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My Best Friend’s Wedding “The bridesmaid plays a friendly supervisory role. She helps the bride prepare for the big day, planning the wedding dress, shoes, hairstyle and makeup. She has to put her best foot forward but at the same time make sure that she doesn’t overshadow the bride as she is going to be in most of the photographs,” says veteran photographer Ravi Maan, the man behind thousands of memorable moments. So, what to wear? Sohni Makkar, fashion designer, suggests, “The bridesmaid should avoid wearing a saree. She has to help the bride in a million ways and a saree would be way too complicated. A salwar suit or a lehnga with a manageable odhni is the perfect outfit for the bridesmaid. Raw silk, tussar and shot silk in shades of turquoise and aqua green or any colour that complements the bride’s outfit.” Ranju Chaddha, owner, Rumours, Sector 8, recommends straight shirts with lycra churidars or long skirts in brocade with shot silk tops. “Peaches, pinks and nude shades are hot. Team them up with embroidery, stone work, pearls and crystal. Stone work looks stunning in bright red, green, silver and gold,” she says. Babi of Babi’s, Sector 8, firmly believes that the bridesmaids’ outfit must complement the bride’s. “In fact, the tiny sarwali can wear the same shade as the bride,” she tells. Now that the clothes bit is clear (hopefully), time for the bridesmaid’s make up. Simran, the manager at Iris, Sector 9, advises, a soft matte look. “Lots of lip-gloss, bold eyes enhanced with a shadow that complement the dress and kajal. Fresh flowers in the hair are also very in. Accessories such as nail art, tattoos and crystal stickers are an instant jazz up,” she tells. Mona Sarup, the manager at the Vidya Tikari Beauty Spa and Studio in Sector 9 says bridesmaids add glamour to the wedding. “They should sport a funky party look. The draping of the bridesmaid’s saree or lehnga is different from the bride’s but one must ensure that it complements what the bride is wearing, apart from looking sophisticated and elegant” Very valid point. Don’t we all want memorable wedding pictures? Ena Kandhari, a local jewellery designer and experienced bridesmaid, is dead against heavy sets, “The bridesmaid should opt for delicate jewellery and of course it must gel with the outfit. My personal preference is a dramatic pair of chandelier earrings. Steer clear of chunky neckpieces. Just a hint of glitter or a pendant on a delicate chain would be perfect. Team up with rings, bracelets or tikkas. The current favourite is jewellery with big stones and diamonds to complement the colors of the outfit,” says this 22-year-old. Sabby, the manager at Silver Haze, Sector 9, says the bridesmaid’s jewellery should be simpler than the bride’s. “The style may be similar but it should not overshadow the bride’s. Also, gold embroidery on your outfit means gold finish jewellery. The same holds for silver too.” Sabby’s pick: Kundan necklaces or colored stones. Maan says that a good bridesmaid is the best thing that can happen to a bride. “She can give suggestions to the makeup artist on the kind of make up and colours that suit the bride. At my niece’s wedding, she repeatedly told this makeup artist from not to use a particular shade of lipstick for the bride. But the artist just did not listen. When the wedding photographs came out the bride looked very pale because of that lipstick,” he says. While the others enjoy the celebrations, the bridesmaid’s eyes are on the nervous bride – a comforting hug or just a smile that says all’s well. A quick bit of advice for first-time bridesmaids: Makes sure the bride looks her best at all times. Watch out for unwanted strands of hair on the bride’s face, bleeding lipstick and smeared kajal. Remember, it’s the bride’s moment, make it special, whatever it takes!
