu. The temple is also known with several other names such a Balaji, Govinda and Srinivasa. It is second in the assets after Sri Padmanabhswamy Temple in Kerala. 50,000 to 100,000 devotees visit the temple each day.

29. Shani Shingnapur, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra: The presiding deity of this temple is Lord Shanidev who is a personification of the planet Saturn. There is a five and a half feet back stone in the open air platform symbolizing Shani. The temple sees a large number of devotees on Amavasya or the New Moon day.

30. Mukteshwara Temple, Bhubaneshwar, Odisha: This gem of Odisha has exquisite carvings and sculptures that adorn it. The temple marks the culmination of all earlier artistic initiatives and stylistic developments in the state.

31. Shirdi Sai Baba Temple, Shirdi, Maharashtra: The temple is dedicated to Sai Baba whose teachings combined the elements of Hinduism and Islam. It the largest Sai Baba temples in India, and is flocked by a large number of devotees each Thursday.

32. Nathdwara Srinathji Temple, Rajasthan: Also known as Nand Bhawan or Nandalaya, the temple has an idol of Shrinathji who is self-carved in bas-relief out of a monolithic black marble that provides a mesmerizing sight to the eyes.

33. Jain Temple, Ranakpur, Rajasthan: The temple dedicated to Adinatha is made of light colored marble. It houses 1444 exclusively carved pillars, no two pillars are alike in design and sculpture. The great structure of the temple is well supported with the help of 1400 superbly carved pillars. The temple is designed to use only the batural light for illumination.

34. Hanuman Temple, Delhi: Located in Connaught Place in New Delhi, the temple is believed to be of the day of Mahabharata. Lord Hanuman is worshipped here as Sri Hanuman Ji Maharaj.

35. Khajuraho Temples, Madhya Pradesh: This is a UNESCO world heritage site and one of the seven wonders of India. The breathtakingly beautiful temple is oozes creativity, grace and elegance. It has erotic sculptures and carvings that adorn the exterior of the temple.

36. Brahadeshwara Temple, Thanjavur: Also known as the Big Bull Temple, it was built during the reign of the great Chola Emperor, Raja Raja Chola. This ancient an architectural marvel. The temple was built in 1010 AD and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The temple dedicated to the Lord Shiva is marks the culmination of the Dravidian style of architecture.

37. Vithala Temple, Hampi, Karnataka: The temple is built in Vijaynagar style of art and architecture. It has a gopuram with a hundred-pillared mandapa. The temple displays the craftsmanship and architectural brilliance of the artists.

38. Lingaraj Temple, Bhubaneshwar, Odisha: The temple built in Kalinga style of architecture dates back to 1000 AD. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is built of sandstone and laterite. It is the largest temple in Bhubaneshwara.

39. Konark Sun Temple Odisha: This 13th century construction is a stunning creation of man. The temple is dedicated to Sun God and is magnificence personified. It is built in the shape of an enormous chariot with twelve pairs of wheels and drawn by seven horses.

40. Chamdundeshwari Temple, Mysore, Karnataka: the temple is dedicated to the goddess Durga, the fierce form of Shakti. The hill on which the temple is located is named after the goddess Chamundi, the incarnation of the Lord Shiva’s consort, Parvati.

41. Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala: Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the temple is seen reclined on the five-hooded serpent Anantha in a conscious cosmic slumber. Its granite pillars has elaborate carvings that adorn the corridor. It is the wealthiest temple in India, surpassing Tirumala Tirupati Temple.

42. Sabarimala Temple, Kerala: Located in the Western Ghat mountain ranges, it is believed to be the place where god Ayappan meditated after killing the demon Mahishi. The temple sees the largest number of pilgrims,, each year, around 45 to 50 million. It is open Mandalpooja, Makaravilakku and first six days of each Malayalam month.

43. Sripuram Golden Temple, Vellore, Tamil Nadu: The temple has vimanas and ardhamandapa coated in gold both from outside and inside.

44. Moti Dungri Ganesh Temple, Jaipur, Rajasthan: The temple is positioned on a small hill. There is an exotic palace named as Moti Dugngri Palace which belonged to Rajmata Gayatri Devi. It is has intricate stone carvings and exquisite lattice work.

45. Ramanathswamy Temple. Tamil Nadu: Lord Rama is believed to have worshipped Lord Shiva here after crossing over Sri Lanka. The temple located to Lord Shiva has one of the 12 Jyotirlingas where Shiva is worshipped as a Pillar of Light.

