|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
So Sweet! Dear Onion
Gunjan:
moving fast forward LIFE
POSITIVE Young love
blooms on screen
Sanjay Dutt
does a Bachchan Taj Mahal to
be released next month Film
& FASHION
Reflecting
the past Health and
Fitness TAROT TALK 
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
So Sweet! Come Divali and the city sweet shops are all set to provide an enviable variety of melt-in-the-mouth delicacies. Gayatri Rajwade gives a traditional mithai update
Nibble on the sheer variety that suffuses you and quibble over the assortment assailing your senses, for traditional is still King! Despite the colourful, gorgeously fashioned ‘funky’ mithai on offer, people still flock to the old time-tested flavours. Sindhi Sweets in Sector 17 revel in the popularity of their freshly made and packed Sohan Papri (Rs. 150/kg). Only 200 to 300 kilos of this melting wonder are made everyday and even that is not enough! The production starts after Karva Chauth and goes up to the New Year. "Someone came asking for 1500 boxes, we refused because then the quality would have been compromised," says proprietor Krishan Bajaj. The besan with its delicious condiments is folded and stretched repeatedly to get that light ‘filigree’ texture, that typical flavour that melts when it touches the tongue! "People prefer to give mithai that can last long," avers Bajaj. So the choices are unusual chikkis and gajaks like gulab or dry fruit chikki (Rs. 450/kg). The ubiquitous Motichur ladoos made in desi ghee (Rs. 130/kg), Dal barfi (R. 160/kg), Doda or desi ghee pinni from Rs. 150 to Rs. 170/kg or then the Patisha (Rs. 150/kg), are also considered auspicious and have shelf lives of 7 to 15 days. If your tastes run to the unusual and exotic then kaju dry fruit cakes and rolls or the honey and dry fruit slice at Rs. 360 per kg is it! Pure is also the preferred mantra—pure pista lose for an astronomical Rs. 740 per kg or the pure badam barfi for Rs. 540 per kg.
And for those wanting to indulge the sugar free way, there is Gopal’s famous kalakand (Rs. 140/kg) or Sindhi’s kancha gola (Rs. 150/kg) or their creamy rasmalai which are sure-shot winners. Gobind in Sector 7 offers the Anjeer barfi and Anjeer pan at Rs. 270 per kg. In addition, their desi-ghee doda (Rs. 140/kg), milk cake, moong dal barfi and pinni ma dal barfi (Rs. 140/kg) look utterly delectable. Their Bengali sweets are a particular favourite amongst the residents in the sector—luscious chamchams, pakeezas, heera mani (Rs. 130/kg) are picked up for immediate consumption! For their "VIP" products, as Manager Bhanwar Singh puts it, the shapes, flavours and colours mingle to produce sangam barfi, kaju jalebi, surj mukhi made with kaju and badam or the kaju chandra kala- all at a reasonable rate of Rs. 270 per kg. For a typical taste of Bengali treats, it is the popular Ma Durga at Sector 11, Panchkula which offers delicious mithai at affordable rates. Spongy, soft and divine rosogullas, kheer kadam (Rs. 120/kg), malai roll or the moist chamcham at Rs. 140 per kilo or their danedar barfi (Rs. 150/kg), there is a multiplicity of selections to lure you. For, these charming tastes never seem to lose their flavour and their popularity. Perhaps, it is time to retrace steps and relish these colourful, creamy delicacies once again. — Photos by Parvesh Chauhan
|
||||||
|
Dear Onion Radish, cucumber and tomatoes come to the aid of salads and garnishing, reports Parbina Rashid
The name that immediately comes to mind is radish. So when reports poured from the journalist fraternity that at the Press Club radish has replaced onion in the big way, at least at the salad platters, the Lifestyle did a quick survey on the eating joints as well as households. And Wednesday, even the uppity Mountview Hotel served onion-free salads at its lunch at Confluence. The middle class, as usual is the worst hit. Gurpreet Kaur, a city resident who used to use at least 10 onions on an average for her family’s lunch and dinner, as come down to two or three per day. "I am avoiding gravy based dishes at present. I am experimenting with dry "sabzi" without onion and thank God, with a variety of winter vegetables available, I am not hearing much grumbling at the dinner table," she says. While roadside vendors selling "kulche choley" and "rajma chawal" have replaced onion salad with radish completely. "With finely chopped radish, garnished with ‘hari mirchi’ and ‘dhaniya’ leaves, the food tastes as good," says Nandlal Kishore, a roadside vendor. "Our clients are poor who can barely pay Rs 10 for a meal. If we do can not provide the usual onion salad at the same price rate, they accept it gracefully," he adds. Only the big hotels and restaurants have remained unfazed by the price hike. "We follow the contract system for food supply that has a fixed price range with the contractor. Hence fluctuations in prices in the retail market do not affect us," says an insider at Hotel Mountview. "We follow the same system which is renewed from time to time. So far we are buying onions at the same price. Even if we would have to pay a little more when our contract expires next month, we can not afford to reduce onion in the gravy based items for the simple fact that we do not want to lose our clientele," says Sandeep Sharma, General Manager of Copper Chimney. So, we, whose lives are under the total control of the market, just wait for the price to come down. Till then we can experiment with a few tips given by experts:
