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 Gone are the days when children used to wait for some occasion to get a special dress or a toy. Today, if the ad for a particular product has hit the TV screen, then it is the right time to have it. Seema Sachdeva talks of kids’ consumerism On Children’s Day, Parbina Rashid takes a look at the lifestyle of today’s kids Girl of
substance Have a blast
on Children’s Day
YOUTH SPEAK Customised
Party ‘Miss
Universe’ coming to Kochi Saturday night
party-goers stood agape watching these two belly dancers perform at the
Warehouse, reports Taj Mahal is beautiful, says Zadi How green
are my veggies! Matka
Chowk: Sreedhara Bhasin |
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Gone are the days when children used to wait for some occasion to get a special dress or a toy. Today, if the ad for a particular product has hit the TV screen, then it is the right time to have it. As children occupy the centre stage in the present-day nuclear family set-up, they are now no longer passive onlookers. That the multinational companies have also realised the potential of children as prospective clients can be adjudged from the large number of advertisements on various TV channels aiming to woo children. From potato chips to chocolates to the latest in fashion, the Gen X kids prefer to take their own decisions in most urban families. No longer satisfied with what dear mommy will buy for them, the brand-conscious kids accompany her to the children’s store. With most parents working, television has turned into grannies and nannies exposing the kids to a whole new world of information. So the first word a child utters is a ‘Pikkachoo’ or ‘Noddy’. Samita Luthra, mother of six-year-old Shaurya, says,” When we were kids, there were very few options available but today kids are bombarded with choices with the coming of the cable network and various children’s channels.” He adds, “Children up to eight years like to go in for shirts with certain cartoon characters while those older like to emulate Bollywood or Hollywood stars. For instance, jackets similar to those worn by Salman Khan in Lucky-No time for love became a rage and sold like hot cakes.” To win over these little masters, Kapkids had been organising competitions like Jungle3 Jamboree, which had events like painting, mask painting, story writing and clay modelling. Nitin Jain of Lee Kids agrees when he says, “Children above six years are active buyers. Most of the times it is the kids who decide on the clothes.” The store often comes up with offers like a pair of children’s goggles with a purchase, etc. According to Preeti Bhatia, her three-year-old son Kirat is very particular about what he wears. Although he is not really aware of the brands but he wants to buy clothes, which have the latest cartoon characters. Of late, he has been nagging her to buy him a Batman dress, she says. Realising the client potential of children, various hotels and restaurants, too, have opened special kids’ section. Wah Delhi, a restaurant in Panchkula, offers various joyrides as attractions. A hair saloon, Headmasters, has a special section with a play area for kids. At KFC, a person dressed up as a chicken comes to greet kids at a party. Child psychologist Rajshri Sarda, however, feels that letting the children buy things of their choice is good as it instills confidence in them. However, parents should also develop in them a sense of responsibility and learn to get value for money. |
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On Children’s Day, Parbina Rashid takes a look at the lifestyle of today’s kids Remember
the days when Mom used to select the dress for the kid’s best friend’s birthday bash? Or Dad used to order meals during those occasional night-outs? Not any longer. For, the Gen Next kids do not believe in others making decisions for them. They know what they want from life and, better still, they know how to go about it. Today’s kids—from seven years to fourteen years of age — come across as complete individuals with an attitude that can give even the grown ups a complex. Here is what they say: SUKH SIMAR SINGH But no, he does not want to follow the footsteps of his hero. He wants to be a doctor and save life. His favourite holiday destination - Delhi, where he can chill out with lots of his friends. His favourite food - ‘rajma chawal’ and of course Maggi. SURBHI Surbhi has not only decided about her career but also the college she would like to attend. “I want to be a journalist and would like to do a course from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai,” she says with confidence. Her favourite food? Junk food, what else? Her favourite holiday destinations are Shimla and Dehra Dun. RANDEEP