46. Jakhoo Temple, Himachal Pradesh: Located in the hilly town of Shimla in Himachal Pradesh, the temple is dedicated to the monkey-god Hanuman. Ii is situated on Jakhoo hill and has a giant 108-feet statue of the lord at the highest altitude of 8100 feet.

47. Belur Math: Located at the west bank of river Hooghly in West Bengal, it is the headquarter of Ramakrishna Math and Mission. Belur Math was founded by Swami Vivekananda, the chief disciple of Ramakrishna Paramhansa.

48. Kanchipuram Temples, Tamil Nadu: It is one of the sacred places in India where devotees can attain Moksha, as per the Hindu mythology. There are three temples, viz. Kamakshi Amman Temple, Ekambareswarar Temple and Varadraja Perumal Temple, all three of them exhibit fascinating piece of architecture.

49. Kanyakumari Temple: Located at Kanyakumari island in Tamil Nadu, the presiding deity of the temple is Kumari Amman, also known as Bhagavathi Amman. The temple is considered to be 3000 years old and presents a mesmerizing scenic beauty due to its location by the side of the vast expanses of ocean.

50. Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu: Located at the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal, it is one of the oldest known temples of South India. The Group of Monuments at the Mahabalipuram is a World Heritage Site. The 8th century temple was built under the patronage of Pallava rulers.

51. Virupaksha Temple, Hampi, Karnataka: The temple is dedicated to Lord Virupaksha, a form of Shiva. This UNESCO World Heritage Site hold an annual chariot festival.

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4 Top Ways to Get a Good Deal

Everybody loves a bargain. Being cautious and careful with your money doesn’t mean you’re not spending it at all; you’re just spending it in the right places. Getting a good deal is all about just that – knowing what you’re spending your money on and when and where to do it.

Getting the best price on a particular item will require different methods depending on what you’re buying, but in general there are a few simple considerations to make before splashing the cash.

Know what you’re looking for
Firstly, you’ve got to know what you’re looking for. If you only have a vague idea, then it is unlikely you’re going to thoroughly compare all of your options and look in the right places. This could require some scouting. Initial research or window shopping for the general item you’re after can help you hone in on what it is you actually want or need. Once you’ve identified the specific item or service, your real research can begin.

Get a quote if you can
Research into deals can be done via various methods, but one of the most proven to ensuring you know what you’re spending is to get a quote. A motor trader, for example, may get a trade insurance quote when looking to insure their company, while somebody with a broken car could get a quote on the repairs needed to their vehicle. These are two sides of the same spending coin – whatever service it is you’re shopping for, and a quote always enlightens you a little more.

Shop in the right places
When you know what it is you’re looking for, make sure you’re shopping for it in the right places. A large department store might have one of everything under the sun, but they may also only have a small selection of the exact items you’re looking for. An instance of this is children’s toys. A store that stocks clothes, televisions, food and toys will have fewer toys than an actual toy store. Going somewhere that specializes in the specific item you want will give you better choice and, if you’re lucky, a better price, too.

Shopping online also gives you a vast array of options and allows you to keep multiple tabs open at once in order to cross-check the prices. This is much simpler than having to write down or remember prices in physical stores.

Ask your friends
What are friends for? Helping you out, of course. Ask around your friends if any of them have recently bought the item or service you’re looking for, and find out where they got it from. This can give you a useful starting point when beginning your research.

A good deal isn’t only dependent on the price, but also on the quality of the product. Asking your friends is a good way of determining if they felt the purchase they made was good value, or otherwise. If you don’t have any friends who have recently invested in the item you’re shopping for, online customer reviews will provide the same advice.

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Want to Become a Snowboard Instructor? Here’s How

Becoming a snowboard instructor takes some serious commitment and a real passion for the sport. If you believe you have what it takes, there are several things that you can do to increase your chances of getting hired. Unless you live very close to the slopes, chances are you will also have to consider moving away from home. This is a big commitment, but one that is filled with life-lessons and amazing opportunities. Here is how you can live out your dreams and become a snowboard instructor.

Begin Planning

Becoming a snowboard instructor means planning for the future and knowing where you want to end up. This means you should do thorough research and see where is best for you. You also need to consider applying for visas to work and live in your chosen place, and it may be that you want to begin learning some basic phrases in another language to help you get by. Duolingo is a handy, free application for mobiles that allows you to learn languages in an easy to understand format. Even though many countries speak English, you may need another language to get ahead of the competition.