Pungent Lilies
|
||||||
|
Gunjan: moving fast forward
After completing mass communication from the Panjab University in the year 2003, Gunjan started hosting weekend activities for Live-In jeans in Sector 17. Soon, good corporate offers started pouring in, including Airtel, ICICI and Lee. However, the most promising break came in the form of Set Max channel’s very popular "Gully Cricket". Gunjan was chosen as the MC (master of ceremony) for the seven-city tour by the channel and got to work with the glamourous Mandira Bedi. Soon his hands were full with MTV Roadies, MTV Campus Rock Idol and live stage shows for Zoom and Sony TV. Then came the iconic "Indian Idol" that changed the course of his career. After a 10-city tour with the first Indian Idol, Abhijeet Sawant, Gunjan was recently in Dubai for a show of Amit Sana. This 24-year-old is proud of the "Punjabi flavour" of his compering and is now awaiting a good break on the small screen. Blessed with brains and brawn, humour and great command over many languages, there seems to be only one way this city lad is headed - forward! —Sukhdeep
|
||||||
|
LIFE
POSITIVE An understanding of your body type, ‘dosha’ is of paramount importance on the path of yoga. An individual who is exceptionally irritated on windy days is probably a Vata person. Being sluggish and lazy are the traits of a Kapha dominated individual, and an argumentative person may be responding to a Pitta personality. For a novice, there are many ways to check your body type; you can visit a reputed ayurveda physician, or answer questionnaires available in the net or in books and get a general idea. "You become what you eat", goes the old adage, and according to ayurveda, every individual is considered unique and needs special individualised diet for perfect balance of doshas, so what may be taboo for one maybe an essential part of another’s diet. Factors such as age and gender, tendencies to vata, pitta or kapha, the level of toxins in the body and even the season and climatic condition of the place play a part in deciding the ideal diet. To take full benefit of the practice of Yoga, right food has to be an integral part of a yogi’s diet. But even without any special guidance it’s possible to follow a reasonably easy regimen while choosing your food to get that fine sense of well being. Instead of emphasising on vitamins, minerals, calcium and proteins, the ayurvedic diet believes that all six tastes should be satiated in any complete meal. The six tastes being: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent and astringent. Pepper and garlic, ginger and turmeric, asafoetida, fennel, chillies and jaggery, coriander, cloves and cardamom are all part of the staple Indian kitchen. Even vegetables, fruits, lentils and grains fall in the category of these six tastes, sour lemons and sweet carrots, pungent ginger and garlic, astringent cabbage or apples to name a few. To satiate different cravings and to balance the appetite and digestion our grandmothers used these judiciously. As much as possible incorporate fresh, seasonal vegetables and fruits in the diet. In today’s life of fast transport and globalisation, we have mangoes and watermelons in winters and winter vegetables in the summer. These create an imbalance in the body for the physical body is inured to the local weather and by feeding it out of season food we confuse the body’s metabolic intelligence leading to the production of toxins that translate into disease. By going on diets that leave out carbohydrates and include proteins or fruit juice, we are starving the body of essential nourishment. Each body type has a particular shape and physical attribute. Kapha people are generally plump with the pitta type being of medium build and the vata light and thin. In our desire to lose weight, we tamper with this essential body type that we are born with, again leading to imbalance. Obesity is a problem that can affect any body-type and the reasons for this can range from physical, hormonal to psychological. The ayurvedic diet will include different textures of light and heavy, warm and cold according to the individual’s body type. Cheese, butter, ghee and nuts all play their part in the balanced nutrition and well-being of the body.
