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Idgah awaits the new moon Fast, feast ‘n’ pray Of Sisters and Brothers Ik si Amrita, Ik hai Imroz
Visual Poetry Bowling over celebs with juttis Rendezvous with Rakhi The Divali aftermath LIFE POSITIVE Stretch yourself an extra yard
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The Idgah at Patiala, a symbol of peace and harmony, is getting dressed for celebrations on the big day, reports Parbina Rashid Sandwiched between a temple and the Central Library, lies Patiala’s pride and joy - the Idgah. Not because it is the place where the Muslim community offers special namaz on Id-ul Fitr and Id-ul-Zuha, but for this place also stands for peace and harmony. “If you visit us on the day of Id, you will see along with us many turban wearing Sikhs and Hindus offering namaz. The sight is beautiful and it evokes such a strong feeling of joy,” says Dr. Nasir Naqvi, a Professor in the Department of Urdu and Parsi, Punjabi University. For a place, which bore the maximum burnt of the Partition, even the thought of such amity is awe-inspiring. About 1000 sq feet big Idgah has the most imposing boundary wall on one side that has the traces of Mughal architecture. Next to the wall is a beautiful minaret for the imam to conduct the special Id namaz. “About 6,000 persons can offer namaz here, says Zameer Ahmed, head of the Muslim National Movement and also the organiser of the Id prayer. Men are already at work to clear out the overgrown grasses. “The ground will be cleared, durries will be spread and a shamiana will be erected for the special day,” he adds. Patiala has a population of 40,000 Muslims. “Apart from this Idgah, the mosque at the bank colony, also hosts the Id namaz. It has a big ground and can accommodate a huge number of people,” says Ahmed. The mosque complex also houses a temporary Id bazaar. Id is a big affair for the people here and the celebrations starts much before the actual day. This year the Id celebrations was started by famous qawaals from Jaipur, Ahmed Hussain and Mohammad Hussain, who shot to fame for their qawaali in the film “Veer Zaara.” “We have this cultural wing called ‘Mehak Cultural Forum’ that organises ghazal or qawaali programmes before or after Id. Besides the festivity on the Id day, this provides another forum for us all to interact with one another,” says Dr. Naqvi. By “us all” he means people from all religious background. For Dr Naqvi, Id is not just the culmination of 30 days of Roza but an occasion to reach out to people and spread the message of love and harmony. This is the reason why the forum keeps their cultural evenings a mixed lot. “We keep Punjabi numbers, specially folk items and sufiana music in such programme, so that it has a local flavour,” says Dr Naqvi. Another interesting aspect is that the invitees are to be attired in their traditional dresses - sharara and ghararas for women and sherwanis for men. What about the Chand raat, the night before Id when everybody eagerly waits for the crescent moon to appear on their horizon? “After sighting the moon we go out and give “mubarakbad” to our neighbours and all. But because here the Muslim population is spread far and wide, the celebrations of the Chand raat is not like that of Uttar Pradesh where the bazaars remain open throughout the night, the shops see a huge rush of women who comes to wear bangles and apply mehndi,” says Ahmed. Nevertheless, the joy is palpable and we wait for the last Roza to be over. For, its time for the new moon to shine down on us and remind us once again that the bond of humanity is stronger than religious differences. |
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Ramzan is not only about fasting and feasting. It is a special month for prayers,
Everyone first ate one or two dates. The belief is that Prophet Mohammed would break his fast with dates. The devout try to emulate the Prophet. After the iftari was over, it was time to offer prayers (namaz). Now the guests had to wait for some time to have their dinner before dispersing. Invariably, any such programme definitely has one or two non-vegetarian dishes (like korma and murgh-masala). Biryani is also a preferred dish. On such occasions people very rarely fall for vegetarian preparations. Those who are health-conscious, of course, go in for such food. The iftar parties where only friends and relatives are invited are different from those organised by politicians. Here people finish their dinner before it is time for offering the special Ramzan prayers (taraweeh), except among very close friends who stay for a longer period. However, it is a wonder what kind of food keeps the devout going throughout the day. Actually, they are free to eat anything after sunset and till sunrise. But what they eat before sunrise, also called sehri, is normally light food. In cities, there is an additional dish called nishasta (made of the paste of dry fruits and seeds mixed with milk). Everybody increases the intake of water during the night because even water is not permitted when one is on fast. Of course, the Ramzan fast is not only about fasting and feasting. It is a special month for prayers, self-purification and preparing to lead a more meaningful life during the coming months of the year. Its significance lies in the fact that the Quran began to be revealed to Prophet Mohammed during the Arabic month of Ramazan. Anyway, the month-long period of fasting, feasting and offering special prayers for Muslims comes to an end tomorrow, depending on the sighting of the moon. That means Id-ul-Fitr may fall on Friday or Saturday. Id is known for its special dishes of “siwaian” and exchange of greetings among friends, acquaintances and relatives. But it is primarily meant to offer special offers to thank the Almighty for the Quranic revelations for the guidance of mankind. |
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The vanishing little girl with the decline in sex ratio threatens cultural festivals like Bhai Dooj.