Take a Snowboarding Course

To become a snowboard instructor, you need to take a course and pass the exam. Each of these courses is tailored to suit your specific needs and level of experience. Whistler snowboarding delivers anything from 4 to 11-week courses, providing you with all the information you need to take a final exam and become an instructor. To take these courses, you will need to have enough money to pay for the course and for the additional extras that aren’t included in the course fees. Ensure you read the information properly before application. It may be worth working for a few months and saving everything you can before setting off on your new adventure.

Ensure You Have the Right Skill Set

There are many skills that you will need to acquire to become a great snowboard instructor. Of course, many of these you will learn whilst on your snowboarding course, but in the meantime, there are things that you can do at home to improve your skills. To teach, you need to have patience and approachability. If confidence isn’t your strong suit, this is something you will need to work on. If you have the opportunity, it may be worth teaching a friend or family member to snowboard, to get invaluable practice at teaching.

Applying for Jobs

Once you have all the necessary qualifications in place, it is time to apply for your dream role. Depending on what course you take, the company may assist you in getting a job, or you may even want to take a course to train to become a snowboarding instructor for that company. If you do want to set out on your own, ensure your CV is relevant and informative. Natives.co.uk is a fantastic place to find seasonal work.

Following the above steps will assist you in landing your dream job. Be sure to do appropriate research and make sure you are financially stable before taking a course. It could be a while before you find a job or get out there working!

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The Role of Women in Himalayan Art

Although not often centered in gallery spaces, both secular and religious artists of the Himalayas have been creating beautiful and powerful images of women for millennia. Recently, benefactors like Louise Gund and spaces like the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive have brought the focus back to female figures in this time-honored artistic tradition.

Buddhist Himalayan Art

Himalayan Buddhism focuses more on a mythological pantheon of protagonists and antagonists than the more zen-like Mahayan Buddhism. It's art is known for being colorful, erotic and lively. There are myriad depictions of divine women. Female identity is often intertwined with the concepts of wisdom, beauty, compassion, fecundity and power. Here are some examples of female figures to look for:

Mahapajapati Gotami

Himalaya is home to Buddhist nuns known as bikshunis or bikkhunis, that are often painted or drawn in murals. They are followers of the first bikkhuni, Mahapajapati Gotami, Buddha's maternal aunt and adoptive mother who was the first woman to both request and receive ordination from Gautama Buddha directly. She raised the Buddha after his birth mother, Maya, passed away. Maya and Mahapajapati were Koliyan princesses and sisters to Suppabuddha. The story of Mahapajapati and her 500 bikshuni companions was widely popular and existed in multiple versions over the centuries.

Tara

Tara is an important female figure in almost all branches of Buddhism- in Vajrayana Buddhism she is a female Buddha; in Mahayana Buddhism she is a boddhisattva; in Tibetan Buddhism she is specifically the boddhisattva of compassion and action. She is even known in Chinese and Japanese Buddhism. She is also called the mother of liberation and represents the virtue of success from work. In the artistic record, she can be seen as a statue, painting, mural or thangka. One of her most famous depictions is the Holy Spoken Green Tara in Nyanang Phelgyeling Monastary, Tibet.

Palden Lhamo

Palden Lhamo or Panden Lhamo is a goddess or Dharmapala in Tibetan Buddhism. Her name translates to "Glorious Goddess". She is celebrated all over Tibet and Mongolia as a principle protector of the region, and is also claimed to be the tutelary deity of Tibet and its government. She is known to be a wrathful female protector, and the only female among the traditional 'Eight Guardians of the Law'. She is depicted as being deep blue with red hair and three eyes, often crossing a sea of blood on a white mule. She is also often shown drinking blood from a human skull. It is told that she killed her own son, who was destined to bring an end to Buddhism, and used his skin as a saddle for her mule.

Male figures and gods such as the Buddha or Krishna may come immediately to mind when thinking about historical Buddhist art. This may be due to how this art has been presented in International spaces, because women were not originally meant to take a back seat in this artistic tradition. It's wonderful that the archival and artistic communities are coming back to re-examine the role of women in Himalayan art and re-frame their interpretation.

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4 Benefits of Using Conveyor Systems in Different Industries

Over the past few decades, many industries have adopted the use of conveyor belts to reduce the amount of manual work necessary to transport large and inconvenient materials and objects. Every industry from material shipping to production has utilized these potent machines to their fullest extent. What is it that makes conveyor systems so beneficial to the efficiency of work in these facilities and how can rising industries benefit from them?

1. Continuous loading and offloading

Taking a bunch of items and transporting them via forklift or hand is something that takes quite a bit of time. Unloading these same items is both tiresome and time-consuming. It doesn’t help that there’s never a shipment that requires just one loading and unloading. Going back and forth from one end of a material shipping facility to the other wastes even more time. A continuous and automatic transport system can make this job a lot easier.

