Song and dance numbers were all with patriotic songs and the excitement was visible. Both the performers and audience enjoyed this day.

History of the Republic Day of India

On the day, India adopted the Constitution and became a Republic. That was in the year 1950. The date of 26 Jan was chosen to coincide with the day when in 1930, Indian National Congress declared Purna Swaraj.

India got freedom from the British Rule on 15 Aug 1947. The country was that time governed by the Constituent Assembly whose first task was the draft the Constitution for the people of India. A seven member standing committee under the leadership of Dr BR Ambedkar was constituted on 29 Aug 1947. The first draft was submitted to the Constituent Assembly on 4th Nov 1948. That was a remarkable achievement of the seven people because in just two months they had created the most important document which will shape the future of India for generations to come.

However the constituent assembly took one whole year to debate over the provisions of the constitution. That is what paved way for the constitution to be formally recognised on 26th Jan 1950.

The next important task for the Constituent Assembly was to conduct the First General Elections. Between 25 Oct 1951 to 21 Feb 1952, voters of India elected 489 public representatives to the Lok Sabha. All adults above the age of 21 were eligible for voting including women. Since there were entire stretches where people could not read or write, the party symbol achieved great importance and it hold good even today.

The major highlight of Republic Day is the Parade on Kartavya Path. The first President of India Dr Rajendra Prasad presided over the parade on 26 Jan 1950.

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We thank all our donors for this kind gesture.

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The most ancient detox plan of Navratri

Diet plans and detox are a craze on social media. It is more of a western phenomenal, eagerly adopted by us. Ancient India however not just knew about detox, they practiced it for hundreds of years with a modification. Navratri is a celebration with family and friends. That forms an important part of the detox and de-stress. Association of Navratri with chanting of religious hymns and praying for the various forms of Goddess provides benefits akin to meditation which heals the body and the soul. These nine days are always a family affair.

Since Yatan began around 10 years ago, we have endeavored to celebrate with our kids and every such occasion is a cause for celebration.

This Navratri experience the joy and happiness of generosity by sponsoring a meal for Yatan Kids.

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We at Yatan are always excited about getting students amidst our activities. They are full of ideas, energetic and remind me of those days when it seemed nothing is impossible.

About the NorthCap University

Established in 1996 (about 28 years ago) the NorthCap University is located in Sector 32-A, Gurugram, Haryana. It started out under MDU, Rohtak but gained the status of a private university in 2009-10. Till that year, it was called ITM University, a name which is still used inadvertently but fondly by some of the alumni. The university has four schools, namely Engineering and Technology, Management and Liberal Studies, Law and Business. It is a Grade A University accredited by the NAAC and runs undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes. NCU is recognised by the UGC, Bar Council of India and is a member of Association of Indian Universities. The management is constantly striving to bring this university to not just national standards, but even international too. One such example is the comprehensive partnership with the Arizona State University. NCU students enjoy summer immersion programmes and accelerated Master’s Program in the USA due to this tie-up.

NCU prides itself in not just creating a centre of learning and education but acts as a bridge between the education world and the industry. It constantly engages with industry experts to curate and fine tune their programmes to keep up to date with industry standards.

One of the main attraction to the students is the University Campus spread across almost 10 acres and is one of the shining examples of architectural beauty. Students are attracted towards the vibrant learning atmosphere and the thriving activities on the campus.

Yatan in a tie up with The NorthCap University

Students volunteer to intern with us on a regular basis. But when it comes to students from premier Universities like the NorthCap, we are always at our happiest best. It is not just what they offer to us as service but what we give back to them. We are also super excited to an opportunity to conduct training workshops and activities on their campuses. As an NGO we have grown leaps and bounds in the last 10 years. In the journey of ours this association will definitely go a long way.

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History of baking bread

There is evidence which suggests that bread was extensively used in Egypt around 6000 years ago. There are artistic depictions and remains of bread inside tombs. There is no known history of which date exactly bread was first baked. The process of grinding seeds and grains and convert it into flour might be as old as human history. The first evidence of this has been found in the Black Desert in Jordan at an archeological site. Crumbs of bread made by hunters using wheat, barley and plant roots picked from the wild about 15000 years ago. But researchers say that the process of grinding grains might be 30,000 years ago because of the evidence of grinding stones found at various excavation sites. Humans however might have started gathering wild grains around one lakh years ago! Farming or agriculture began officially around 11,500 years ago and domestication of animals followed at around 10,000 years ago. It was during that time that wheat grinding and bread making actually gathered steam and became main stream.