COME Bhai Dooj and the only image that clouds the mind is that of a doting sister lovingly smearing her brother’s forehead with the red tikka. One wonders why the girl child’s life is at a risk today even before being born. After all, who can help but admire the fond memories of a sister. A sister, no wonder, is definitely special.
She might not be the first woman to feel his existence in the warmth of her womb. Neither is she the first woman to hold him in the crook of her loving arms. But, she’s someone he’s spent the most beautiful moments of his life with. Someone who’s always been there for him, filling his world with her unconditional love, pranks and prayers. And, with her, he’s always played that fiercely protective ‘big B’(even if he was younger to her), adoring, protecting and supporting her. Bloodlines bond them but there is much more to their relationship. In fact if their beautiful relationship was ever put on paper, it would weave a spell bounding narrative. This Bhai Dooj, some doting brothers unravel the hidden crooks and corners of their beautiful brother-sister bond. Panchkula-based Sandeep Malhotra, who runs his own travel agency, opines “My sister Dimple is quite younger to me. So we’ve had our share of fun, fights and pranks. I still remember how I always teased her, telling her that I hate to wake up early on Bhai-Dooj, when she comes to perform the ceremony at our place. But, deep down inside, I’m not just a brother but father to my kiddo sis.” Then there are entrepreneurs Rajesh and brother Manish who get a little carried away while talking about their recently-married sister Deepika, “Her capacity to love is awesome. The way she has reached out to us and become a part of us is astounding,” says Manish. Adds brother Rajesh, “We would pine, eat our hearts out and weep into our pillows after having those fierce fights. But now when she’s not here, we miss her terribly.” Adds Navneet Gupta from Chandigarh, “The tolerance and patience of my sisters was indeed remarkable. My mom was working and it was them who brought me up so lovingly! They’ll continue to be my strongest influence, perhaps my entire life. Having been practically together for our entire childhood, we have such fond memories.” Well, brothers are bonded in unconditional love for their dear sisters. But what about those with no real sisters? Laments Kewal Sidhu, a Website Designer by profession, “We are three brothers and feel terribly lonesome on Bhai-Dhooj and Rakhi. We wish we had a real sister, though the cousins are always there to fall back upon.” So those who lament the birth of a girl or worse still abort the female foetus should think of the damage they are doing to their sons who will not have the joy of a sister of their own ! |
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Ik si Amrita, Ik hai Imroz It was the ideal woman-man relationship of our times. Punjabi writers share fond reflections with Nirupama Dutt of the bond of love that held poet Amrita Pritam and painter Imroz together for a lifetime
People are trying to explore live-in relationships and society is trying to learn to accept such unconventional ties. But more than forty years ago there was this gutsy girl from Gujranwala and a dreamy boy born in Chak No: 36, near Lyallpur, who defied all convention and chose to live together in a brick-and-stone house lined with dreams just because they loved each other. What is more, this bond of love stood firm in the face of storms and it retained its intensity and beauty until the dying day. No, I am wrong here for even death has not the power to do them part. One is talking, of course, of Punjab’s celebrated poet Amrita Pritam and her lifetime companion painter Imroz. Pal Kaur, Ambala-based Punjabi poet, says: “It was the ideal relationship of our times. It was a coming together of two souls who complemented each other and it was a spiritual bond if there even could be one.” For Amrita it was the realisation of the dream of finding true love. The lady of letters had recorded the experience of finding Imroz in the second volume of her autobiography called “Shadows of Words”, which is a sequel to her famed life story title “The Revenue Stamp”. She wrote that there was once a shadow in her dreams of a man standing by a window and painting a canvas. This dream would return night after night for long years. In her own words: “Then something happened. Someone suggested that an artist called Imroz design the cover of a book of mine. The shadow turned into a man. Love may be a cup of poison but I had chosen to sip it again.” Those, who have seen the two live together in bliss day after day in their Delhi home, K-25 Hauz Khas, know that it was not poison but nectar divine that the two had tasted together. In that house with gray stonewalls on which bougainvillea trailed, they lived out their dreams. Patiala’s Punjabi poet Manjit Tiwana says: “Their relationship surpassed even that of Sartre and Simone. For one Amrita and Imroz shared the same home and unlike Sartre Imroz showed greater devotion till the very end. Every Punjabi woman writer longed to be loved by an Imroz but perhaps you have to be an Amrita to get an Imroz.” True! The “Haar-Singhar” tree in their patch of green was witness to the blossoming