|
||||||
|
Young
love blooms on screen
These films cater to the taste of not only the young people but the oldies too. Going a little down memory lane, Dil Chahta Hai, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Mohabaten, Kaho Na Pyaar Hai et al were also based on the young love and received brilliant response from the audience. The much-needed onslaught of "sensible cinema" is finally happening and a new trend in Bollywood is emerging. Today it is evident that movie buffs are no more interested in the strident violence and the middle-aged drama. The trend has changed from using sex and violence as a marketing strategy to a genre of youthful romance, light family dramas and comedies. This drift was set by the trendsetter of the Bollywood – Yash Chopra with his all time-hits like ‘Kabhi–Kabhi’, ‘Chandni’, ‘Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge’ (which has successfully completed 500 weeks) only to name a few and Sooraj Barjatya with his ‘Maine Pyaar Kiya’, in late 80s and ‘Hum Apke Hain Kaun!’ et al.
Now, people are showing a preference to films which give a feeling of relaxation and pleasure. "The movies these days are very interesting and enjoyable. They provide a break from people’s busy schedules. Today’s films are a blend of good bits and pieces," says Gautam, a final year student at GCM. Says another movie buff Karan, a student, "Though the stuff shown these days may be a little naughty in the eyes of the elderly, but there is always a message that the movies of today convey. It is all a matter of perspective and thinking. Also movies like ‘Hera-Pheri’, ‘Hulchul’, ‘No Entry’ are breathtaking examples of comedies which I prefer to watch." The roles of actresses have also undergone a change. Heroines, now a days, are shown as a blend of the bold and the beautiful. The old trend of showing a girl dancing in the pubs and assisting the notorious characters in the movie exists no more. Movies based on the issues of women are most likely to be watched by the younger generation, as there is a message for the society. "The women are portrayed as an embodiment of energy and power, which not just thrills the audience but also makes them accept the fact that a female is more than just a showpiece. Films like "Chandni Bar", "Chameli", "Market" are few such movies that audience accept as they are based on the real-life situations and they have a message to give," feels Puneet who is a student in Panjab University. Movies based on issues of the youth with a light narrative, romance, comedies are here to stay for long. Such movies are pleasure-giving and are relaxing stuff for the audience compared to the good old masala movies, which at times ended up being a neck in the pain and a wastage of time and money. |
||||||
|
... a bicycle built for one The very mention of a bicycle can transport one from a business event to high romance and before one knows one is wheeling on dreams with a song on one’s lips. The song is an old American country number where the young man is proposing to his Daisy , saying: ‘It won’t be a stylish marriage,/ I can’t afford a carriage,/ But you’ll look sweet upon the seat/ Of a bicycle built for two.’ And thus song after song plays in the memory lanes and one recalls good-old Devanand cycling away with Mumtaz on the handle as the two coo away ‘Ai maine kasam lee..’ in ‘Tere Mere Sapne’. The occasion is a press conference on Wednesday to launch a new brand of ‘super bikes’ under the label of Firefox with all the trappings of manufacture in Taiwan and the same technology used as is in demand in the UK. Glistening bikes are displayed on a stage and the pricing too is such as comes with such marketing. A ‘state-of-art’ bike showroom has been unveiled in city’s Sector 22.
