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Summer lehengas Festive colours for the season are sea-green, lilac, pink and turquoise. Gayatri Rajwade gives a complete update with inputs by Komal Gupta on the available bridal lehengas Jassi’s bridal pink lehenga choli with an aquamarine and orange dupatta designed by celebrity fashion designer Neeta Lulla weighed 5 kg and was obviously enough to fell Armaan Sir! If a wedding lehenga vision in Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin on television can generate so much excitement and creative turmoil, then imagine how important the lehenga becomes when the bride is you! And this summer, the tagline is breezy and cheerful, bright and lively with dashes of bonhomie. So what does this translate into? PAMMY’S BEAUTY TIPS Breath control is the key Write to Renee MATKA CHOWK
Manjit Kaur. — Photo by Vicky Gharu Vand de Basanti Quota FUN WITH FASHION A cosy retreat Flower Power
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Summer lehengas Festive colours for the season are sea-green, lilac, pink and turquoise. Gayatri Rajwade gives a complete update with inputs by Komal Gupta on the available bridal lehengas Jassi’s
bridal pink lehenga choli with an aquamarine and orange dupatta designed by celebrity fashion designer Neeta Lulla weighed 5 kg and was obviously enough to fell Armaan Sir! If a wedding lehenga vision in Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin on television can generate so much excitement and creative turmoil, then imagine how important the lehenga becomes when the bride is you! Handle with care
Take the outfit to the professional dry cleaner after your wedding. Alert the cleaner to any stains and loose stitches. Ask your cleaner for a special acid-free box to store your dress in and pack it in acid-free tissue paper. You can also hang the dress placing on a padded hanger and wrapping in a clean white cotton sheet. Inspect your dress on each anniversary for any discoloured areas. And this summer, the tagline is breezy and cheerful, bright and lively with dashes of bonhomie. So what does this translate into? Surprisingly, both traditional and avant-garde depending on which way you want to swing, not withstanding your mother’s desire to tog you in a richly crafted kanjeevaram from Nalli.
THE BLUSHES Fuchsia, last year’s hottest colour, is out this year affirms city-based designer Simple Kaur but pink, in all its hues, remains “an all-time favourite” she adds while spelling out sea-green, lilac and turquoise for this year. “Yes,” affirms Sohni, “pink is a perennial favourite. Pink and orange are most becoming of a bride.” Her colour of pride is working on anything from a brick red to maroon with aubergine thrown in for good measure. Babi works extensively with dusty pinks and old rose and designer Dimpy Gujral tips the colour scale this year towards green—emerald, jade, olive and sea. Honii Sandhu grew up in Patiala amidst a
fiesta of bright colours and so her mantra is vibrant. She selects kesari along with the light
pink. However, Honii believes that “changing colours to suit the season is not really a good idea, so select a shade that suits you and stick to it” for what really lifts the outfit is the way the fabric is treated and here the sky is the limit.
TRIMMINGS For the sweltering summers think georgettes, chiffons, crepes and net and for the glitz appeal embellish it till it glows. Sohni gives us a peek into a pink and blue lehenga which she is making for a petite summer bride. It has a zari pattern woven into georgette benarasi fabric which is picked up with sequins, tiny stones and dabka work. The dupatta has been crafted with traditional mughal motifs. “Think everything,” says Babi, “from coins to pearls to patchwork in different motifs, sequins combined with pitta work thread-work to dabka and sequins”. While Honii specialises in Lucknowi and phulkari work, Simple offers an interesting option in terracotta stones apart from the semi-precious ones.
TRENDY It’s the NRI weddings that speckle the summer months according to Dimpy and with a world-view comes an unconventional outlook so she has a lot of trendy young girls coming to her wanting something “different”. This usually translates into silhouettes that show off the figure to perfection: trumpet ghagras and mermaid skirts teamed up with interesting cholis. But Sohni and Babi follow the traditional route. “A wedding is a religious ceremony and has a lot of sanctity . So perhaps it is better to reserve the creativity for the reception,” smiles Sohni.
