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DAZZLE THE SUN
Krusty Kulchas Passion unadulterated Lucky… but no time for love! COOL STUFF Acclimatising nature YOGA A hard-hitting film Guys just wanna have
fun! FILM & FASHION
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DAZZLE THE SUN
As the summer prowls in—baking and scorching—it is the right time to think about eyewear to protect your eyes from the rays of the sun. However, do not think mere utility, for ‘chic with service’ is the buzzword for spectacles and sunglasses. In myriad patterns they can suffuse you with mystery, glitz and style. So get ready to step out of Vogue magazine no less, for everything is available here —for a price of course! When American writer and poet Dorothy Parker memorably quipped, “Men seldom make passes at girls who wear glasses,” she could, obviously, not have known the high-drama of fashionable eyewear! The sunglass sizzle Big is in—think Jackie O! Thanks to former US First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy’s passion, oversized sunglasses are once again happening. The bigger the better!
“Fashion takes a full circle” declares Gurpreet Singh of Weldon Opticians, Sector 17-D. “What started large in the ‘70s, then moved to sleek contemporary lines has come back into fashion again.” The 2006 collection combines functionality with a modern look but remains a fashion accessory to coordinate with your appearance. Imagine the rainbow on your nose, sapphire blue, olive green, ginger orange or then a vivacious pink! Despite the colour trend for lenses, Rajendra Minocha of Big Ben Optical Company, Sector 17-C, believes “brown or smoke grey sunglasses from Ray Ban are the most effective in protecting the eyes from ultra-violet radiation.” These popular aviators from the early ‘40s which Ray Ban created with drop-shaped lenses are still selling like hot cakes notwithstanding the success of movies like ‘Aviator’ and ‘Men in Black’ which increased the sale of Ray Ban sunglasses in the West in their year of release! Even the men’s collection offers the mask style ‘cover-your-face’ sunglasses along with the classical shaped lightweight metal frames. Vaidehi Singh, a business executive, in the city recently bought an outsized original Versace to don the mod look. “Shopping is sheer pleasure and when it has to do with buying for the summer, glasses come first. In any case, this is a Valentine gift from my husband,” she beams. The damages, in excess of Rs 10,000! With the range running the gamut from Rs 750 to Rs 5,000 for branded one like Ray Bans, Killer Loop, Vogue, designer glasses like Versace, Gucci, Chopard can scale anything between Rs 5,000 to Rs15,000. The spectacle stunner Ironically, in this segment, minimalism rules and the triumph of plastic continues in 2006!
“Square shapes, small sizes, rimless,” state the city’s eyewear experts.
The international fashion trend is multi-layered plastic—different colours lending to subtle blends and discreetly glinting tints. And patterns are anything but modest. Flowers, butterflies, hearts, spots, square—each designer and manufacturer has their favourites. Burberry has a square, Moschino a heart, Versace a medusa and if there is no distinct symbol, the frame displays a large logo of the designer sprinkled with Swarovski crystals! In the city, “contrast” is the buzzword says Gurpreet. “Despite low-key experimentation with colour and emphasis on elegance and flexibility, conspicuous glasses are the rage.” Read emerald green with a fuchsia pink outfit! The influence does not end at trends. The film, fashion and sporting fraternity exercises sway over our decisions in a big way. Priyanka from GCG-11 sports Sania Mirza or Preity Zinta’s vogue black spectacles or then Jimmy Shergill’s Armani rules the roost especially amongst the rural-urban Punjabi youth” says Weldon’s Gurpreet or Amitabh Bachchan’s Crosshair Oakley in ‘Ajnabee’ rocks. While age is certainly no bar for those splurging on sunglasses this summer of 2006, the choices differ. The young tend to gravitate towards the brighter funkier designs and shades while gold-rimmed graceful shapes are for the not so young who prefer traditionalism to trends. Having said this, designer glasses are the fad in the city, what with its cosmopolitan outlook says Minocha. Finally, despite suggestions and recommendations on what is best suited to you, (rectangular shell for a round face or visa-versa) follow designer Goldsmith’s mantra, “I don’t believe in those theories about certain shaped faces. Life is short. If you find a shape you like, have it and never mind what anyone thinks.”