Conveyor belts don’t have to stop while shipments are placed on them. They continuously transport item after item, allowing you to simply load things on one end and unload them on the other one without having personnel move them. This happens over a long period of time, meaning you don’t have a lot of time constraints, as long as two people can load and unload from the conveyor.

2. Moving in both directions

Many products within material shipping and production industries will need to make several round trips around the facility before being ready to ship. Often, the manufacturing process will require that certain parts get reinforced using the same machine and then transported to a previous machine for additional modifications.

Transporting products and shipments manually back and forth would be tiresome, even with the use of transport equipment and machinery. A conveyor belt can be manned by one individual and transport hundreds of shipments in a short amount of time without moving from their controls.

It helps that conveyor belts can also be sped up and slowed down when production requires it. Some parts of the manufacturing process will take longer than others, and this variance can come in handy.

3. Saving tons of energy and fuel

Various industries require very large vehicles to transport material over short and long distances. For example, transporting large amounts of dirt and rocks is regular day-to-day work in the mining industry. In small-scale operations, this is often done with the help of large trucks. However, this is hardly an efficient solution. Loading debris and dirt into a truck takes time, and transporting consumes a lot of fuel.

There’s a much simpler way to transport materials that don’t have to be handled carefully. By utilizing conveyor belt pulleys, you can carry large loads of any material over a very long distance. This mechanism is a lot more efficient when it comes to fuel and power consumption. Plus, the continuous work of a belt pulley makes it possible to transport even more material over a shorter span of time.

4. No height limitation

Horizontal conveyor systems are absolutely essential within manufacturing facilities. They are the bread and butter of transportation for products. Factories often have several floors where work different stages of a product are being finalized. This means that every product needs to be transported across several different floors. Using elevators and cranes wouldn't be very efficient time-wise.

Luckily, conveyor belt systems can be made to transport items on an incline with relative ease. There’s basically no height limit and the risk of products falling is minimal. With the right protective railing, the chances are basically zero. It’s something you’ll see in every large factory that has multiple floors. Conveyor belts can even be designed to transport things on a near-vertical incline, lowering the amount of space that they take up.

Conclusion

It’s no wonder that so many industries choose to utilize these marvels of engineering. Conveyor belts are an efficient and easily operated solution to some of the most pressing problems in manufacturing and shipping industries. While they might already be spread out among countless facilities, conveyor systems are being used in new and creative ways to ease the burden of work in these industries. It’s hard to imagine a large-scale industrial facility that wouldn’t utilize them.

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All You Need to Know About Fire-Rated Garage Doors

There is a wide array of commercial and residential garage doors that differ from each other based on their functional usage and operation. A fire-rated garage door is a purpose-built commercial garage door mostly needed in establishments that have high fire hazard classification and already have firewalls in place.

Material Matters in Fire-Rated Garage Doors

Construction wise, fire-rated garage doors are not really different. In most of the cases, they operate like any other roll-up garage door. What distinguishes them from the rest of garage doors is the material used in their making. Like firewalls, fire-rated garage doors are also used to prevent the spread of any blaze incident. Therefore, they are needed to be constructed with materials that can pass the safety ratings prescribed by UL.

Blazed glass, stainless steel, gypsum, aluminum, and vermiculite are the materials that are usually used in different combinations and compositions in the making of fire-rated glass doors. However, stainless steel is the predominant material in most of the fire-rated garage doors. There are various reasons why manufacturers prefer to use stainless steel in the making of fire-rated garage doors.

High Melting Point

Stainless steel can withstand high temperatures (up to 1000 degree Celsius) without undergoing deformation. This trait definitely makes them a good choice to be used in settings with greater fire hazard rating.

Reasonable Cost

In comparison to other materials, stainless steel comes at a fairly reasonable price.

Good Noise Absorber

Fire-rated garage doors are mostly used in manufacturing facilities which produce a lot of noise pollution during operations. Stainless steel has a good sound absorption rate, making them a natural choice for any construction in any manufacturing setting.

Fire-Rated Garage Doors Work with Trigger Systems

The main objective of any fire-rated garage door is to contain any spreading fire. For that matter, they have to be integrated with a trigger system that can sense the nearby heat to set off the closing of the door. In most of the cases, a fusible solder link is used as the trigger system. In a fire accident, the solder melts resulting in the termination of connection holding the door. Electronic release devices are also used as trigger systems in some fire-rated garage doors.