KAUR This fun-loving girl loves to party too. But no junk food for this health freak. “I love only fruits,” she says. Randeep, who loves western dresses, says she is looking forward to a trip to Goa next year. A student of Satluj Public School, Panchkula, Ashdeep Sandhu, is rearing to go. An aspiring IAS, Ashdeep, though only in class VII, has already taken the first step towards his chosen goal. This serious youngster, who describes himself as “not-too-serious, not-too-fun loving” likes to read books and watches TV - but only educational channels like Discovery and National Geography. Ashdeep’s favourite food is anything Chinese and favourite holiday destinations - Manali and Shimla. Lakshya, a serious guy to the core, comes in a surprisingly casual package. When it comes to dressing up, it is just casuals for him. Lakshya wants to be a computer engineer and he has already started taking courses. Lakshya likes eating out, but only with his family. His favourite food is sambhar idli and the place he likes holidaying is
Mussourie. |
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Yes. I am talking about Zulfiqar Khan’s “Theatre Age” and his slum children, a majority of whom work as shoeshine boys during the days and gather at Sector 24 Government High School in the evenings to get educated. Standing tall among them is Chavy, who despite many hurdles in life, has managed to reach up to class VIII. Chavy works as a full time seamstress to support herself and her family. “Someday I would like to have my own boutique,” says Chavy with a dreamy smile. Barely 18-year-old, Chavy’s days start from with the dawn and stretch till late night. Chavy came into contact with Zulfiqar about five years ago. Till then she had not even seen a book. Chavy learnt how to read and write and then appeared for Class V examination privately. She passed it with good grades. And now she is all set to sit for Class VIII examination. “I want to continue with my studies as long as I can. But I cannot afford mainstream education as I have to work fulltime to support myself,” she says. Poverty-stricken as she is, Chavy has not lost the sense of social responsibility. After school time, Chavy contributes towards making paper bags, which is the sole means of running the organisation. The members here go door-to-door and collect waste newspapers to make paper bags, which they supply to various shops and offices. “I want to help Theatre Age, which helped me to get education as well as self respect,” says Chavy. “There are so many children like me who need help and guidance. If I can help those kids by working an extra hour, then why not?” she asks. She touches a chord here. As we leave her to get on with her work, we salute silently to the woman of substance. —
P.R. |
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Have a blast on Children’s Day Pandit
Jawaharlal Nehruji’s birth anniversary is celebrated as Children’s Day all across the country. November 14 is a national holiday and children start the day with slow morning as they want to catch up with some more sleep, watch television or play computer games. We often see parents throwing birthday parties on their children birthdays but what about an idea of organising Children’s Day party at your home? In order to make your party full of fun and excitement-organise a party with a theme. A party lasts for few hours but a party with a theme remains memorable among children throughout their lifetime. The theme of the party could be unique and creative so that it is able to convey the message across. Well, no doubt the very idea of organising a party requires lot of planning and work. So, the best way is to get yourself a notebook and make a list of various sections. Age group for invitations - Could be between 5-12 years. Time- Since the cold weather is on its way- having a party in the afternoon will be ideal. Decorations - Panditji loved roses- so one can decorate the place with red roses, balloons and ribbons. Big happy birthday banners with Nehruji’s photo will look great. Decorate the place with crepe paper streamers in three national colors. If you have any toys or small items like a charka or national flag that complement the party theme, it’s fun to add them for more festive display. Dress code - It could be national dress with Nehru cap. Activities- Should be appropriate for the age group and should be full of fun. One can start a party with a short story about Nehruji’s love for children or with some quiz. One can also plan some sit-down art and craft games. Kids could make their own national flag and Nehru caps and take them home. In order to have some more fun and excitement, one can organize some outdoor games. Refreshments- Treat children with quick snacks that are fun to eat. Let children have a blast on this day which will not only make you feel proud of but will also remain memorable among them. |