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A whiff of nightlife The aromas wafting out from here are hypnotic. An impossibly creamy café latte served with a rich flaky chocolate pastry. Crunchy crispy cookies and chocolate brownies romancing that sweet tooth. Scoops of satin smooth ice creams melting in your mouth. And as if these sugary scoops, splits and sundaes were not enough, a bevy of cuisines wooing you. From croissants to dosas, from Indian to Chinese and Continental, from pastries to paan and from ready-to-pack cakes to made-to-order delicacies, all titillating your taste buds. No wonder personalities like Late Sh. Jawahar Lal Nehru, Marshal Tito, the High Commissioner of Canada, Ruby Bhatia, Amjad Ali Khan, Rotary all-India President and many more fell prey to its charm. And why only them, every Chandigarian has been spotted at this 24-hour coffee shop off and on. Most city dwellers must have guessed by now. If not, here’s another clue. Founded since 1953, the place is as old as the times when Chandigarh was a small satellite town of Ambala! Located just 15kms from city airport, 12 kms from railway station, and 1 km from the bus stand, it attracts one and all. Well, you must have surely guessed by now. It’s none but “The Eating House”, hotel Aroma’s coffee shop. Open round the clock, this hub is famous for its creamy cakes, crispy cookies, own brand of ice creams, frothy coffee and of course, 24-hour-service. The three musketeers Here’s something interesting we don’t know about this eventful coffee shop at Aroma. It houses the three musketeers. Yup, the hub has three chief chefs—Vijaypal, Zaheer and Hemraj. While Vijaypal is the man behind those deliciously fresh ice creams, Zaheer takes care of the Bakery items. And Hemraj whips those simmering Indian butter Chicken and Shahi paneer. “Pizzas and burgers are just fancy foods to boost up our style quotient. But when it comes to enjoying what we eat, Indian and especially food’s the best,” smiles Hemraj. Chips in Zaheer, “Our bakery items are fresh, yummy and available 24 hours a day. One can also compliment them with fresh corns and coffee.” Adds Vijaypal, “Yes, we have our own ice-cream brand, “Fruit ‘n’ Cream”. Processed on Carpigiani, an Italian plant, our product is far away from the usual ‘long ago stored’ ice creams. Rightfully, our scoops, splits and sundaes are the talk of the town.” And don’t they have any ego hassles? “We all look after our own specialised areas and are great friends,” they chorus. While the hotel’s twin restaurants—‘The Grapevine’ and ‘The Cascade’ play perfect hosts to the diners, the coffee shop remains everybody’s favourite. “We live in the break of information and technology age with the 24-hour news channels, 24-hour web services and 24-hour entertainment at our beck and call. So, why not food? Moreover, with the IT,BPO, Media and Medical sectors fast expanding in the city, there’s a desperate need for good food in the night too.” laughs Man Mohan S Kohli, CEO, Aroma, as we ask him about the 24-hour concept. Well said indeed. And well done. For, right from its inexpensive brews of coffee to its delectable desserts, ’The Eating House’ isn’t missing the bus anywhere!