and ripening of their love. Poetry had met painting, woman had met man and two souls had come together to belie the oft-repeated cliché that there is no true love in this world. Amrita and Imroz were born to the land of doomed love a la Heer-Ranjha, Sohni-Mahiwal and Mirza-Sahiban but they defied the shackles of society and realised their love. I recall what Punjabi fiction writer Ajeet Cour said when she visited her older sister of letters perishing on the sick-bed: “There was Imroz pressing her legs to relieve her of pain and attending to every little need of hers. It is so rare! I have yet to see such devotion from a man for a woman. She must have done many good deeds in her past lives.” No Imroz came to her not as a result of past deeds but the deeds of this very life of this gutsy Gujranwala girl who was Lahore’s celebrated poet when she was just sixteen and later she won fame home and abroad with her gifted pen. The two gave each other complete space and freedom in their home together. Amrita cooked the meals and Imroz made those endless cups of tea for the stream of writers visiting them. Theirs’ was an open house and I had the privilege of staying there ever so often and eating the saag and chapatti cooked with love by one of the greatest poets of our times and drinking tumbler after tumbler of tea that Imroz made with the same involvement as he made his sketches. How does the male world react to this relationship all against the established macho order? Fiction writer and editor of Sankh literary weekly Sidhu Damdami says: “The relationship was path-breaking. They became a role model and many tried to experiment thus to be together but few reached the heights that these two amazing octogenarians did. It was love that held them together.” Well-known satirist Bhushan, who was close to the two, says sans satire for once: “It was an example of complete surrender by Imroz who was an admirer of her writings. What is remarkable is that he was by her side till the very end. It can only be described as spiritual.” And how does 80-year-old
Imroz, for he was six years younger to Amrita, feel now that Amrita passed away on the Diwali eve? Is he shattered and lonely that she is now gone? However, he surprises their admirers by saying, “I am not sorrowful at all and not lonely either. Only her ailing body is gone, she is till with me. Even death cannot do us part.” |
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I will meet you
yet again How and Where? I know not Perhaps I will become a figment of your imagination and maybe spreading myself in a mysterious line on your canvas I will keep gazing at you Perhaps I will become a ray of sunshine to be embraced by your colours I will paint myself on your canvas I know not how and where_ but I will meet you for sure Maybe I will turn into a spring and rub the foaming drops of water on your body and rest my coolness on your burning chest I know nothing else but that this life will walk along with me When the body perishes all perishes but the threads of memory are woven with enduring specs I will pick these particles weave the threads and I will meet you yet again This poem by the pioneering poet of Punjabi, Amrita Pritam, was written from the sick bed to her painter partner
Imroz. Translated from Punjabi by Nirupama Dutt. |
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Gayatri Rajwade chats up the local craftsmen to find out how they thread patterns and motifs that add up to be a complete saga
Bringing their unique blend of experience and traditions are Muslim artisans, weaving embroidery and enchantment in the city. Working the most exquisite designs, these craftsmen can even reproduce the intricate pieta dura work found on the Taj Mahal! All you need do is ask ! The city’s fashion pundits flock when it comes to embroidery and what is “in fashion” is the antique look with flowers, leaves, bootis and needle-work with sequins, cut-danas and stones and beads to give a traditional appeal. According to Shamshad Haider, a local embroidery expert in the city, “gold thread work, dabka work to give an antique look or reversing the tilla to give an old-world charm to the trimmings is in.” Originally from Lucknow, (he came to sightsee, saw the fashion trends here and stayed on!) Shamshad has been a resident of the city for over 20 years now. Living in Chaman Colony, Dhanas, he specialises in embroidering zircon on fabrics in addition to an array of traditional embroidery styles. “It takes time to master embroidery in all its facets. I am still learning,” says this modest craftsperson. He shows off a lovely intricate floral patterns, whorls of flowers and buds, delicate thread work on a vibrant orange and green lehenga, embroidered with cut-danas, seepis, colourful stones-green, white heart shaped zircons, crimson-with silver, gold, copper and multi-shaded threads. This work of art is all of Rs 45,000 for the sheer labour (made over one month) it wrenches from the artisans. These master craftsmen enchant with a variety of styles and traditions working their magic over an astounding range of lucknavi chikan, zardozi, kantha work, shadow and aari work (a distinctive form of Gujarati art where patches of hand-embroidered cotton cloth are stitched together.)