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PAMMY’S BEAUTY TIPS SUN is the biggest menace at this time of the year. Your first step in this weather should be to protect your skin by wearing Sun Protection Factor. In the war against sun, sun protection is our greatest ally- and it’s never too late to start. It is your best bet to stay clear off premature wrinkling, dry leathery skin, distended blood vessels, blotchy pigmentation, and skin cancer. Needless to say that 90% skin problems associated with skin ageing are the result of too much sun exposure. There is much misinformation and confusion about sun block creams but remains your best insurance policy against burning and skin ageing to use SPF. Remember SPF 15 is the magic number and should be in contact with the skin. The higher numbers can be misleading and are only a little more powerful. When shopping for sun screens always look for ‘broad spectrum protection’ or UVA/UVB protection. UVA helps fight against ageing and UVB against burning. It is extremely important to have protection from both kinds of rays. Apply it liberally, almost an ounce is needed to cover the whole body of an adult, do not massage it into the skin, and let it sit on your skin. If out in the sun reapply it frequently because the sun itself breaks down the protective ingredients in the cream- reducing the effectiveness. Don’t risk skin woes resulting in redness, flare up and burns; avoid sunshine in the middle of the day. People with sensitive skin must be aware that chemical sunscreens can irritate. You have a choice to use a moisturiser with the magic number. If you are into naturals than your best bet would be layer of titanium or zinc oxide based screen over your moisturiser which work by bouncing the light off the skin. Or try mixing up SPF 30 sun block half and half with your daily cream. Give your skin a sunscreen brake when it’s raining- it’s not good to overload your skin with chemicals. Summer essentials Use less make-up- During summer make sure you keep your make-up down to essentials. Use the waterproof make-up during the summer and switch to a multi-purpose tinted moisturiser with SPF instead of a foundation. Eat good foods- Make sure you get plenty of anti-oxidants like vitamin C during the summer; these are found in citrus fruits. They also provide essential electrolytes which we tend to lose in abundance in summer through sweat. Try adding lemon to your water, this helps strengthens the skin’s immunity against potential damage. Be gentle with summer skin-If you do get sun burns try the trick of soothing sunburnt or irritated skin with a mixture of milk and a pint of cold water with a tray of ice cubes. Soak a washcloth in the mixture and apply it to your face for five minutes. Drink lots of water- If you ignore your need for fluid, you feel more tired. If you aim to drink a glass of water an hour you will feel more energised. Remember, our body is made up of 90% water and the water lost through sweat, respiration etc, if not restored can lead to dehydration and irreversible damage to skin, kidney and other vital organs can happen. Use eye cream- you can squint a lot in sunlight, even when you wear sunglasses. As the skin around your eyes is especially, delicate and can start to develop fine lines and wrinkles, so make sure you use an eye cream. Dab it lightly under your eyes and smooth out toward the sides of your face. Give yourself a face mask- Treat your skin to a mask once a week during the summer. It’s cooling, smoothing, and gives your skin a pick- me-up. Wear the right fabrics- Avoid fabrics with synthetics, they are no good on long hot days. Choose natural fibres such as cotton or linen which will allow the skin to breathe. Exercise- Take advantage of the good weather, swim or play sports. Your body’s more limber from the heat. Exercise is such an energiser, and when you have the proper fitness level your skin will benefit from it too. Exercise naturally enhances the oxygen flow throughout your body, especially to your face, speeding up the natural cleansing process. The next time you step out in the sun make sure that you put adequate layers of sun block on your body and face at least half an hour before you go out in the sun so that it can bind with your skin. Avoid long term exposure to UV rays- Think shade, umbrellas, hat, and caps and top up the SPF during the day and you are ready to beat the sun heat!