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Mughlai Magic
It was hot-off-the-fire passion in the 16th century. Five hundred years later, Mughlai dishes are still tickling the taste buds. And it’s not just biryanies and pulaos that the residents are ordering in the restaurants and fast food joints across the city. They are also savouring kormas and pasandas on platter full of excitement, scrumptiously. The whiff is unmistakable. As you cross the joints offering Mughlai delicacies in the evenings, the aroma of cheese tossed in tomato and rich cream lure you indoors. The tang mingles with a hint of exotic spices to give the flavour of the Mughal delicacy here in the city. If you are hot for the stuff, just drive down to your favourite haunt and gratify your taste buds with an abundance of paneer and malai koftas. You see the weather is just right for you to savour the stuff. The pleasant evening breeze, reminding you of dying winter’s fading presence, will only add to the essence. So forget all about counting those loathsome calories and order mouth-melting Khumb Haryali and Dam Alu Kashmiri with green vegetable sauce, or else Mutton Rogan Josh. You can even go for Dal Makhni or Peeli Dal. The choice is yours, entirely. You see, until a few years ago, one had few options as the restaurants were not offering rich variety. Undoubtedly you could enjoy malai koftas in the joints, or else stand before the blue flame and wait for paneer to turn golden brown in the kitchen of your house, but hardly anything else. But now the dishes are more and merrier. Pick up the menu card and you will find stuff like Handi Gosht or else Murg Makhan Wala. You can also order boneless chicken delicately flavoured with white pepper, or even tender chicken kebabs topped with buttered creamy rice. A word of caution here: As most of the dishes mentioned in the menu card are spicy and rich in cream and calories, just do not hesitate in asking the member of staff serving at table, lest you land up with gastric or digestive problems. At Andys in Sector 37, the dining area is spotlessly clean and smacks of good hygiene. To put in a nutshell, the food is scrumptious without even an extra ounce of oil or fat, despite comfortable levels of chilies. The succulent pieces of chicken, mild flavours, the appetizing aroma of charcoal grilled meats call attention. “In fact, our Mughlai dishes have resisted the onslaught of off-beat culinary skills. Adding to the zing, you will find tehzib in abundance here,” says proprietor Suneel Anand. In Memorable Moments, it’s time to get your appetite pampered with an exquisite variety of cheese. “Our Paneer Handi and Aangori Paneer are special,” says proprietor A.S. Mann. “You must also try Khumb Haryali”. In Hotel Mountview, the ambience and the setting with light music floating in the air is just right for a perfect date with Mughlai food. “You can order out-of-the-ordinary Dal Makhni. The stuff is good, actually,” says General Manager R.P. Singla. If you are going to Copper Chimney, it’s “repast” for you as the chefs pull out a leaf from the culinary extravaganzas of the grand Mughals. In an ambience and hospitality evocative of those golden times, the management claims to make every meal a feast and every spread a gourmet’s delight. To begin with, you can try their Murg Afghani. Tender whole chicken is marinated in mild curd and spice before being passed on to you. Their Murg Makhni is a must have. Simmered in rich tomato, it’s tandoori chicken in butter-flavoured gravy accented with dry fenugreek. Happy eating!
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Krusty Kulchas
There is divine relish in devouring these. Crisp and flaky from the outside and piping hot and tender within, this maida roti is the fair maiden of all rotis no less! The Amritsari kulcha is worthy of all tales written in its splendour. Stuffed with a blend of potato and onions, spicy with chopped green chillies and flavoured with jeera and dhania, the kulcha is sheer indulgence to the taste buds. ‘Amristsari Kulcha & Channa’ in Sector 9, Panchkula, is a tiny niche with the tasty, fresh and clean food. Served straight from the tandoor with a lingering taste of burning charcoal, with piquant pyaaz ki chutni and a cube of Amul butter, the kulcha is manna straight from the heart of Punjab. Owner Sanjay Narang began his little eatery over 6 years ago after he had to shift from Delhi to Chandigarh due to certain family problems. “My relatives, my mother-in-law who lives in Amritsar and the people in this market helped me set this place up.” Having transported a kulchawallah from Amritsar to teach him the ropes, Sanjay then decided to plunge his own hands into the tandoor to get a feel of how this special roti is made. Today there is a sense of pride and satisfaction for the reputation of this nook in the market is rock solid. Urmil Dutt, Principal of Government Elementary School, Lohgarh, comes from Sector 12 to buy kulchas from here. “Even when we have guests from outside the country we bring them here and they love the food,” she smiles. The popularity is obvious; the limited seating outside the eatery is crammed with people enjoying their kulchas in the afternoon sun. While the aloo kulcha (Rs 15), pyaz and gobi kulchas (Rs 20 each) and paneer kulcha (Rs 25) are the hot favourites, Sanjay swears by his lacchedar roti and maa ki daal. Served on a thali with a tangy red chukundar ki chatni and fiery dhania chatni the roti is crisp and crumbling while the dal has been cooked to perfection in ghee! Chhole bhature, Karhi Chawal (only on Thursdays), Makki ki roti and sarson ka saag there is the omnipresent dhaba food too if you wish to traverse the non-kulcha path. Rounded off with lemon soda sprinkled with black pepper and rock salt and gudh ka halwa and you will come back for more! After all, in the words of Sanjay, “It is the work of namak and mirch to make the food taste good, but the flavour is in the hands of its creator.”