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YOUTH SPEAK
Making money and making a lot of it seems to be the only aim ahead. This is the reason why some young people are driven to do wrong things. Very often we hear our revered elders say, “Today’s youth is shameless.” I take the liberty of correcting them and saying: “Youth today is aimless.” If our aims and goals are right, then our lives too can be full of happiness and adventure. We will then excel in our chosen field, be happy and make all those around us happy too. So once we have set our aims, we should then work hard to achieve them. Believe me, if make an all-out effort, the fruit of success will be ours to taste. So friends it is time for searching our souls, knowing what we really want to do and then achieving it. — Ankush Sharma Young and bubbling with creative vibes? Have something to say? Well, send your views on something you feel strongly about to lifestyle@tribunemail.com or Lifestyle, The Tribune, Sector 29-C Chandigarh. The best will find place in Lifestyle |
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Gaurav Sood gives a few tips on how to organise a memorable birthday party for your child The keyword is planning. Get the family together and see how the enthusiasm spreads. You can seek ideas from not just various books and magazines but also the Internet. There are professionals who could help you in this. First, pick up a theme and think like a child when you do that. Mostly, children like what is in vogue. Some possible themes could be Harry Potter, Cartoon Network, WWF, Jungle Book, Barbie, cricket etc. Once it is done, it’s time to finalise the venue and the menu. The menu has to be well thought. For making the party a success, entertainment is as important as food. You can book a balloon wala, air-cushioned slides and throw in some toys. Invite someone who knows face painting and can make portraits. The kids are going to love it. Invitations should be sent at least two weeks in advance and try designing your own invitation cards. Even your child can paint or draw the card. If the number of invites is small, then all cards can be hand drawn, but for a bigger bash then, you will have to get these printed. The next step is call up each person on the guest list and confirm. If the parents are to stay or collect their children later, keep that in mind while wording the invite. You can also send e-cards. The birthday cake is the most important part of the event. Pay attention to the shape, design and size. The cake should go with the theme. Order well in time. Anything may happen at the party, so keep your handy cams and still cameras ready. Take a lot of pictures. Every birthday party has to have games for kids. Losing in front of friends can be embarrassing; so do not lay stress on winning, but plan enough games so that every child gets to win. Decorating the venue with balloons and streamers and the festive atmosphere quickly develops. Hang balloons in bunches for a great effect. Use buntings to tie the balloons and fill the balloons with helium. Streamers add colour to the room and the party. For great results, attach a lot of ribbons in different colours to the centre of the ceiling and tie the other end to the four corners or walls. So planning ahead? If you do, your child’s birthday bash is going to be a piece of cake! |
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‘Miss Universe’ coming to Kochi As part of her campaign against HIV/AIDS, Glebova will participate in a 1 km walk with 25,000 school children from about 100 schools. She will also participate in a 2 km AIDS awareness run in which celebrities are likely to participate. An entertainment show, which will be inaugurated by singer K. J. Yesudas, would be held during Glebova’s tour.
— PTI Banderas-Griffith kiss and makeup! In a place where couples break-up faster than they get together, “The Legend of Zorro” star, Antonio Banderas has said that though his nine-year-old marriage to actress Melanie Griffith’s has seen its share of fights and screaming matches, they still fall in love with each other afterwards. The Latin heartthrob said that though he could not claim to have the perfect relationship, it was in the making-up, that he falls in love with his wife all over again. “I have never painted my relationship with my wife as perfect. Quite the opposite. We have our crises where we scream at each other — she screams more than me. But we come back together and you discover that you have the capacity of falling in love with your own wife,” contactmusic quoted the actor as saying.