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Breath control is the key Friends, if one wishes to excel in the world of voice then the key is breath control. But how do we achieve it? Which is the best way to breath? Is Diaphragm breathing the answer? You bet, it is. We all know that all of us breathe through our lungs, right? But for the voice professional, it’s not that simple. One should know how to breathe through the Diaphragm. This is the key that unlocks all those opportunities that translate into work and of course, the all-important moolah. In order to solve the puzzle, first you have to observe yourself breathing. Is it rapid and shallow or when you take a long deep breath, do your shoulders rise. And now what exactly is the diaphragm? Well, it is a muscle located below the rib cage and the lungs. Sounds like a biology class, right? Anyway, let’s proceed and take a step forward……..If you are a bit confused then let’s do a small exercise that will surely help you wade out of this quagmire. Lay on your back on a hard surface, with your face towards the ceiling. Bend your knees and place a fairly heavy book on your stomach (Make sure the book is not very heavy). As you breathe, you should be able to see the book rise and fall. If the book does not move much, then you for sure, are breathing from your chest. Once you know how put the air in the right place, you must learn to control it with your diaphragm. If you exhale out all of your air down to the absolutely last bit, you will feel your diaphragm under your rib cage as it pushes up against your lungs. On the outside of your ribs you will feel your abdominal wall pushing in; inside your ribs your diaphragm pushes up. Not only does your diaphragm need to be strong enough to push hard when you want lots of power, but it needs to have even more control and strength when you want to run through some very quick lines or a big jump in pitch or tone. Building the strength and control of your diaphragm begins with proper breathing. To achieve this, practise using your diaphragm by expanding your stomach as you breathe. Practise regularly and consciously and soon you will be able to do it. Remember guys, breathing gives you focus and balance while reading the copy. Don’t forget that good breath control begins with a relaxed body. You see, there are muscles in the neck, tongue, face and the throat area that tend to constrict the vocal chords when under stress, thereby, not letting you pack forty words in a radio commercial along with the address and of course, the ‘all-important” three phone numbers in 10 seconds flat. (The writer is a renowned radio personality running Radio Buzz and The Take-One Academy of Broadcasting, a radio jockey trainer, voice expert and an international broadcaster)
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Write to Renee I am a 24 years young woman working for a corporate in a very good position. My problem is I have a boss who is extremely erratic in his behaviour. Most of the time he is a good person and one is comfortably working in a peaceful environment. Then suddenly once in a while he simply takes off with terrible temper tantrums that he inflicts on me. This completely shatters my psyche and it takes me days to recover from the episode. I am constantly living in fear of when he will take off again. I simply cannot leave the job because of the very good paycheck. I know it is not easy to get such a good job. But this attitude of my boss is really beginning to get me and it seems to affect other aspects of my life. What must I do? The strange thing is my boss is calm most of the time until another bout. Help me, please. Aarti Desai Dear girl your boss is obviously the product of a pampered childhood. For him tantrums are normal and he thinks this is the natural way to behave. Most men like to move from a position of authority and they feel that by throwing tantrums they are actually asserting that sense of authority. But this is really not so. It is more so that they are convincing themselves of their own position of power, knowing that they will get away with it. Each one is under the law of his own consciousness and each one creates the world be believes he deserves. You are perhaps making excuses for your boss’s attitude. Just try and raise your sense of self worth and self esteem and allow your boss to see that his behaviour is not really very tolerable. Be matured in the way you handle it, I’m sure he will see the light and try and change. Sometimes we need to confront our mistake through some one just to see our own trough. I am a young man of 28 and seem to be suffering from serious emotional problems. I seem to have a disorder which has been discussed in many magazines etc but I have not really found my answer. I find myself touching things seven times every night or also performing like a ritual of washing my hands four times, only then I feel comfortable inside me, although I am super organised in my life. I still feel that I am only happy when I have satisfied the need to touch things in a certain manner a certain number of times. I know people are watching me and wondering what is this strange behavior but I try to make it seen like a normal situation through some excuse or the other. Please can you suggest some remedy for this problem of mine. Ashu Mehra Young man what your are suffering from is what is called obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD in short. At least 40 per cent people are suffering from this in some manner or the other but they either do not realise it, or do not accept it. I do understand your suffering because this condition causes acute mental agony if you do not perform your ritual. It would help you a lot if you made a list of all the rules you had as a child because somehow it is the child in you that is feeling unsafe and trying to find safety in the little rules that your have mentally created for your self by performing those few rituals. The human mind is so creative that it creates and invents rituals in order to survive a dysfunctional part of your life. Give yourself space to grow out of this childhood syndrome. Step out of your own book of rules and learn to breathe in freedom. Once you have allowed your self the space and the freedom to make mistakes and learn, your healing will begin. Just learn to be yourself and immense peace will settle within giving you clarity and a relaxed fame of mind. I am a very successful fashion designer and extremely proud of my work. I have always had a unique perspective and like to be different. I take great pride in my sense of creativity and uniqueness. I feel very passionately about my designs but I feel that a lot of times other designers duplicate my work. My problem is that I have stopped trying to show my best because I feel what if somebody copies this one. I have confronted some people who copied my work but they have a couldn’t care less attitude. I feel that my creativity is now very stifled and I am not even being true to my own passion and my work. How can I resolve this situation for myself and be more open? Suchitra Menon You have to realise one basic truth of the world. The universe is full of abundance. Your thinking is coming from a sense of fear that there is not enough, you are actually thinking in terms of scarcity, therefore your want to hoard and preserve your ideas. Remember that in this world there is plenty for everyone. If your work is good there will always be people trying to copy your work. In fact I feel you should take it as a compliment. After all there must be something special about your work that people want to copy it. Allow your own thinking to become abundant. After all we are all a part of the same universe and your creativity itself is the desire of the world to express itself through you. Allow yourself the pleasure of feeling this. You are amongst the chosen few who can contribute to the world in a creative fashion. May your continue to be more successful and be able to give of your talents with more peace and joy.