“Embroidery is like telling a story-every pattern must have a beginning and an end however intricate the design and all of it must come together as a whole. It is not simply about motifs.” Vibrant or muted silk thread for the patterns followed up with cotton filament to “fix the stitch”-the work is often accompanied by sequins, beads, with delicate needle-work done with flattened gold and silver wire (badla work) or embroidery done by sowing on fine gold wire springs used to create motifs and shapes. Mohammad Riyaz (Raju) a tailor, also from Saharanpur, came to Chandigarh looking for work. He dreams of making it big one day and studying and going to America to show off his talents. Cutting, stitching, designing beautiful outfits with brocade trimmings in contrasting blue and green chiffon, Raju delights with his fine workmanship. So, while these talented, refined craftsmen continue to throng the city, the institution of fine thread-work stays alive-an ancient legacy standing tall in their hands. |
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Bowling over celebs with juttis
HE proved that with art and skill, one could bowl over even the stars! And for Pappu Prem Prakash, a specialist in making ‘mojris’ (Jodhpuri juttis), rewards are those appreciative gestures and words used for his workmanship. A poor artisan, his special relationship with stardom makes him feel rich beyond compare! Unique, because he enjoys a special rapport with most of the cricketers of all teams, particularly with the Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar. The last time he visited Chandigarh was in March, earlier this year, during the Indo-Pakistan test match. His purpose, to present ‘mojris’ to the Pakistan cricket team, which, needless to add, he managed to do! This time, his mission is to gift them to the Sri Lankan team! Hailing from a poor family, Pappu’s dream is to live life simple and remain a good human being. The only wish he nurtures is to present his ‘mojris’ to the members of all cricket teams and big stars. So far he has been successful in presenting “juttis” to players of seven international cricket teams and has also been granted an audience by none other than the Amitabh Bachchan. His list of clients includes big names like Abhishek Bachchan, Hrithik Roshan, Bobby Deol and Boris Becker! In fact, Virender Sehwag wore the ‘jootie’ made by Pappu at the time of his wedding! “I give my “juttis” to these stars for free but they always give me a token of their appreciation,” smiles Pappu who is doing his BA first year student. He worships Sachin but has managed to visit Sachin’s well-guarded homestead for six times, that too without an appointment! If you dip into his old picture albums, it is clear that the admiration runs both ways. For Sachin visited his small shop once at Jodhpur. Besides visiting Sachin, Pappu has also been to the homes of other players like Irfan Pathan, Yuvraj Singh, Parthiv Patel and Virender Sehwag. Pappu, who used to live in a ‘kholi’ with his family, now owns a big shop in the main bazaar at Jodhpur. He credits his success to the cricketing maestro himself. “I am what I am today because of Sachin’s blessings who has helped me in all possible ways.” His repertoire of gifts is also as exciting as his of clientele A cricket bat, a cap, a track-suit with Sachin’s autograph. The bat, signed by the entire Pakistani cricket team, is being displayed at his shop. Pappu, who was earlier reprimanded by his parents for his unique though time-consuming hobby, now has their whole-hearted support. |
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Rendezvous with Rakhi “The serial is very close to my heart and it is amazing to be a part of it. For me, it is family away from family—that is how much it means.” Rakhi bubbles with energy as she speaks—for she claims to be exactly like ‘Sweety’ in real life too! “I am crazy and fun loving and cannot stand to be quiet and boring,” she laughs. The ensuing years have been pleasantly hectic for her. Working in umpteen serials and producing different genres of serials, she seems to have what it takes to strike a chord with the television viewing audiences. “I wanted my first show to cut against the genre, to give people what they were looking for. So I made ‘Henna’, then ‘Har Mod Par’ (on sati), ‘Dulhan’ (on contract marriages), comedies like ‘Professor Pyarelal’ and ‘Cincinnati Bublaboo’ all of which were appreciated.” This along with her acting school—RT Acting Academy—which promises the ‘first-break’ to its rising stars, she has hands full. “I wanted some substantial use of the effort and money being put in by youngsters joining the place.” And true to her word, her production house, coming up with five serials due for telecast from January to March next year, launches