Maintenance of Fire-Rated Garage Doors

One needs to be extra diligent with the garage door repair of fire-rated installments. A door that can’t be efficiently closed and open will kill the entire purpose of its fire rating. Make sure their tracks are aligned, rollers are not worn out, and sensor/trigger is properly working with expert help.

Importance of Fire-Rated Garage Doors

A large number of raw materials used in manufacturing establishments are inflammable. Then many production processes also have an inherent combustible characteristic. Moreover, you can’t rule out human errors entirely out of the equation. In short, fire is a very real threat in any manufacturing setting. Fire-rated garage doors can play an integral role in mitigating any potential loss caused by any blaze incident.

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Top 5 Ways to Organize an Event and 3 Ways to Budget It Smartly

Whether you are an event planner for corporate events or a wedding, your organizational skills will determine success or failure. Irrespective of your experience or skill level, even someone who is enthusiastic about the hospitality industry can put on an unforgettable event with proper planning.

Tip on Organizing Events

However, as a professional who has more than one event to plan, staying organized can be a bigger problem than you realize. Here are some tips that can help you take care of everything:

1. Make Separate Event Binders

By creating a distinct event binder for each event, you can keep all of them on track whether you are planning a conference, an executive meeting, a get-together, a wedding, etc. Even though a number of professionals are going digital, physical binders are useful for maintaining important program details in hard copies which can be lifesavers in case your tablet goes on the fritz.

Depending on how large or complex the event is, each binder should include the following data:

* Contracts

* Main contacts

* Itinerary

* Arrival and departure times

* Entertainment info

* Budget

* Presents for attendees or special guests

* Banquet orders

Update the information in the binders regularly and make sure you can share that information with your team and clients. That way you can have enough time to prepare and make changes even on short notice.

2. Use Online File Storage

While binders can help you keep information on hand, online file storage options can ensure they don’t get lost. Tools such as Dropbox and Google Drive use cloud-based technology to compress tons of information into files that you can access easily using a smartphone or any smart device for that matter.

You can log in from anywhere as long as you have an internet connection and access important info on the go. Give team leaders the credentials and you can rest easy knowing that everyone is on the same page for each event.

These applications are a digital alternative to binders and USB sticks that may go missing and large email attachments that can take ages to send. These are also quite useful in keeping clients updated on progress. For example, you can create a shared file with the client where they can see everything as it happens as you update each item on the agenda.

3. Create Email Folders

Even if you have Dropbox to store all of the event information in, you cannot survive as an event planner without using email. Most email platforms have simple features that you can use to keep information organized and keep your team/clients in the loop. For instance, you can create separate email folders for each event and filter your inbox into manageable sections.

This way the information you require will be at your fingertips and you won’t mix it with other data pertaining to other events on your agenda. You can also personalize your email to send certain mail to appropriate folders so that you don’t have to waste time manually sorting them. This is a great way to archive important data and keep your people apprised of progress.

4. Delegate Tasks

As the team leader, you are already responsible for a number of things but that doesn’t mean you should do everything yourself. There is a reason you have a team. Delegate tasks to each member so that you can spend less time worrying and more time ensuring everything remains on track. This will keep your team motivated, increase productivity, reduce turnover and ensure the events are a smashing success.

After telling your team what you expect from them, don’t hover over them. Allow them to work independently so that you can show them that you trust them. If you keep looking over your shoulder or taking over, you will not get anything done and can risk alienating your teammates as well. It will also prevent you from maintaining a plan that you can work with.

5. Sign up Volunteers

Not every team member has to be on the payroll. If you have too much on your plate for your team members to handle, don’t hesitate in hiring volunteers. Start with the people you know who don’t have any qualms about helping you such as your friends or family members. Tools such as VoluteerHub can help you locate willing hands.

However, just because they are doing the work voluntarily doesn’t mean they shouldn’t receive any incentives at all. Encourage them by giving them free passes to the event if possible or even free products if your clients are fine with it.

Budgeting an Event

After you have organized an event, you should have no issues with budgeting but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t maintain one. Knowing how you are to pay for the event can help you allocate funds to appropriate parties without overspending. Here are some things you should be aware of:

1. Most events are funded by ticket sales, sponsorships, client finances or a mix of all three. When you are organizing an event, you have to determine how much money you can raise realistically in these areas. Start signing up sponsors first or selling tickets in advance to make sure that there is enough interest in the event to attract more funds.

2. By creating an expense budget, you can save money for sponsor donations. Most events usually go over budget especially when it comes to the food and beverages. Make a list of all those expenses and then pick areas that you think sponsors can help pay off. The more brands or sponsors you have working for you, the easier it will be to remain on budget.