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FILM REVIEW Neeraj Vora whose directorial debut was ‘Khiladi 420’ shall once again direct his favourite actor, Akshay Kumar along with Paresh Rawal and Suneil Shetty in a laugh riot, titled ‘Phir Hera Pheri’, a sequel to ‘Hera Pheri’. The year 2006 is the year of remakes and sequels. ‘Phir Hera Pheri’ is the strongest contender in the genre of comedies. This one is produced by Firoz A. Nadiadwala. Nadiadwala believes in giving his directors a larger than life canvas. ‘Phir Hera Pheri’ also stars, Bipasha Basu and Rimmi Sen. There is also a sizzling item number featuring Dia Mirza in the film. The sequel opens from where ‘Hera Pheri’ draws curtains and similar comical escapades of fun loving characters. The film opened on Friday at Batra, Chandigarh and Fun Republic, Manimajra.
**** UTV’s ‘Chup Chup Ke’ opened yesterday at Nirman, Chandigarh, Fun Republic and Suraj, Panchkula. It is directed by Priyadarshan. This one is a romantic comedy of errors. It was earlier titled ‘Khatta Meetha’. A triangular love story about a debt ridden youth, this is a comedy that can be enjoyed at the theatres. The movie is full of intriguing twists. Director Priyadarshan who has comedies like ‘Hulchul’ and ‘Maalamal Weekly’ to his credit, dares to bind comedy with entertainment. As for the actors, Kareena Kapoor looks good while Shahid Kapoor is just okay. Paresh Rawal and Rajpal Yadav steal the show. Om Puri, Shakti Kapoor along with Suneil Shetty and Neha Dhupia are exploited to the fullest. Photography is excellent and music is a winner. — D.P.
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Finding expression Young theatre activists share their experience of holding summer workshops for children with Gayatri Rajwade The optimism is infectious, the steps buoyant and the idealism enchanting for encompassing their dreams, collectively, is an underlying passion for theatre finding expression in summer workshops for children around the city. Theatre is a therapy for the need today is not performances like puppets but appreciation of the art for, says P Chandrashekhar The mantra is not about technique but of thinking for this post-graduate in theatre from Panjab University. “Theatre can break mind-sets and myths for, it has the ability to reach out to people and influence them positively.” Experiment, think out of the box and don’t give up he insists, for even if just 25 per cent of your effort comes out right, you have so much to carry on with. Today Chandrashekhar encourages his young apprentices at his workshop at KBDAV School, Sector 9 to create their own story, their own dialogues and their own mode of acting, all against what he was advised to do. “They must learn to believe in themselves,” he avers. My goal is to produce a new generation of children who think logically and without bias, this is the power of theatre, says Vijay Kumar. His first foray on stage was a role with no dialogues whatsoever! But the bug had bitten and Vijay spent time learning “the ethics of theatre coupled with the process of acting” before coming to Panjab University to do his Masters in Music to mollify his parents and following it with a post-graduation in Theatre to keep his passion alive. Working alongside Chandrashekhar at the workshop Vijay concentrates on theatre games, breaking psychological barriers between boys and girls, memory, logic, concentration, focal point and imagination. “This is like re-learning all one has studied for we are here to help these kids develop an independent thinking.” I wish I could give you a dramatic response but this is all I know and this is what I want to live with—theatre, acting, says Amit Chauhan. A workshop for children at Rajasthan Bhavan while on a break (from theatre with Neelam Mansingh Chaudhary for the summer) is how Amit got acquainted with children. Improvisation is the