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Passion unadulterated
They mix passion to create unadulterated music for people who love listening to classicals with slightly fast beat, says Saurabh Malik after talking to Pakistani Band Raga Boys who came to perform in town Blending pop with the classic to create pure bliss is their passion. Even their band’s name suggests amalgamation of the two genres. But when it comes to talking about music, it’s nothing but unadulterated enthusiasm for the Raga Boys. In Chandigarh all the way from Pakistan to enthrall the students participating in all-India Students’ fest Jhankar at the Panjab University campus, the band says people still love listening to classical music, only they prefer ghazals with a slightly fast beat. “That’s perhaps the reason why we believe in mixing hip hop with the conventional,” says Wali, the eldest of the three brothers. “The base remains classical… we simply add bhangra or any other form of fast harmony to create fusion music”. The band believes that Punjabi mystical poetry has in recent years gained popularity across the world not because of its message, but due to the fact that it has been blended with fast tempo. Make public to listen to old compositions of Punjabi mystical poetry in slow tunes, and see the effect. Majority of the audience will never appreciate it. Well, the boys know what they are talking about. After all, they are the sons of renowned Pakistani singer Ustad Hamid Ali Khan of the Patiala Gharana of Gaiki. For those of you knowing little about the Gharana, it started Ustad Khan’s paternal great grandfather Mian Kalu Ji. Later, the then Indian Viceroy, Lord Elgin, and Nawab of Patiala developed a consensus and awarded the Ustad’s grandfather and his brother the titles of “general” and “colonel” of music in 1930. Back to the boys, Wali say they have always been proud of the fact that they belong to the Patiala Gharana “serving music” for over 200 years now. He says the band — known for setting the stage afire with their hot numbers like “Lagay Na Nain” — is enthusiastic about performing live before the Indian audience because they have similar taste and are receptive. “We have performed on the stage throughout the world but the kind of warmth and welcome we have received from the students here at the Panjab University campus is undoubtedly unprecedented,” Wali asserts. Flashing a broad smile, Wali says people-to-people contact and performances by artistes regardless of the border considerations will indeed go a long way in further improving the ties between the two nations and in resolving whatever differences that are still left to be ironed out. Even as he speaks, tearing excitement breaks loose on the campus as their fans armed with slip pads and pens rush forward to grab the autographs. Looking at them, you realise that music actually knows no borders or boundaries.
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Lucky… but no time for love!
Flashy firecrackers sparking off the midnight skies. Jubilant dancing, chuckles and joyous gestures pouring in. Frenzied fans bursting into tears of happiness. Emotional breakdowns before the massive TV screens put up at vantage locations for viewers. Well, if the entire country worships you (even if you are not a cricketer!) what else could you ask for? “Love,” says Debojit Saha, winner of the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge. Yes, the Gods of luck are smiling bright on this small town, introverted Assamese boy. Having won the Hero Honda Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2005,Debojit’s life has transformed into a beautiful dream—a spacious flat in Mumbai, a contract with HMV Sa Re Ga Ma, lots of cash prizes. But, amidst it all, what are the things this 29-year-old misses? We have a freewheeling chat with him to find out— This seems to be the happiest moment of your life? Oh yes! It’s almost like closing your eyes and making a wish that comes true. I was a Civil Engineer by profession and would have been rotting in a Government job if I hadn’t come to Bombay. But yes, I really miss my hometown and the relaxing hours spent with my wife. So, it was a conscious decision to come to Bombay. Yes, but it was not an easy decision. I had to throw a secure PWD job to the winds and come and struggle in an alien city. But my wife was a tremendous support. I guess the burning passion to do something for her and my late mother helped me sail through. And how did Sa Re Ga Ma happen? I just came to know about this contest from my Guruji and applied here. And believe me, the journey for me has indeed been remarkable - from being one among 32 contestants to winning the prestigious title, the musical show has rolled very well for me. Not only did I hit the high octaves perfectly in the singing contest but was able to win the hearts of many who on their own formed fan clubs and plastered almost every nook and corner of the northeast with posters and banners urging the people to vote for me. You’ve reminded us of Hemant Kumar during the show. Is he your ideal? Do I sound like Hemant Kumar to you? That’s fine. Though I am Assamese, all Bengali singers sound like either Hemant Kumar or Kishore Kumar. I don’t think they make musicians like him any more. I want to be a blend of Kishore Kumar and Mohammed Rafi. I once assisted composer Pritam. I sang a song for him in a film called ‘Shaayad’ which never got released. You talked a lot about your late mother on the show. Your wife too was ever present on all your recordings. We saw her vigorously campaigning for you. So, who among them is the woman behind your success? Smiles. Actually both of them. It was my mother’s dream to make me a singer and not have me look after the family business. After my mother fell ill and died I thought my inspiration was no longer there. But I met a fashion designer from Kolkata. Vandana and I fell in love and got married. She changed my life and it’s because of her support that I’m here. Tell us something about your wife? Bandhana is a great person. She’s always stood by me. She even took up the financial responsibilities during my struggle. I’ve always wanted to do something for her and now is the chance to give her all the happiness in the world. Something about you that your fans don’t know? Everybody knows that I’m an introvert. But most people don’t know that I’m a hardcore romantic. And yes, I can be very lazy at times!