3. Consider crowdfunding to raise money for an event but make sure that you have the client’s approval beforehand.

Planning multiple events as a professional planner can be overwhelming, but you can make things easier for yourself by following the aforementioned tips. Keep yourself updated with the latest trends in the market and network at The Event Planner Expo.

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Why You Need to Really Consider Asbestos Testing

You may have heard about asbestos testing from somewhere or the other and may have wondered what all the fuss is about. There are so many bloggers and writers out there that are invested in convincing you about the dangers that are related to the exposure to asbestos. Regardless of how one may twist their data to prove their point, asbestos testing certainly does exist, and it is vital regardless of the angle through which you look at it.

Deaths Caused by Exposure to Asbestos

If you zero in on America alone, the estimated death rate due to the exposure to asbestos exceeds tens of thousands of people every year. Exposure to asbestos causes an ailment known as mesothelioma along with so many other non-fatal diseases.

Therefore, considering how dangerous it can be, it is worth looking into testing whether this be in a commercial space or at home. Regardless of where you spend your time, asbestos can be a silent killer, so any risks must be assessed and addressed as early as possible.

Asbestos in Everyday Environments

You’ll find that asbestos dangers are all around us, but among the most dangerous offenders are those that are found in our daily work environments. Insulation workers, plumbers, ship builders, electricians, carpenters and, ofcourse, asbestos abatement teams are common victims. In addition to them, workers from many different environments will unknowingly leave their work environments with asbestos fibers on their clothes. This will then also indirectly expose their loved ones or anyone that will come in contact with them.

Why Don’t People Believe the Danger Is Real?

Among the major reasons why people don’t take the dangers of asbestos exposure seriously is because the symptoms of this don’t appear until after 20 to 50 years. This is also why most people don’t connect victim’s deaths or their diagnosis of mesothelioma to the exposure of asbestos. Well, once the disease has been diagnosed, you should know that the survival rate has been noted to be around 2 years or even less.

Asbestos Is Still Used in Production

Some recent studies in the US found that around 28 million pounds of this dangerous substance is still used in the value chain of many products. Asbestos is known to be commonly used in the manufacturing of shops and some construction processes. In both cases, it is preferred over alternatives because of its insulating properties.

Why You Can’t Test for Asbestos on Your Own

Asbestos fibers are invisible. This makes testing for exposure impossible without the right equipment. There is still no way of knowing whether materials that have been used in construction consist of asbestos simply by visual inspection. It is, however, possible to cautiously gather samples of construction materials and have them sent over to certified testing facilities for analysis. If you wish to find out more about asbestos testing, then visit this site right away.

Although it can be daunting to discover, know that there are options out there to work towards sorting your asbestos problem for good, sooner rather than later.

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6 Ways To Be Ready For Retirement

Unless you work in a specific career such as the police, fire service, or in the military, for example, you won’t usually have to retire when you reach a certain age. However, for many, retirement is something to look forward to, even if it isn’t what you have to do. After all, it is a chance to rest and enjoy your free time. You can slow down and relax more, start a new hobby, and do all the things you have been planning for a long time.

If you do plan to retire, you will need to think about several different things in plenty of time so that you can implement them if necessary. Here are some of the ways you can start to get ready for your retirement, no matter when it comes or why you choose to take it.

Your Retirement Income
Before you can really think about any other plans and know what you can and can’t do in your retirement, you will need to know what your retirement income will be. You might have a private pension, and you will easily be able to find out what the yield on that will be for you. You can also calculate your 401(K) and your investments and savings.

Think about any other pensions you might have had in the past as well. If you have changed jobs a number of times, there could be others that are still valid, and that might be a substantial amount.

Your property is a potential asset that could make you comfortable in retirement, so you might want to get a valuation on it to see how much it is worth and what would be left over if you were to pay off your mortgage and downsize to something smaller. Don’t just look at selling your property through traditional methods either; this can take a long time. If you want to sell quickly when you are ready, check out the details of a company that can do this for you; it could be ideal.

No Risks
It can be tempting to risk your money in investments, gambling, or even in starting a business, but this can be a bad idea. Taking too much of a risk could mean that you lose any money you have put aside, making your retirement difficult, if not impossible. You might have to keep working for much longer than you intended.

If you do want to invest in anything, make sure you only invest a sum of money that you could afford to lose. You might well make a good return on it, and that will be helpful in retirement, but if you don’t and you lose too much, it will be extremely hard.