— ANI Sai Paranjape plans film with Saif The director who usually pens her own plots says the new film — to be shot in a crumbling mansion in Goa — has been inspired by a play in Marathi, her native tongue. “Xapai”, which in Portuguese means grandfather, is the story of an old patriarch who lives alone in the mansion, deserted by his large family and looked after by his chauffeur and retainer Maria. On his 90th birthday, Xapai, the patriarch, has his family — complete with nearly 10 children, their wives and grandchildren —descend on him and thereby unfolds a story of inter-relationships with family intrigues and an unexpected twist. Though she is yet to work out the entire cast, she feels Indian theatre director Habib Tanveer will be just right to play Xapai and Saif for the other key male character, the 90-year-old’s black sheep son who is thrown out of the family home and comes back a millionaire.
— IANS Jen and Brad are still buddies! Former “Friends” star Jennifer Aniston whose fairy-tale marriage to actor Brad Pitt ended this year has said that she no longer harbours any resentment towards her ex-husband, and that the two have kept in touch even after their split. The star, whose movie with alleged current beau Vince Vaughn, “The Breakup” is soon to hit the big screen, said that her relationship with Brad is peaceful even though people want it to be ugly, during an interview with TV chat show Good Morning America. “Do I talk to Brad? Yes, we do, I do. It’s a really peaceful thing. People want it to be this war and this mean, terrible, shallow thing that’s just playing like some soap opera or storyline, and it’s just not,” the actress was quoted by Femalefirst as
saying. — ANI |
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Saturday night party-goers stood agape watching these two belly dancers perform at the Warehouse, reports
Sai R. Vaidyanathan The two belly dancers—Zadi from Russia and Jasmin from Egypt—apart from performing Belly dance, gyrated to Hindi film item numbers and to “dambuka” instrumental music. The floor was set afire by Jasmin at around midnight when she appeared wrapped in a pink dress and the floor rocked well until the wee hours of the morning. The movements of the waists and their torso and the suppleness and grace in their movement gripped the otherwise swaying gathering into a motionless state. As the dancers recovered their breaths after each performance and changed their costumes, the gathering there continued to shake and stir to popular Hindi and English remixes. Every Saturday for the past four weeks, Warehouse discotheque comes alive at around midnight. It was DJ Aqeel who set the ball rolling and then came in Hip-Hop king Jazzy Joe. The week later, the crowds swayed to the foot-thumping music by DJ Avneet in the UK Punjabi Nite. “We are planning to get DJ Suketu and Bally Sagoo to perform here in the near future...and also attempting to get Bollywood actors and actresses to dance at our dance floor,” he added. “The disc is strictly sticking to its policy of allowing no “stags” and so girls feel secure and enjoy being here,” he continued. “We are also planning a big bash on Christmas and New Year’s eve. So look forward to it,” said manager Maninder Singh. “The response to this four-week-old discotheque is overwhelming and the audience is pouring in from Chandigarh, Patiala, Ambala, Ludhiana and even Delhi. We can plan big parties because of our sheer size. Our lawns can accomodate 3000 persons and our disc can hold more than a thousand people,” he
added.