For a Chandigarhian, a cycle has a special meaning for it is a city with cycle tracks built in its plan and now there is an effort to revive them. For those who wheeled away on the city roads in the Sixties and Seventies there is a reminder of many old dreams and camaraderie. I recall London-based Punjabi poet Amarjit Chandan’s poem written in his Chandigarh days in the late Seventies that said tongue-in-cheek that when one cycles one knows that one is not alone. Why? Because there are some millions of factory labour, clerks and others, including cycling thieves, doing the same thing. I think of my eldest brother who had kept his cycle brought from Lahore at the time of the Partition in working order till some ten years ago. I recall my 80-year-old uncle pedaling away to beat the traffic lights on the crossing on Sectors 18 and 19. I recall my favourite poet Kumar Vikal cycling through the Panjab University campus and I recall my old blue Atlas ladies’ bicycle bought in 1979 for Rs 499. — Nirupama Dutt |
||||||
|
Sanjay Dutt does a Bachchan
Sahara One, along with International Production House, Fremantle Media, India, and Sanjay Dutt have come together for the first time ever on a mission that will make many people rich and famous. The reality game show has been conceptualised by the in-house creative team of Sahara One and is being co-developed and co-produced along with Fremantle Media, India. Says Shantonu Aditya, CEO, Sahara One, "We are delighted to have Sanjay Dutt be a part of the show. His charisma and style will be on television for the first time ever. He will influence the participants to splurge and come out as winners in our innovative game show." Adds Purnendu Bose, COO, Sahara One: "Mission Ek Crore is a dream come true game show for people who want to fulfill all their dreams and desires. This is for the first time ever that one can win by spending more and more money. Sanjay Dutt with his versatility is the best partner for our show." Fremantle Media has come along with the astonishing success of Pop Idol in the UK and the Wheel of Fortune. Says Sanjay Dutt: "It is a challenging experience to be part of a show which actually instigates the participant to spend more to win rather than just have intellectual capital. It is a brilliant opportunity to be a part of the dynamic and growing Sahara One as well as such an interesting and interactive show like ‘Mission Ek Crore’ for the first time on television." — TNS |
||||||
|
Taj Mahal to be released next month The celluloid version of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan’s historic love, "Taj Mahal-An Eternal Love Story" would be released in India and London on November 18. Claimed to be the most expensive film ever made in Bollywood, it captures and immortalizes the golden period of Mughal era with all its grandeur, opulence and brutality, by using elegant and eye-capturing costumes, costly sets and amazing cinematography. Directed by Akbar Khan, known for his ability to portray legendary tales with accuracy and realism, the film has a star cast, including Kabir Bedi, Arbaaz Khan, Manisha Koirala, and Pooja Batra. The film introduces the lead pair Zulfikar Syed and Sonya Jehan who play Prince Khurram and Mumtaz Mahal, respectively. Sonya is the grand-daughter of noted singer-actress Noor Jehan. Kabir Bedi plays the aged Shah Jehan while Manisha Koirala dons the role of Jehan Ara, daughter of Shah Jehan and mediator between father and son, Aurangzeb, in the bloody power-struggle for the Mughal empire. Arbaaz Khan is the ruthless Aurangzeb who murders his own brothers and imprisons his father in his lust for power. Pooja Batra is Noor Jehan, the shrewd and ambitious Empress, while Kim Sharma palys her spoilt daughter from previous marriage. — PTI |
||||||
|
Film
& FASHION
The album is a jazzed up version of Asha’s songs of yesteryears composed by her muse and husband, the late R.D. Burman. Not surprisingly, the album is doing well after its recent release in Warsaw. Robert Sankowski, the music critic for the largest circulated newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza, paid rich tributes to Burman’s musical genius. "While Western composers sought inspiration from Indian classical music, RD got his inspiration from the Western tradition - be it rock, jazz or gypsy. He comes out as a thrilling musician," he wrote. "Asha charms us with her sweet and somewhat melancholic melodies. The quality of her high voice is remarkable. In her 70s, she is as devastatingly charming as he might have been in her 20s and 30s," Sankowski said. In recent years, Bollywood music and films have been helping develop awareness in Poland about India. "Bollywood has become a household name now," said Indian Ambassador to Poland Anil Wadhwa. "The last two years have created much more awareness about India than the earlier 50 years," said Anna Bem, an Indophile who spent a few years in India in the 1980s. "Part of the credit must be given to Bollywood films and music. My 23-year-old son and his young friends enjoy Bollywood music," she added. — IANS