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COOL STUFF Hind ware, the unprecedented market leader in sanitary ware, has unveiled its imported Italian Collection ‘Hoods & Hobs’- a range of aesthetically designed kitchen appliances. Economically priced, this new range comprising of decorative hoods and hobs is a complete solution to a long lasting hygienic kitchen. Hind ware offers for the first time in India Cooker Hoods made from non-magnetic and anti rust 304-grade pure stainless steel, these hoods come with a life long body warranty. This feature is particularly suitable for costal areas which are prone to rusting and corrosion of metal objects. These offerings blend and integrate well with all kinds of kitchen interiors imparting fresh look and appeal to ones home. The unique hoods conform to the latest and best international designs and quality standards. The wind tunnel is specially designed to give a really clean, smoke-free and extra fresh environment in your kitchen. Available in a wide variety of styles and sizes with prices to suit every pocket these appliances are also a convenient option to the modern day housewives. These elegant looking Italian Collection - Hoods are available in different variations with interesting features like combination of glass and steel, single motor and twin motor, halogen and incandescent lamps, electronic and manual controls, tempered glass, multi layer anodized aluminum high efficiency filters, etc. Priced in the range of Rs 3,990 to Rs 30,990. Tommy Hilfiger presents Retro inspired sunglasses They also feature 100 per cent of the recommended ANSI Z80.3 UV for sun protection. A wide range of colors include: Silver with Blue Lens, Silver with Pink Lens, Gunmetal with Grey Lens and Brown with Brown Lens. Tommy Hilfiger eyewear comprising of over 70 styles across Men’s and Women’s, are priced between Rs 3,000 and Rs 5,800. Fevicol Speedx Pidilite Industries Ltd, market leader in adhesives and sealants, has launched Fevicol Speedx, the key to all your carpentry needs. Besides, saving time and energy, this innovative adhesive offers superior water resistance and makes finished carpentry works all the more durable. Using Fevicol Speedx simplifies the work of a craftsman, increasing overall productivity. A technologically-advanced “superior” product, Fevicol Speedx is a brand extension of the popular, time-tested synthetic while adhesive “Fevicol”. Under rigorous testing, Fevicol Speedx has proved extremely successful in time-bound projects: It has achieved its handling strength in just 11/2 hours-2 hours. Available in convenient 5 kg packs and 10 kg plastic containers, Fevicol Speedx can easily be applied with a spreader for bonding wood, plywood, laminates, veneers, particle board, blackboard/ hard board or MDF, as needed. MP3 Players Sony India has taken memory based MP3 players to a new level by making it easy and affordable. The company has launched its exciting range of memory based MP3 players in the country. This range has mo0dels that have a unique ergonomic design and memory capacities ranging from 256 Mb to 20 Gb. The 256 MB player is priced at Rs. 5,990. Speed Dry Nail Enamel Avon launches Speed Dry Nail Enamel. Avon’s intuitive technology helps save you time. It’s fast and smart. This fast-paced formula goes from apply to dry in less than 60 seconds. The full colour, yet highly fluid nail enamel is easy to apply and glides on smoothly without streaking. It provides the color, coverage and shine of long wearing nail enamel and wears up to 6 days. Available in 11 exciting shades like Crystal Calm, Innocent Violet, Rose Amour, Creamy Coral, Pearly Queen and more. Priced at Rs 170 for 8ml, it’s available with Avon Beauty Advisors Eagle Shoes unveils Club Wear Collection for men Eagle Shoes, the premium Russian Footwear brand — has unveiled its extremely contemporary and very urban, club wear leather footwear range. These classic comfort shoes make it a very fashionable choice in men’s casual shoe. Donning these shoes will immediately up your fashion quotient, and are a perfect match with jeans or your partly ensemble. Available in a range of shades like beige, brown-tan dark blue, camel, dark brown, gray etc. Different shade in suede leather look very rich with Eagle styling. Eagle’s Club wear Collection is styled and accessorised for different occasions — casuals, party or formal get together. Priced between Rs 3590 to Rs 4990 each shoe from the Eagle’s Club wear Collection incorporates the fitting qualities and style expected by the discerning Indian customer and further embodies the essence of urban sophistication and a lifestyle which is uniquely its own. Motorola has unveiled its C168. Stylishly thin and lightweight, the C168 is designed primarily for users who are on t5he go. It includes a 65K colour display, Multi media Messaging service, zoom font, and polyphonic and loud ring tones. With a storage upto 600 phonebook entries and 250 sms messages. It also has a FM radio along with pre-loaded games. Its priced at Rs. 3990.