Budget For Changes
Something that you will need to bear in mind is that when you retire, you will no longer be receiving the income you once were. This means that, if you don’t budget for these changes sooner rather than later, you could find that you are unable to pay your important bills from one month to the next.

Knowing what you want to do in retirement is crucial at this point; you’ll know what you need to fund your plans, as well as what you will need to live from day to day. You might even discover that you will need a part-time job, and you could start to think about what that could be, depending on your skills and your abilities.

Clear Your Debts
The last thing anyone will want to do is to enter retirement with debts left over from when they were working. Although you might have easily been able to pay them with a regular salary coming in, a retirement income – often much less than you were being paid through your job – might not cover them.

It is important to pay off your debts before you retire so that you don’t have to worry about them and can enjoy your time away from work more. Clearing debts is not always easy, but there is a system that you can follow that will help you:

• How much debt do you have? This is where you need to start. Calculate what is left to pay on credit cards, your mortgage, loans, or anything else that you owe.
• Take a look at the interest rates linked to each separate debt. Some will be higher than others, and you might be surprised at the rates you have been paying.
• Start by paying off larger amount of the debt with the higher interest; over time this will save you the most money. • Try consolidating your debts if there is not enough time to pay everything off.

When Can You Retire?
As mentioned above, some professions have prescribed retirement dates, and you will know them from the moment you start working. Others will leave it to you to decide. So when are you going to retire? Once you know, you can speak to your employer about what can be done.

One option is that you can stop working full time and start working part-time, and gradually decrease what you are doing in stages. This could be the best way to determine exactly what you need in terms of your retirement income. 

Be Emotionally Prepared
There are many practical things to do before retirement, as we’ve detailed above. However, something that should never be forgotten is the emotional impact that comes with leaving a job you have worked in for many years. It can be hard, especially if you are stopping due to the professional retirement age coming due.

You might feel scared about what comes next, or worried that you won’t be able to fill your days the way you used to. This makes sense; it is a big change and a big step. The best way to look at things is to think of your retirement as a new adventure, and a different part of your life. If you truly miss working, you can go back to part-time work; you can do as much or as little as you like.

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Most Common Myths and Facts about E-Cigarettes

A lot has been said about e-cigarettes in the media as well as among people some of who claim to be experts on the subject. There has been some controversy that has been created around the subject of e-cigs. As happens with most controversies, a lot of the information provided is mere speculation and not facts.

Evidence and reports from tobacco experts indicates that although vaping is not without some amount of risk, it is still by far less harmful that conventional smoking of cigarettes. A number of bodies in the UK such as Action on Smoking and Health and the Royal College of Physicians among others are in agreement on this view.

Debunking the Myths and Unleashing the Facts

Below are some of the myths and facts that have been floated around e-cigarettes

1. E-Cigarettes are Merely Water Vapor

Fact: No, they are not. E-cigs and cigarettes are different in one major aspect; cigarettes are tobacco-based while e-cigs are not. The e-cigarette does not release as many chemicals as the cigarette does. However, that does not mean that vaping is free of chemicals.

2. You Get ‘popcorn Lung’

You may have heard this one especially because there are some flavours that are used in e-liquids such as the buttery one which contain diacetyl. Too much exposure to this chemical may cause lung complications such as bronchiolitis obliterans.

Fact: Diacetyl is banned as an ingredient from e-liquids and e-cigs. While its presence was detected in the past, the levels used are significantly lower than the levels found in cigarette smoke. Even at the levels in smoke, it is not a major concern with regard to the aforementioned disease.

3. There is No Regulation with E-Cigarettes

The main concern here is that with no regulation, no one can say with certainty what is contained in e-cigs.

Fact: E-cigarettes are strictly regulated. There are the expected minimum standards of quality and safety that distributors must meet as well as the packaging and labeling. Manufacturers are also bound by regulations to provide as much information as possible so that consumers know exactly what they are getting.

4. E-Cigarettes will Encourage Smoking

The belief is that vaping has been glamorized causing many impressionable youth to give it a try.

Fact: Reports indicate that young people (many already smokers to begin with) are experimenting with e-cigarettes. In the UK, for instance, smoking among young people is on a continuous decline.

Moreover, there are no reports to the effect that vaping makes smoking normal. While trends are being monitored, evidence shows that many of the younger folk frown upon smoking.

5. E-Cigarettes Do Not Help Smokers to Quit Smoking

Fact: Reports indicate that smokers who switch to vaping are twice as likely to quit as those who opt for Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT). Tests run on the two groups showed that the e-cigarette group had faster reductions in cough and phlegm.