name of the game for him too. “I ask the children to close their eyes and think of the dream they had last night and try and complete that dream.” With a post-graduation in theatre from Panjab University he too hopes to touch the stars one day, on screen, for the stage is his muse. Theatre is not about acting but about living. When you enact the same episode or emotions from your life for the stage you get a chance to think about your actions, says Krishan. For this first-year student doing his post-graduation from Panjab University, his seven day workshop at Bhavan Vidyalaya, Sector 15, Panchkula was not about teaching method acting to the tiny-tots but about building their observation skills, “for this is what will come in use for their later lives in their studies, their growth and their personality. “Children are perhaps the most creative of all but they need help to explore their imagination and ingenuity.” This may be his first workshop but Krishan is determined to take his work with children forward. For each of them, there are miles to go before they sleep for their dreams are creating palettes for a vibrant painting before their eyes.
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MATKA CHOWK I have the good fortune to write this Matka Chowk - sitting in a cottage, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. As far as the eyes can see – there are towering, steel blue, snow-capped mountains with vast meadows and green valleys dotted with wildflowers – in between dense forests of Pine and Aspen. I have been to the mountains quite often in recent times – riding on the same Chandigarh-Kalka highway, negotiating the tricky bends and stopping by the roadside to buy apple juice and cider. The ride to the Colorado mountains was a visual delight, but, looking at the enormity of the wide and empty expanses on the way, at times we felt like the last Mohicans under the lonely sky – for you could drive for miles without seeing any signs of humanity. The first time we rode to Kasauli, we were enchanted by the green mountains all around and spent an equal amount of time, looking at the multi-talented monkeys, the roadside barber, the crammed pottery store in Kalka, the overturned lorry, the ad hoc bazaars and the pickle stalls. One of the several activities available here is horse-riding. At my daughter’s insistence, all of us decided to go for horse riding. It was a very different affair from what I remember from my childhood summer vacations in Darjeeling and Shimla. The last time, we were in Shimla, my daughter wanted to ride a horse – a rather large one. The boy tending the horse was eager to oblige – much to my trepidation, he looked no more than fourteen or fifteen. There was of course, no saddle on the horse and no instructions were given to my daughter regarding any procedures. The boy plopped her down on the horse and it took off at top speed! Luckily, I was still young enough to catch up with the boy and the horse to urge them to slow down and was then forced to canter down the mall to keep an eye on the horse. The horse paid little attention to the boy and stopped to eat and rest as it pleased and galloped when it wanted and at the end of the ride looked quite pleased with itself having ignored all our exhortations. Here, horse riding for tourists is a well practiced routine with no scope for any safety leaks. Horses are matched with the rider’s skill and size. You ride on a western saddle with overused stirrups. You are given a guide who makes sure you follow only a well-travelled path through the valleys. The horses have no say and opinion in this. They are well disciplined and made to ride single-file. They get a kick on the stomach if they stall or fall behind to eat some grass. They look terribly bored and disgruntled. But, hey, you will not see any mother running down the mountainside to halt a runaway horse!