Salman-Aish tapes fake, says test
The sources at the Central Forensic Sciences Laboratory (CFSL) said the tape had been sent back to Mumbai Police two days back after the voices did not match with those of the two Bollywood celebrities. It was said to have been recorded in 2001, allegedly by Mumbai Police, and a voice purporting to be Salman was heard boasting about his links with gangsters like Chhota Shakeel. Salman and Aishwarya had refrained from making any comment after transcripts of the tape came out in the media. — IANS Jackie loves to experiment
"As an actor I have been experimenting over the last two decades. And whatever I achieved during this period is not enough. To grow as an actor I have to work more," said Jackie, who was here to attend a fashion show. Jaggu dada, as he is popularly known, seems to be inspired by the Big B, whose array of roles has stunned fans and colleagues alike. "Look at Amitabh Bachchan. Amitji is considered a great actor because of his variety, experimentation. And as a lesson from him, I must work harder as there is a lot to do in my career," said Jackie. He feels Bollywood has changed a lot today and the real challenge for an actor is to do justice to the character he is playing. Hence he has no qualms about playing character roles and not lead roles, "Lead roles are now all about dancing, singing and fighting. The real challenge is to bring a character alive and I am happy to be a part of the mature group. I played an alcoholic in ‘Devdas’ and the audience’s response was amazing. Then ‘Mission Kashmir’ and ‘Yadein’- they were all experimentation," he said. His upcoming movies include director Rituparno Ghosh’s Bengali film "Antar Mahal" releasing October 28, Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s "Eklavya", releasing early next year, "Mera Dil Leke Dekho" and "Kyon Ki". And true to form, Shroff is essaying a wide range of characters. In "Antar Mahal", set in feudal Bengal, he plays a wicked Zamindar (landlord). And though he couldn’t speak Bengali, Shroff picked up the language while shooting and then dubbed his dialogues. In "Kyon Ki", he plays a psychiatrist. In "Eklavya", he is co-starring with Amitabh Bachchan and Saif Ali Khan. "Whether as a zamindar or a doctor, my aim was to explore new avenues," he added. — IANS |
||||||
|
Health and Fitness Keep smiling! Good mouth hygiene is essential if you want to keep your teeth firmly rooted. Floss between your teeth everyday and brush your teeth effectively, at least twice a day. — Dr. Rashmi Garg is senior consultant, Fortis, Mohali. |
||||||||||||
|
TAROT TALK
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Delight
in the flavours and munch away! Savour the dollops of sweetness, the
goodness of almonds and the exotic appeal of anjeers. Sink your teeth into
the customary gujiyas. Blend into the lively festivity and put that diet
to rest for this one week, for Divali is to indulge! Think delicious,
soft, fresh, melt-in-your-mouth mithai!
Gopal’s in Sector 8 has a
veritable mithai fiesta on! With 150 different delicacies to choose from,
the festive range starts from their singular kaju paan (Rs. 350/kg) with a
silver varak surrounding the charming pan-shaped and dry-fruit encased
speciality. For those who want to experiment, the gulab anjeer barfi (Rs.
450/kg) is delightful ware.
When
the going gets tough, the tough looks elsewhere for support. This is the
story of onion and its vanishing act. With the price still hovering
between Rs 20 to 25 per kg, the innovative minds are busy looking for
substitutes.
Once while watching Roshan
Abbas anchoring a TV programme, Gunjan Utreja wondered if he too could
make it big in the world of compering. This shy, introvert student of
GCM-11 in Chandigarh was not confident of his looks then but knew there
was nothing he could not improve upon if he set his heart on it.