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Taj Mahal is beautiful, says Zadi Zadi, a belly dancer from Russia, spoke in an exclusive interview to Lifestyle How long have you been in India? How long have you been belly dancing? I have been in India for one year. I started belly dancing four years ago. I learn’t to dance in the Tashkent professional institute. What about your colleague who will share the stage with you tonight? How did you meet her? My partner Jasmin is an Egyptian. My mother is an Egyptian and that is how we met. Where have you performed in India? Lucknow, Jodhpur, Jaipur... and now in Chandigarh. I have also performed in the Kulu Manali dance festival where Kathak and Uzbeki dances were performed. Did you get to visit some places in India? We only get time to perform and then move on ahead. But I did visit the Taj Mahal in Agra. It is very beautiful. What other things do you like about India? I like Indian dances, especially Kathak. I am also trying to learn some Hindi. |
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Kids have simply loved the book. Anandita Gupta talks to author Chetna Keer Banerjee who thought of putting together a vegetarian fashion show Written by journalist Chetna Keer Banerjee, the book is a delightful experience for the tiny-tots. Laughs storyteller Chetna, “It all started with my weaving stories around vegetables for my son Shaurya. And, one day, the idea of getting one of my stories published just flashed across my mind. So, I sent my manuscript to Rupa and to my utter surprise, it got approved in the first go.” But what made her play with the idea of personifying veggies as beauty pageant contestants? Pat comes the reply, “The whole idea of a beauty contest is very contemporary and topical. Most kids identify with it wonderfully. Moreover, I wanted to glamourise vegetables and what better way to do it than bringing in a beauty pageant.” She chirps. Well, seems like this veggie-lover has got her recipe right. What else would explain the parents’ overwhelming response to her book and kids falling head over heals in love with her endearing veggies! |
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Matka
Chowk: Sreedhara Bhasin We
profess that forming queues is a good habit - which a lot of us don’t like to practice. Any behavioural scientist, doing research on the queue forming patterns of human beings, would find amazing variations in our city. As a rule, we, in Chandigarh (and the rest of India) are not too fond of forming lines - what the English fondly call ‘queues’. Queues are boring, take longer and do not give you a chance to cut and clip and advance your position rapidly. To someone like me, who is steeped in the firm faith of queuing up - Chandigarh offers a great deal of distraction. A great variation - from the stiff and decorous ways I was used to. The stores, of course, give you great varieties. I see, a great many number of people (I have to admit that more men tend to follow the end of the line than women) have a wonderfully suave way of cutting the line. They look around with a vacant stare, feigning total ignorance that a great many people are snaking around them and gracefully sway into the front of the line with the agility of a ballet dancer. Then there are some, who just walk parallel to the line for a while; inching close to you at every step and eventually, slip in - in front of you at the right moment. Trust me, I have picked my fights! In the beginning, my standard reaction used to be - “please stand in the line” - with as much politeness as I could muster. One lady asked me -”where is the line?” Another said -”I was already there, aapne dekha nahi.” One said -” Aapko dukandarne kya line duty di hai?” One elderly lady vigorously nodded her head and said -”ya beta, it is very important to stand in line” and promptly found a place right in front of me. I gave up appeals and took to remonstrations. I tried a mixture of authority and viciousness - barking at them -”go to the end of the line!” One man said -”kya line dikha rahe ho?” Another said -” aapka kya problem hai?” It really didn’t work. At the end of my purchase, I was hissing like a snake and my liver was on fire. But I must admit, some people take it to an art form. I have had people extending their arms in a peculiarly angular fashion over my head - almost brushing my nose, in order to draw attention to their items before I could place mine. Try checking out books in a library, if you don’t believe me. I have had the privilege of seeing the inside of the railway booking counter in sector 17. If you want a requisition form - you stand in line, push and also yell at the top of your voice - “mujhe ek form denaaaaa,” till someone pays heed. Next time, take someone along to do the yelling for you. |
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Health and Fitness Dear
children, our bodies always need energy, and after a night’s sleep,
energy levels are low. So, whether you are off to school, or out, don’t
skip breakfast. You can ask Mummy to give you cereals with milk, fruit or
yogurt, toast or bread. — Dr Rashmi Garg is senior
consultant, Fortis, Mohali. |
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Five-year-old
Vipin Kapoor, Director, Kapkids, says, “More than 85 per cent of the kids coming to the store like to choose stuff for themselves. Most of the times, their minds are already made up and they are very clear about what they want to buy: be it a Pokemon or Spiderman shirt or a Weekender pants.”
A class I student of Rai School, Sukh Simar, wears his attitude as of a ‘cool dude’ - just like the hero he worships - Hrithik Roshan. So the dress code he follows is faded denims and T-shirts. Though painting is his first love, this tiny-tot excels in the art of story telling too.
If you think today’s youngsters grab everything that shows on the TV, you can think again. For, this class X student of Shashtri Model School, Mohali, believes in living life at her own terms. “I like wearing clothes in which I feel comfortable,” says Surbhi.