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Pious verse For her, religiousness and righteousness are keys that open doors to tranquility. No wonder, she believes that all the unrest in the world is a direct aftermath of pushing the keys under the dusty carpet of practicality. Disturbed by prevailing impiety flowing out of pragmatism, Manjit Kaur Mohali has penned down verses to once again pull out the keys. Her anthology of deeply religious poems in Gurmukhi, Arshi Ramza is to be released through Punjabi Kavi Mandal in Chandigarh on Sunday afternoon. After reciting a few verses from the compilation, she says: “Somewhere down the line, so many youngsters today have forgotten all about religion and the sacrifices made by the Sikh Gurus for them. They are by and large concerned only about climbing the social ladder of success on the rungs of practicality.” Flashing a sympathetic smile, she asserts: “They just do not know about the wars the Gurus fought for the honour of the Sikhs and the community. Little wonder, a large number of them roam about aimlessly on paths other than the ones shown by the religion with golf caps covering their heads.” This indifference and lack of devotion, she asserts, is the basic cause of all problems and conflict within the youngsters. “In an attempt to give them some kind of an opportunity to come to terms with themselves, I have penned down a dharmik kava sangrah. Once the youngsters realise what they want from life, through religion, unrest and turmoil both within and outside with gradually fade away into oblivion and peace will prevail”. Good, but when did she first realise about her ability to compose verses? Manjit Kaur says she started writing poetry since school days. “I recall the time when my music teacher would ask me to prepare group songs for one occasion or the other. Instead of picking up the songs from here and there, I would write them down, much to the amazement of fellow students,” she says. Upsurge of talent in Mohali indeed and this poet is suffixing the name of her town to her own.
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Vand de Basanti Quota Wonder what would happen if there were Encounter, Housewife, Illiterate and Tiger bite victim quotas? The general masses would soon seek an ‘underprivileged’ quota for themselves. The dynamic nine descended on plaza-17 to voice this concern, which reverberated to the masses instantly. After Meetha rok ke, patti thok ke, Manchtantra theatre group is back with Khoon Chala, which is a march against the quota malady. Their forward leap in future framing a wrestling match, selection of an army personnel and a job interview depicted that if the deluge of quotas continue, the only dry patch of meritorious candidates will submerge. “We are not against providing opportunities to the candidates who have ability but no means to prove their mettle. We only deplore the fact that the undeserving spoilt brats of the elite class take away the seats due to a baseless quota,” they voiced their concern during the play. The selection of the actors was done on the basis of an audition. They were groomed from raw talents into polished ones. The end of this voyage saw nine power packed artists- Rochak, Hardeep, Manisha, Gautam, Gurpreet, Manish, Sameer, Ashita and Gurneet. Rochak, the president of the play, gave the musical dimension to the play with a dholak while Hardeep handled the choreography Hardeep, also who played the role of a deserving job applicant denied his worth, shares, “We don’t want young aspirations to be trampled under any injustice. Also, as most of us are about to give some or the other entrance exam, we feel all the more for this issue. So that’s how we came up with this theme.” Manisha, who played the role of a netaji, has the rugby match as her personal favourite in the play. This one saw all the general candidates in a mad scramble for the only seat left for them. Why Khoon chala? And she says, “ it signifies taking a stand for a cause, which went well with the theme of our play.”
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FUN WITH FASHION Sunshine yellows, buttery Creams, sparking blues and
lush greens smile at you like a tangle of blossom and verdure. That hip Jeans you picked up from Singapore or that fluff cardigan you grabbed from Switzerland may all be there but the logic problem that baffles you always remains. Yes, the perennial problem of ‘what to wear for the occasion ‘. But worry not, for, we spill a few frothy ideas for you to dive into. First let’s talk of feminine flounce. Frilly blouses are a good bet for informal get togethers and on all – girls– lunch type of gatherings. They add a cute
girly touch to your appearance. Club them with knee –length satin skirts for that super – girlie feel. You could also wear jeans with spaghetti is or halters. T-shirts are too casual and should not be worn unless you are going for and outdoor picnic. Well, family affairs can be tricky. Especially if they are slightly formal. Since you are with the family, you can’t’ be too formal. And your can’t be sloppy or carelessly dressed either, especially if it’s a semi – formal occasion. So be a little conservative. A smartly filled salwaar kameej, designer sari or even well worked upon kurtis and trousers are a safe bet. Formal dinners give you every chance to make the glamour queen within you pop out. Try wearing silky or satiny skirts or dresses. A chiffon or georgette sari can be worn with a haltered, backless and elegantly cut blouse. And yes, don’t forget those high heels for elevating your personality.