two boys and three girls in lead roles! Last seen in ‘Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin’—“a negative cameo where I came in only for two months and that too to break up Jassi and Armaan’s wedding”—where does her heart lie? “In acting. No doubt about that! I enjoy the energy one expends doing comedies particularly because while doing emotional roles, you have to restrain yourself and that is not me.” So comedy it is, and with all its flouncing around for her, how does she keep fit to keep the energy going? “I follow a strict diet with lots of water and try and workout at least three times a week.”she says. A complete Punjabi food buff, she loves her poori-aloo, particularly dipping her poori in kheer or atta ka halwa, rajma-chawal and paranthas! “My mom makes the best aloo-puri in the world. I remember a time when I ate 26-30 pooris in one sitting. I could not move,” she laughs uproariously! In Chandigarh to spend time with her “best people” – her brother and his family—she is all set for her innings on ‘Hum Panch’ once again. With another show with Ekta Kapoor on the cards and talks with several film-makers, she has her plate full with acting assignments, just the way she loves it. |
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The aspect of reinforcing social ties with festivals like Divali is losing ground year after year, observes Sai R. Vaidyanathan
In the past, sweets would pile up on Divali day. The sight of so many sweets would make for none being eaten. This year, instead of sweets, came biscuits and chocolates. For the ones who didn’t have a sweet tooth came Divali special packs of namkeens. This indicated that over time, tastes had changed. Sweets had been replaced by eatables, which last longer like namkeen, chocolates and biscuits. Gifts like vases and other decorative items also showed an increase in the list of items received. The composition of the visitors this year had less of friends, relatives and neighbours but more of people related by business or some sort of profit. The reciprocation, which, earlier, was a gesture of goodwill, has now changed to a method to impress. Divali, over centuries, has been a festival of sharing—happiness, greetings, sweets, gifts et al. The womenfolk were key to this sharing. Very few ladies, in their finery sashaying in the neighbourhood, were sighted spreading goodwill along with the sweets. This indicated the absence of young ‘culturally-aware’ women in City Beautiful. Daughters were either studying or married off, daughter-in-laws were either busy pursuing careers or settled abroad with their husbands leaving the old folk behind. These old folk had little energy to burst crackers or exchange sweets. Guilt rides on the shoulders of the children of today. The onus of reducing emissions rests only on these young shoulders. Kids, who naturally are more sensitive, have cut down on crackers and as a consequence lost a bit of enthusiasm to celebrate the festival. Festivals served a social function that of joining the people with thin threads of relationships. As people go more and more into their cocoons, this web seems to be getting sparser year after year. Divali is not the only festival to suffer thus. Now a days, every family lights up a bonfire on Lohri and thereby reducing it to a personal affair than a social occasion. Very few kids are seen splashing colour on each other while celebrating Holi. Very few tolis (groups) of adults go out to greet others in the neighbourhood during the festival of colours. A few sweets that came to the house lie on the dining table. I glanced at them as these thoughts wander about in my head. In the earlier years, the watchman and the sweeper would come and to ask for bakshish and sweets the next day. Last year, no suitor came for those goodies. This year, too, these sweets lie waiting. |
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LIFE POSITIVE FOR a serious practitioner of yoga, the knowledge of the ‘Chakra’ system in the body is of paramount importance. The literary meaning of the word chakra is spinning wheel and in yoga it refers to psychic vortexes of energy aligned along the spine. The presence of these dynamos of power in the body has been validated scientifically with modern instruments that measure bio-thermal and electrical activities in the body and photographic equipment that capture auras. The seven major ‘chakras’ are Muladhar, the root chakra on the pelvic plexus; Swadhisthan, the sacral chakra on the hypogastric plexus; Manipur, the navel chakra on the epigastric plexus; Anahat, the heart chakra on the cardiac or solar plexus; Vishuddhi, the throat chakra on the carotid plexus; Adnya, the brow chakra on the medulla plexus; and Sahasrar, the crown chakra on the cerebral plexus. Aligned along the