Researchers believe that people must have accidentally left dough in the open under the sun because of which it might have got fermented leading to the discovery of bread which rises after it is baked. However, along with bread, there came a host of other variations like cakes, pastries, pies, tarts, crackers cookies, etc. Baking is a pretty simple process of transferring heat evenly across a dough beginning from the surface and gradually moving to the centre. That results in formation of a crusty surface with browning and a soft centre. Traditionally baking is done in an oven, a device which generates heat and restricts it within a confined space. You can even bake bread in a earth pit with coal or ashes at the bottom.

Today this work is made much easier by compact and modern appliances. What made baking so popular is the ability to transform simple foods into something delicious, tasty and saleable. Baking is also an inexpensive process.

Baking @ Yatan – Our new venture

Baking is creating a new revolution in transforming our lives. Picture this, almost all women in India know some sort of traditional Indian cooking. That is a good thing but with a problem. Saleability. As compared to that baking is simple, easy to learn and the products can be sold. Plus learning the process of baking itself will get you a job or will help you setup your own baking point.

We at Yatan understand this and which is why our newest venture is into baking making it one of our projects now. We are definitely excited to bake.

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Understanding the concept of giving

The joy of giving is associated with giving out that which is precious. Small things that are close to your heart. Giving comes from your soul knowing that God is pleased with you. That’s why giving is associated with religion all around the world. But giving is not always about religion. We do that unconsciously many times in a day. What a mother does to her child is the joy of giving and that goes on for many many years. Another example that comes to mind is when you host guests at your place. Perfect example of joy of giving at work. 

Giving is part of human values which originate when people started staying together in groups as a community. A lot of tasks assigned to the community are done by the people who experience the joy of giving while doing them. So at the end of the day you are happy about your contribution to society. When humans moved out of caves and started agriculture, we started settling down near water sources or river banks. Those settlements and agriculture was again a community effort. Finally when humans started migrating, they did so in groups. The joy of giving is hard coded in our DNA as part of our evolution.

But what is that one feeling which comes with giving? It is joy or happiness. Happiness hits your soul like an aphrodisiac. Generosity creates a feeling of wellbeing which washes all over your body like a wave. Imagine someone surrounded with lots of problems in life. Nothing seems working around you and that is the time when you give something out of generosity. The happiness that comes with this is priceless. An act of generosity can be as simple as smiling to someone or saying a word of appreciation to helping a stray animal, complimenting someone, lending a shoulder to cry, being a patient listener or showing the right path to someone. 

Happiness comes with its separate set of benefits. You can sleep better, happiness helps your mind to forget more of your problems and happiness can help lower blood pressure levels as well. Not as strong as any medicine but equally good in small doses. 

In contrast, receiving happiness or gifts is short-lived. You will get happy, but the feeling will reduce quickly. Also the act of receiving if repeated again and again will give reduced happiness after each cycle. Take the example of a birthday party. As kids we are super excited and looking forward to our birthday each year. But as we grow into adults, the joy of receiving compliments and gifts diminishes till it comes to nil and that’s when we stop throwing those big parties. 

The Joy of Giving Week By Yatan NGO

Every year between 2nd Oct and 8th Oct, we celebrate the Joy of Giving Week by following these steps.

1. Offer Contributions – The joy of giving contributions comes from contributing your time and efforts for the ongoing projects of Yatan.
2. Join our initiatives – The joy of participating in our organized events as volunteers whether it is a fund raiser or awareness drive. 
3. Spread the word – The joy of spreading the word about our initiatives and the work we do either by telling others or by sharing our content on social media to encourage people to contribute and participate.
4. Organize an Event or a Drive – The joy of organizing an event or a specific drive like a donation drive or a fundraiser in your community to support our cause. 
5. Engage in Acts of Kindness – The joy of performing small acts of kindness in alignment with the mission and values of Yatan NGO and share your experiences to inspire others. 

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Every child deserves the opportunity to express love and appreciation for their father. This year we helped our children to create crafts for Father’s Day. This workshop goes beyond just glitter and glue; it’s about providing a platform for underprivileged children to celebrate their fathers and strengthen their bonds.

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Yoga, an ancient Indian practice, is more than just physical postures. It is a holistic approach to well-being, encompassing the mind, body, and spirit. The skills and techniques learned during the workshop can equip these children with valuable tools to cope with stress, manage their emotions, and improve their overall well-being. Yoga has the potential to empower them, fostering a sense of self-belief and resilience that will serve them well in the face of life’s challenges. Yoga teaches breath control and mindfulness. The impact of this initiative will extend far beyond the yoga mat. The skills and techniques learned during the workshop can equip these children with valuable tools to cope with stress, manage their emotions, and improve their overall well-being.

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