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A cosy retreat Size
does matter if you are thinking of cosiness. Size, as in small area… but with no compromise on quality and style. Where you have to depend on the impersonal TV screens displaying the function at four different corners of a huge hall or field/garden for the benefit of invitees strewn all over the place. Your idea of fun is to go up close and be personal. Be an active participant in the celebrations. Large gatherings are really not your cup of tea. Well, then you have an ideal retreat to unwind in and party with your friends and relatives in an intimate setting. Just like its central theme, the opening of Garden Retreat on Friday night was a small and sweet affair. Located on the fast developing Panchkula-Zirakpur road, opposite Hotel Marc Royale, you are at once struck by the emerald green landscape of the place with a cool oasis of a blue swimming pool…. It sure is relaxing after the maddening rush of vehicles and pollution of the highway. It is a dream project of Col Harinder Singh (retd) and Sandeep Vermani, partners of Chef & Butler, well-known outdoor catering unit. Constructed on one acre, the compact lawns have areas earmarked for a poolside party, a lounge, a bar, a restaurant and a festive garden. Soft lighting and soothing music lend a romantic air to the setting. Says Col Harinder Singh, “We end where the big resorts start. We cater to the six-to-six hundred groups while some others do not accept less than 600-guest gatherings.” The restaurant has 50 covers, the lounge can accommodate 60 and the bar has a seating for 20 persons, and the garden can be host to up to 600 guests. With experience at a 3-star hotel in Mussoorie, running the DSOI, Sector 36 since its inception for six years and being at the helm of the restaurant in Chimney Heights, the Colonel has been associated with the hospitality industry since 1992. So, what’s their USP? “Definitely food. We have specialist chefs for each of our cuisines, be it Tandoori, Indian, Mughlai, Continental or Chinese. And we lay emphasis on the good quality and fresh ingredients, even if it means using the costly olive oil for the Continental platter.” From meetings and conferences to birthday parties, weddings and social get-togethers, romantic dinners, family outings and power lunches, Garden Retreat offers an elegant experience. The guests have the option of dining indoors or outdoors, soaking in the cool evening breeze under the moonlight. Cool
getaway: A poolside view of Garden Retreat, Zirakpur.
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Flower Power Almost every conceivable shade (you name it and they have it case) is available in Carnation,Orchids ,Lilium and Gerbera flowers. Carnation, the most sought after of them all comes in many hues like Cherry solar, Red corso, Pink Dimantee, Cabrett, and Super Green. Confirming the fact Kanwal Preet Kang of Universal Flowers Sector 35-C says, “Orchids and Lilium are in but Carnation only is accounting for 20% of the total sales this summer.” The comely Gerbera and the gorgeous Orchids with spurred, lobed and pouched petals can surprise you with their fantastic shapes. Gladiolus stems are of iris family with sword like leaves and spikes of funnel-shaped vivacious flowers. The flowers begin to blossom with every passing day from the bottom of the stem as if a magic wand casting spell of beauty on the beholder of this lovely sight. G.S Arora of Arora Flowers Sec-23 explains, “Their popularity never fades as they are long lasting and affordable.” And who can forget our very own sweet smelling Rajnigandha for Jaimala in marriages? The flower of all flowers, Rose, undoubtedly, will be admired till there is love, joy, purity and admiration on this earth. “However these days Kiss of Fire, Sunny yellow, Lovers Rose and Fleming Flowers are ruling young hearts” says, Mr.Dinesh Batta of Cute Florist Sector 19. Exotic flowers like Bird of Paradise, Anthuriums, Marigold, Torch ginger Chrysanthemum, Tulips and Liliums are also available on advance order for the passionate ones who believe that money is not everything in life. Cut and pruned by scissor to adorn L-shape, heart, butterfly, round table or lay long shapes in baskets or chattai, these little jewels are studded in Statice or Asparagus fern like foliage sprinkled with glitter and streaks of silver. Finishing touches are given with ribbon frills and a thin transparent plastic sheet to bewitch your loved ones with an impeccable aesthetic wonder. Born and brought up in the cooler climates of Chail, Solan and Banglore, these cherub-like resplendent flowers descend to bring surprise, lively warmth and hearty joy in the lives of people who mean the world to us. The refreshing vivacity of thee flowers affirms the fact that life is beautiful.
Health tip of the day
Too hard, too often and lengthy exercise regimen can lead to health risks rather than benefit. Moderate exercise lowers risk of heart disease and prevents occurrence of day-to-day ailments. — Dr. Ravinder Chadha
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