Conclusion

E-cigarettes should not be confused with tobacco cigarettes. There is a world of difference between the two and users, the public, as well as the media, need to seek and provide the right information.

While e-cigs are not completely innocent, they do not carry as much risk as tobacco cigarettes. In addition, e-cigarettes are helping are a large number of cigarette smokers to quit smoking and stay off smoke.

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Overcoming the Death of a Loved One

One of the hardest challenges that you may ever have to face is the loss of a family member or close friend. The grief you feel will be particularly intense, and while it’s a natural part of life that doesn’t make it any easier to deal with. You may find yourself experiencing a range of different emotions, but grieving is an important process that helps you overcome these feelings. No two people react to death in the same way, and everyone uses their own personal coping mechanisms for grief. Most people are able to recover from the loss of a loved one in time, especially with the support of others. Some, however, may struggle for long periods of time and find it difficult to carry on with their daily lives. If you find yourself in a situation, there are a few basic steps that will help you move through the bereavement and grieving process and get on with your life.

Acknowledge Your Feelings

When you’re coping with the loss of a loved one, you’re going to experience a whole range of emotions. There are also going to be moments when you feel more than one emotion at a time. You might think you’re going crazy, but it’s normal to feel a number of different emotions. What you can do is tell yourself your feelings are OK and in no way are they out of the ordinary. It’s also important to understand there’s no right or wrong way when it comes to your feelings.

You can try to suppress your grief, but you’ll have to face it sooner or later and the quicker you face your feelings, the sooner you’ll be able to overcome your loss. Prolonging the grieving process or allowing it to stay unresolved can lead to complications such as depression, anxiety, health problems, and even substance abuse.

You have to allow yourself to grieve in whatever way feels comfortable. If you want to dedicate a small area of your home to your loved one and display photos, then do it. You might want to witness your loved one’s cremation as a way of saying goodbye. Click here for more info. In the world of social media, some people find comfort from creating a Facebook page for those they’ve lost and posting what’s on your mind. Of course, they’re not going to read it, but it can feel like a connection with those who are no longer with you.

Gather Support

There are going to be various times when you don’t require anyone’s company, but there will also be times when you need people around. There are plenty of options for those times when you need some support. Friends and family members, a therapist, a member of your church, and counselors can all help you through the grieving process. It helps to be able to talk about certain things during difficult times. You could attend a support group, meeting and talking with people who have been through similar experiences. This kind of support isn’t for everyone, but the important thing is to be able to speak to someone who knows what you’re going through. It might not be advice you need, just someone to listen. When you’re coping with the death of a loved one, it’s important to know you’re not alone and there’s plenty of help available.

Honor Your Loved One’s Life

If you’d like a positive way to celebrate your loved one’s life there are organizations that will allow you to host an event in their honor. If your loved one died of cancer, for example, find an event that would benefit research and honor your loved one’s memory. Perhaps they had a favorite cause you could sponsor. This is something you could discuss with a loved one before they pass away.

Embrace Life

It’s more important than ever to take care of yourself when you have experienced the death of a loved one. Grief can put a strain on your body in a big way, leaving you feeling tired and emotionally drained. Looking after your physical and emotional needs can help you get through this difficult time. Listen to what your body is telling you and don’t be afraid to take extra rest and enjoy quiet time if you need it.

Don’t expect too much from yourself when you’re grieving and realize it’s common to experience problems with sleeping, difficulty concentrating, loss of appetite and compulsive behavior. All of these are perfectly normal when a person has been through a major difficulty.

Try to keep to your usual routine as much as possible and get back to activities that bring you joy and keep you connected to others around you.

As well as taking care of your mental health you also need to take care of your body as the two are linked. If you’re healthy physically, you’re better able to cope emotionally. You can help combat stress and fatigue by eating right, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep.

You may be tempted to drink more alcohol or start taking drugs in the hope that it will numb the pain. Of course, it will work for a short while, but it’s only lifting your mood artificially, and you’ll come down quickly when the effects have worn off. There are going to be times in the future when your memories will be reawakened and being prepared for grief triggers such as anniversaries, holidays and other milestones will help you get through them. If you’re sharing these events with other people, it’ll help if you talk to them in advance about their expectations and find ways to honor the person you loved.

Feelings of sadness, numbness, or anger do ease with time. Intense emotions such as these become weaker as you accept your loss and move forward with your life. However, it is possible for your grief to get worse and this could be a sign it has developed into a serious problem such as complicated grief or major depression. If your anxiety doesn't go away, you’re going to need expert guidance to make healing changes and move on with your life.

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