Bollywood has found a
new, but not so hip, formula for success. This newfound recipe is
reflected in films like Hum Tum, Bunty aur Babli, Kyaa Kool Hain Hum, No
Entry and Salaam Namaste.
According to the manager
of one of the cinema halls in the City, "Few decades back, movies
produced were serious, theme-based or catered to the real-life situations
of the people. But with the changing times, the average Hindi-film buff
seems to have got bored with the earlier formulae films which were related
to superficial underworld dons and solving unsolved mysteries."
“A cycle is a necessity for me and no mere fade. I come to work from Khuda Ali Sher on my bicycle and go back the same way. I have just spent my savings on a new Hero bike.”
“I love cycling. Whenever I get time, I borrow a bicycle from one or the other child in the neighbourhood and merrily go flying on wheels through the streets of our residential area.”
“John F. Kennedy said, ‘Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride.’ I agree wholeheartedly and wish to promote the culture of cycling lifestyle in Chandigarh.”
Seems like the Kaun
Banega Crorepati trend is here to stay. And all set to fit into
Bachchan’s shoes is our very own Sanju baba. Yes, Sanjay Dutt is all set
to stride on the Bachchan path, with his television debut on Sahara One
Television’s upcoming reality game show. Titled "Mission Ek
Crore", this unique and electrifying reality show is one of the
biggest of its kind to be implemented on an unprecedented scale on the
Indian television.
After Shah Rukh Khan and
bhangra winning over Polish music and film lovers, it is now the turn of
Asha Bhosle’s latest album "Chura Liya Dil Tumne" to make
waves.
The controversial Salman
Khan-Aishwarya Rai tape in which the actor is supposed to have exposed his
underworld links is fake as the voices in it don’t belong to the stars,
reliable sources at a forensic laboratory said on Friday.
Jackie Shroff is still
going strong. Not content with his work over the past two decades, the
veteran actor says he’s ready to experiment with more characters.
ARIES : You can feel hopeless, worried and oppressed for a short period of time till you become aware of your own projections and gain a balanced perspective. Lucky number: 12, Lucky Colour: Cherry. 
LIBRA : The day starts on a slow and gentle pace and builds momentum steadily. Ties and bonds will entangle you. Spending and constant outflow of money is definate. Lucky number: 3, Lucky Colour: Brown. 
TAURUS : You make progressive professional and personal commitments with sincerity and honour. Your earning capacity assumes significance. Lucky number:5, Lucky Colour: Yellow. 
SCORPIO :
You may be feeling restless with your current situation. You can play in the ocean of life if you drop your judgments and details attached to long-term plans. Lucky number: 2, Lucky Colour: Golden. 
GEMINI : This is an auspicious time for important events, or to tackle difficult tasks and encounter tough people. A financial development is sure to please. Lucky number: 10, Lucky Colour: Crimson. 
SAGITTARIUS : A day of care and caution. "Four of Wands" advice you not to have any truck with a Capricorn. Children may discuss important situations to gain advice. Lucky number: 15, Lucky Colour: Cream. 
CANCER : You can expect success and gain in creative projects as you actualise brilliant plans with hard work and participation in group activity. Lucky number: 12, Lucky Colour: Orange. 
CAPRICORN :
"The Chariot" drawn by four sphinxes brings light into darkness taking you towards triumph in professional and competitive situation. Lucky number: 4, Lucky Colour: Crimson. 
LEO : There is a protective aura and light around you as you move through different aspects of life and a variety of experiences. You revive health after a break. Lucky number: 19, Lucky Colour: White. 
AQUARIUS : Is it too early?
Too late? or the right time to showcase your strategies more. The problem will constantly plague you. Inner transformation is on the cards. Lucky number: 2, Lucky Colour: Burgundy 
VIRGO : This is a challenging time as you need to remain here and now in the present moment to achieve success. You are generous with family associates. Lucky number: 1, Lucky Colour: Green. 
PISCES: If you have great expectations you are likely to face disappointment in love or unkindness from friends. Beware of ego conflicts rashness and ill temper. Lucky number: 6, Lucky Colour: Purple.