various plexuses and placed above the ductless glands these energy centres gather and distribute energy in the body. Ideally the chakras spin and draw in the universal life force energy called Pran to keep the spiritual, mental, emotional and physical health of the body in balance. But as we live in stressful unnatural conditions regulated by social mores, family upbringing, limited mindset and preconditioned bigoted views, the efficiency of the charkas is effected. When these spinning wheels in the body get congested the flow of energy also slows down leading to blockages that become areas of discomfort in the body leading to disease. So the physical manifestation of the disease is the last stage of the ailment which has been present in the mental or emotional body for much longer. For example, constantly feeling the weight of responsibility at work or at home and letting it effect you may very well lead to continued stress in the shoulder muscles developing into the condition of spondilitis. Similarly, high pressure at workplace, anxiety about deadlines, meeting ever expanding targets at work can, if unchecked, lead to ulcers, indigestion or chronic stomach problems. The practice of yoga helps in diffusing such situations by making the practitioner tap the inner source of strength. Though you may not be able to change the external conditions, you change the way you react to the circumstances. A complete yoga programme will include exercises for balancing and activation of the charkas. Rather than treating only the physical body for a disease, a yoga teacher helps the practitioner to heal holistically. As the chakras are awakened and activated, you will realise that the spring of joy and happiness is within you. |
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Stretch yourself an extra yard
HI! I’m writing from the U.S.A. I’m 27 and am married for the past three years. I look pretty good and I’m kind of sweet natured, not a tough person to live with. I’m studying. I care for my husband and am ready to do anything for him. Looks like a rosy picture but it’s not. I had an arranged marriage and so, expected my spouse to be a little late to catch on romance. But I find that he is not at all romantic. He does not want to hug or kiss me when we are making out. He is a rationalist to the core, who thinks that a man does not have to show his emotions. He’s never told me that he loves me, though he buys flowers for me occasionally. This kind of coldness frustrates me. I don’t feel like putting up with this any more. Have I opened the wrong door? Please tell me what should I do? —Tina Kaul Remember, all thoughts and perceptions can be changed. When a woman decides to go in for an arranged marriage, she is actually taking a lot on herself. You have to have a big heart and tremendous resilience. Indian men have been conditioned for ages not to show their emotions. They are taught to believe it’s a sign of weakness. Just stretch yourself an extra yard and try to be more patient and understanding. Try and understand that he might be having some deep-rooted insecurities that need to be nurtured. You seem to be an extremely sensitive woman. So, you will obviously have the art of subtly allowing him to feel he’s getting away from it all. Maybe he is insecure about you and feels he can dominate you like this. He does buy flowers for you, which means he’s not totally ignorant of yo ur emotional needs. Write small notes to him and make him aware of your emotional needs. You can also put flowers and candles by his bedside. Plan a weekend out in a romantic getaway; message him off and on with cute romantic thoughts. Do not get mad at him even if you feel mad inside. Just be patient and calm. Things will definitely change. So just hang on there! In life, one waits for pleasant things to happen. As an astrologer, you know that these happen as per stars and destiny. Then, why doesn’t the stress go away and keeps building up, when one is waiting for an event. How can it reduce and how soon? — Gurpratap, Chandigarh The golden key to life is patience. You have to just put your thoughts into the universe and then wait and watch. Yes, the stars do influence your life and your destiny carries you through, but remember, each day through your actions you create your own karma. So you have to understand the law of patience as well as the importance of action to build your destiny. Yes, the stress does build up while we wait, as we are all human beings. But we can reduce this through meditation. Meditation allows the privilege of a single-minded focus and also soothes our spirit. Concentration and devotion will naturally attract all pleasant things towards you. Acceptance and patience are the true great virtues. Cultivate them and hey presto, you are happy!