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Acclimatising
nature On reaching Nathu-la, the high altitude pass on the Indo-Chinese border, I felt breathless, cold and sick. The Army doctor advised me to lie down for a while, drink warm liquids and avoid walking too much. I had to get acclimatized before I could explore the surroundings. Plants are a manifestation of the same energy and life force that runs through us. As a result, they require the same kind of acclimatisation. It is for this reason that newly potted plants require a period of shade and then medium light locations to get used to variations in light and temperatures. The most interesting point here is that plants that remain in the sun have ‘sun leaves’ with less chlorophyll, which makes them less photosynthetically efficient. Place the same plant in the shade and it develops ‘shade leaves’ which have more chlorophyll and are photosynthetically more efficient. These are findings from research done in Florida as early as the 1970’s. This also explains why plants in the house synthesize oxygen and carbon-dioxide better and improve the quality of air we breathe. The reason why plants in the sun, with less chloroplasts, have thicker, smaller and more numerous leaves, is obvious. The opposite holds true for plants in the shade. The above facts may seem irrelevant but they do necessitate the gradual acclimatization of plants to the surrounding weather conditions. A plant in full sunlight has to get used to small doses of shade if it has to move into the home. The opposite has to be done with plants traveling out into the sun. The same procedure has to be followed with newly purchased plants. Acclimatisation takes four to eight weeks. A calendar or chart of dates and events concerning plants is a must for all garden lovers. The intensity of light, effects food manufacture in plants. Insufficient light leads to elongated, drawn out plants. South facing windows allow the most light. These are followed by east and west facing locations. Light hours can be increased by putting on neon and fluorescent lamps, which are good for foliage. However, not more than sixteen hours of light is required. It is also worth remembering that most artificial light is not conducive to flower growth as it does not have enough infrared rays. For flowers we need special, horticultural, infrared lamps. In Chandigarh, it is advisable to give potted plants filtered light in the summer, to protect them from sunburn. Place them under awnings, trellises or trees during the hottest months.
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YOGA
In
yoga there is nothing more splendid than the practice of the twelve
postures that form the surya namaskar, which literally means sun
salutations. Each posture promotes balance in the physical body, increases
vitality in the pranic body and enhances the efficiency of the chakra
body. Every posture is done with complete awareness of the physical
stance, the breath and attention on the chakra it works on. Later a mantra
(sound vibration) is added to the practice. Do not attempt the following
postures without guidance from a yoga teacher. Parvatasana: In this fifth posture of the surya namaskar- ‘mountain’ pose the body is raised to form the peak of a mountain. The legs are together and the hands stretched while gently raising the hips and the chest off the ground. The body rests on the hands and the feet. The head is between the hands and looking in at the knees, chin gently pressing the thyroid region. In this inverted posture, the neck, the back, upper back, the legs down to the Achilles tendon are stretched. The arms and shoulders are strengthened by the constant weight upon them. The chakra concentrated upon is once again the vishuddhi at the base of the throat for creative excellence. Ashtanga Namaskar: Meaning ‘eight limbs salutations’ here the body is gently brought down to touch the ground at the toes, knees, chest and chin. The hips are off the ground so also the stomach. The hands are placed on both sides of the chest and the spine is arched. This posture develops the arms, chest, shoulders and legs. It rejuvenates the spine by supporting the natural curves of the spine. It is symbolic of the eight limbs of yoga and strengthens the attitude of surrender to the will of the divine. The concentration is at the Manipur chakra at the navel, which releases a tremendous amount of pranic energy in the body. Bhujangasana: Popularly known as the ‘cobra pose’ in which the body first supine on the ground on the stomach is raised up from the chest level to arch up like a snake while the legs are stretched straight back like the tail, hence the English name. This posture relieves many ailments of the lungs and chest, asthma, bronchitis, strengthens the walls of the heart, relieves constipation, indigestion, revitalises a sluggish liver and kidneys. The attention is on the swadhishtan chakra at the tailbone.