Music is the lifeline of Randeep Kaur, who is currently doing her class V from Lawrence Public School, Mohali. She never misses a competition on dance or music. She has set her career target - a music teacher, which means a life-long association with music and dance. 
ASHDEEP SANDHU
LAKSHYA GUPTA
City
It
It’s
‘Miss
Filmmaker Sai Paranjape is planning an English film with Bollywood’s current safe bet Saif Ali Khan, seven years after she made her last film “Saaz”.
Party
“In an endeavour to provide something new to these party animals, we arranged these belly dancers from a Mumbai based event management company.” said P.S. Wahi, MD of the resort.
The
Ask her about the inherent drive behind this book and Chetna explains, “ I observed that though one finds shelves and racks crammed with over-sized storybooks for the kids, most of them are about fairy tales, folk tales or forest animals. There’s very little fiction, however, written about vegetables. And nowadays, when most kids are turning couch potatoes, thanks to aggressive add campaigns by fast food brands, our own healthy vegetables need some limelight too!” 
As I go on to ask her about the perfect recipe for a children’s bestseller, her lips part in a winsome smile, “Writing for kids is indeed a challenge. Your writing has to be simple, with a lot of situations and some suspense thrown in. And yes, children’s books need aggressive marketing in the form of story-telling sessions. Like a recent storytelling session which I conducted at Lajpat Bhawan, Chandigarh, on Sunday, where kids came up with interesting descriptions of my characters. A kid called carrot a conical cone and another one described cauliflower as a scoop of ice cream” quirps the bubbly author.
ARIES : "The Hanged Man" will tempt you to set big changes in motion. Think twice before moving into action, for anything you do will have a great impact. Lucky number 9. Lucky colour: Creamy 
LIBRA : Now is the time for working on hobbies that you haven’t been working on for a long time. You have a tendency to think that no one else will do things properly. Lucky number: 12. Lucky Colour: Purple.
TAURUS : Be patient with your partner or close friend, even if he or she seems to be making life more complicated for you today. Listen to your dreams. Lucky number: 3. Lucky colour: Pomegranate red.
SCORPIO : Someone may need your help today, but might not ask for it. Pick up the phone, and call a friend about whom you are concerned. Lucky number: 3. Lucky Colour: Midnight blue.
GEMINI : Adventure is the key today. Keep a careful eye on financial matters. Appreciate the company of like minded souls. Unexpected news may arrive by the evening. Lucky number: 12. Lucky Colour: Orange.
SAGITTARIUS : Work will be hectic and you could be stressed as a result. Your love life will be smooth sailing and spending time with your partner will help you relax. Lucky number: 2. Lucky Colour: Coffee. 
CANCER : You might not be able to contain yourself on emotional issues. The Moon encourages your creative side and you can have fun realising your dream. Lucky number: 2. Lucky Colour: Golden.
CAPRICORN : Work will progress smoothly and you may become a little complacent. Be careful about giving your opinions too forcefully as you could alienate colleagues. Lucky number: 12. Lucky Colour: Rust.
LEO : Reality is functioning on two levels now. That which is obvious is easy to manage. But be aware of the minor adjustment that can suddenly break up old patterns. Lucky number: 7. Lucky Colour: Lime green
AQUARIUS : Work will be hectic and you may be in an irritable and tense mood. Singles will have opportunities to meet someone through friends or in social settings. Lucky number: 8 Lucky colour: Deep crimson
VIRGO : You are usually willing to help others, but may not get the appreciation that you deserve. Be more interested in yourself, for your health could benefit. Lucky number: 4. Lucky Colour: Lotus pink 
PISCES: You will be focused and enthusiastic about developments at work. You will make progress on finalising new business ventures. Single people will be in the spotlight. Lucky number: 12 Lucky colour: Sky blue