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Sweet Nothings! Choose your eatables carefully. Go in for fresh stuff. Eating stale mithai can lead to stomach infection. — Dr Rashmi Garg is senior consultant, Fortis, Mohali. |
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What the cards say today...
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IT was 5.30 in the evening. All invitees reached there. Most of them were silent. Some of them were quietly praying and waiting for the ceremony to begin. It was an iftar party at a friend’s house. The dastarkhan (a long cloth-sheet spread on the carpeted floor) was full of different dishes. There were phenian mixed with milk, fruit chaat, boiled and roasted gram, sprouted moong with a sprinkling of spices, palm-dates, pakoras and siwaian etc. As the clock struck 5.45 pm (the time to break the fast that day) everybody muttered a prayer (doa) in Arabic and started relishing the preparations. This is iftari, the food items taken for breaking the day’s fast.
I will meet you yet again
THEY
create visual poetry-they tell a story of embellishments of good omens for a good life, depicting religious and social beliefs, an identity of the craftsman. It characterises the abundant tradition of enriching textiles with a multitude of patterns, motifs, figures and gods reflecting the vitality of Indian people and their environment.
Starting out at the age of 17, S. M. Fazil, now 37, lives in Sector 27-D and is a veteran of this exquisite craft. Originally from Lucknow, Fazil came to the city in search of livelihood and stayed on when the work started to pour in. However, it is not the Lucknavi Chikan work that he excels at, “that is for the women to do,” it is other forms of delicate hand-embroidery that he shines at. 
C
ON Divali night this year, the number of visitors to my house was lesser than last year. As was the number of gifts and sweets exchanged. The gifts were definitely well packaged and more expensive. This did tell tales that my visitors over the years were getting more affluent.
ARIES : You may have to decide something serious soon. It's not that the fun and games are over, but there is a definite change in the cosmic weather. Focus on self improvement. Lucky Number: 1, Lucky colour: Red. 
LIBRA : Time is ripe with potential as far as work interests are concerned. If you are prepared and clear about your direction, everything could work like a charm for you. Lucky Number: 8. Lucky colour: Silver grey. 
TAURUS : There is a mental conflict about a spiritual or religious matter. Take care of business during the day so that you can have a bit of free time in the evening. Lucky Number: 9, Lucky colour: Crimson. 
SCORPIO :
Today a fascinating romance will emanate from a contact. You are also likely to receive good news about a child or speculative matter. Lucky Number: 10, Lucky colour: White.
GEMINI : You need to find someone who can help you put both feet back on the ground. You are more focused now as you try your best to get organised. Lucky Number: 12, Lucky colour: White. 
SAGITTARIUS : Nine times out of ten you can be right, or at least you think so. Give someone the benefit of doubt if they are as equally strong willed as you are. Lucky Number: 15, Lucky colour: Red. 
CANCER : You need a good, cathartic scream. Only the intervention of a friend saves you from making a serious faux pas by losing your temper in the wrong place, at the wrong time. Lucky Number: 3, Lucky colour: Pink. 
CAPRICORN : Your hearts strings are pulled by someone's tale of woe. Don't dive in until you give them a chance of sorting it out for themselves. Lucky Number: 10, Lucky colour: Yellow. 
LEO : The seeds you sow today will flourish later on. This is especially true in relation to applications. Don't make demands. Just explain what you want from the other person. Lucky Number: 7, Lucky colour: White. 
AQUARIUS : Get organised and do what you have to do in a sensible fashion. Either that, or you get side-tracked as there are some important reasons to be disciplined. Lucky Number: 4, Lucky colour: Green. 
VIRGO : Discussions and questions which arise today are unlikely to develop fully or be answered after few days. Defining your goals can be enormously helpful. Lucky Number: 12, Lucky colour: Burgundy. 
PISCES: You may be in need of a little timely reinforcement. You are skilled at talking your way through this kind of problem, but getting down to the real nitty-gritty will be better. Lucky Number: 12, Lucky colour: Cherry.