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FILM & FASHION
This time it isn’t British beauty Elizabeth Hurley’s face or her life in the news, but her feet, for the ‘Bedazzled’ star is getting set to pose for shoe designer Patrick Cox’s new spring-summer 2006 advertising campaign. Cox, whose latest collection has been inspired by the hit 1967 movie ‘Valley of the Dolls’, said that Hurley was perfect for the campaign as she portrayed the independent woman. “Liz is a dose of reality, an independent woman - just the type of woman who buys our shoes,” Contactmusic quoted him, as saying.—ANI Drew’s faithful lover It seems that Drew Barrymore has landed herself a good man this time, for not only did her rocker love Fabrizio Moretti cut short his appearance at the NME awards held recently in London, but in an industry where staying faithful is a not too often heard of, he also managed to stay faithful and celibate for a whole month.
The ‘Strokes’ drummer, who has had a busy schedule promoting the band’s new album, told reporters
at the glittering bash that he was rushing back to his ladylove for he had not enjoyed the pleasures of the flesh for a month.—ANI Lindsey Lohan not suffering from bulimia ‘Mean Girls’ star Lindsay Lohan recently hit out at reports that she was suffering from the eating disorder bulimia, and insisted that she was only going through a ‘phase’ in her life. The teen star who shocked fans with her weight loss, revealed that she had not wanted to put on weight after losing it, but that she had eventually realised that being thin doesn’t always mean being healthy. “I will say that I went through a phase. I lost weight when I was in the hospital and then I wanted to keep it off. Sometimes being that thin doesn’t look healthy. I kind of didn’t realize that,” Contactmusic quoted her, as saying.—ANI\ Cynthia Nixon grateful to press ‘Sex and the City’ star Cynthia Nixon has revealed that though it was a little ‘crazy’ finding her relationship with another woman on the front pages of newspapers, she was still grateful to the press and pubic alike for respecting her privacy.
The star, who played lawyer Miranda Hobbs, on the hit TV series, said that though the media attention had been a bit overwhelming at first, she was grateful that the press had left her alone after a day or two.—ANI Marcia Cross addicted to pastry ‘Desperate Housewives’ star Marcia Cross has revealed that she was forced to leave her first job at the American donut chain Dunkin Donuts, for she put on 30 pounds because she just couldn’t seem to resist the pastry. The sexy star, said that she was so addicted to the creamy pastry, that she realised that the only way to keep her hands off the pastry was to quit working at the shop altogether.—ANI Shirley MacLaine unhappy with Hollywood Hollywood veteran Shirley MacLaine has hit out at tinsel town’s obsession with youth and beauty, and for not making enough movies to suit elder filmgoers.The 71-year old ‘Rumor Has It’ star said Hollywood was making a ‘big mistake’ by not making movies to suit an older audience, and for concentrating on a younger crowd that was more interested in playing videogames.“I think Hollywood is making a big mistake not making films for people over 50. Young people are fickle. They’ll stay home and play video games or go out and party instead of going to the movies on a regular basis unless they’re dating someone,” Contactmusic quoted her, as saying.—ANI
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This valentine, Tommy Hilfiger has introduced retro inspired sunglasses for both Men and Women. These sunglasses define the youthful style of American tradition. Constructed with fine materials, the frames are clean and sleek and prove to be an excellent gift for your valentine. .jpg)
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