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Flavours of Stucee So the elders might be still going to that old wooden floored cafeteria but not the young brigade of the jet-age who prefer to grab a bit in the company of friends and that too without shelling much dough. Concept of fine dine doesn’t go well with their limited pocket allowances and carrying home cooked food to the university or colleges for that matter is too down market. Here comes, mother of all favourite foodstuffs, Stuee ideally located in the middle of Punjab University comes in play. As one enters this grub centre, even on a holiday like Saturday you instantly know why it’s the obvious choice not only for the university students but also for those who come to eat from nearby colleges’ as well. The proximity If you think only those who study in the numerous departments in the campus are the frequent visitors, brush aside the thought. Students from nearby or ‘not really’ near by colleges are among those who come and eat their meals here. Gurmeet Kaur, Neha and Richa, the trio from GCG, Sector 11, makes it a point to come and visit students centre to have lunch every day. “ I am simply hooked to the Rajmah Chaval that we get here,” says Gurmeet, a B.Com student. Her friend Richa accompanies her for the love of Naan with gravy and for Neha, it’s the yummy noodles that pull her here each day. Ask them but why Stucee, and the girls are quick to sum it up ‘for price, taste and quantity’. Now, that sounds pretty good. And just as we are about to leave, Gurpreet quips, “also for the ‘eye candy’ that we get to see here.” Bobby and Pooja, third year engineering students from a local college are busy munching at the centre. When approached, “since we have our classes on all weekdays, weekend is fixed for lunch here’ is all they have to say.” With a new academic session come a new lot of learners but what remains unchanged are the choices, the tastes. Hoshiar who has been working in one of the eateries here for more than three decades says, “As far as the food choices is concerned, it’s more or less the same. The shift confines to Rajmah Chaval or Kadhi or may be Shahi Paneer, he muses. Rush hour Lunch hour that’s the peak time, when the students throng these joints like bees to place their order ahead of each other. So the air is filled up with the aroma of hot Amritsari Chanas with kulcha or a plate full of fried rice with Chilly Paneer. For those who don’t want stuff that reminds them of ghar ka khana they can choose from a variety of sandwiches, including paneer tikka, cheese, vegetable or even grilled ones with cheese tomato and capsicum. Interestingly, the university authorities fix up all the prices, so no burden on the pocket either. Well the truth is, be it a holiday or long vacations, the students need no excuse to have food here. It could be a cricket match between classmates or meeting up with old friends, or simply basking in the sun as long as the food flows, we are here!
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‘I’m working on my batting’ “Chandigarh is a beautiful city but I don’t plan to move into my new house right away. I purchased the property because God gave me an opportunity,” says star cricketer Harbhajan Singh, the city’s newest high profile citizen. In an informal tête-à-tête, Harbhajan, who stopped over at Singh Shaheedan Gurdwara at Sohana to pay his obeisance after the India-West Indies one-day series’ win, says he is happy and satisfied with the team’s recent performance. “The victory has boosted the team’s morale. We were excellent in all departments of the game. It was long due. The players have to keep the momentum in the coming challenges,” he says. About the team’s chances in the forthcoming World Cup at West Indies, he says, “It all depends on how we start. West Indies’ pitches are just alike Indian pitches. If we play the way we are, we have good chances. Personally, I am working on my batting. I used to hit the balls immediately after coming on the crease, but now I try to understand the bowling attack before hitting big shots,” says the off spinner. But he soon found himself on another sticky wicket. What news on the marriage front? “It’s in the hands of God. And believe you me, I have not planned anything so far.” Bhajji, take a cue from your teammates — date a Bollywood actress! “Na bhaaji, kyon chakkar vich pande ho. My entire focus is on improving my game. I want to be a great spinner like Shane Warne. I have no such link-ups,” he blushed. Unlike fellow cricketers who have their hands in business projects, Harbhajan does not want to start one in the near future. “I want to give at least 10 more years to cricket. It’s my first love and it’s because of the sport that I am where I am. Business shall have to wait,” he says. Incidentally, Harbhajan had started a salon in the city but got out of the business two years later.
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Winter Birds Sreedhara Bhasin Like the winter birds, Chandiagrh gets a lot of winter visitors from abroad. More and more global citizens are now spending long periods of time in Chandigarh. I meet a number of people here who actually live in two continents. They escape freezing weather in the west and settle down to a comparably nicer Chandigarh winter – enjoying sarson da saag and paneer pakoras. I wonder what is it about Chandigarh that draws so many people? It is surely not the utterly cold street dogs howling at night? Or the tumultuous band party music marking a shaadi on a freezing night? I doubt it is love for a box full of fresh rewris and gajjaks or the month with a ‘r’ in it! It cannot be the chaotic crowd in Sector 17 or the roasted peanuts being sold on the footpath! I talked to one lady recently who lives in Sydney and spends her entire winter in the city. On asking, what she likes about the city – she promptly said she loves the fact that she can eat lunch on the lawn in the sun. Where else can she do that? Truly said! One couple who visit every year from England told me they love to hang out for hours in the club, with some golf thrown in and followed by a good supper of fresh sabzi and roti. And I thought the word ‘supper’ was essentially continental! A lot of these NRI folks rave about the gardens, which actually contain flowers! You can find them in the Rose Garden, taking pictures with high-powered zoom lenses, of a single outstanding rose. They avail of the good shopping that we have in Chandiagarh, spending converted money to buy Patiala rugs, Rajasthani table-covers, ethnic tea-cosy, green tea and ornamental chess-set. Of course, the Chandigarh stores have evolved with NRI tidings. I see new bottles of peanut butter and jalapenos appearing on the shelves. Some carry cheese with fungus – so fondly appreciated as blue-cheese! Even the vegetable sellers now enthusiastically peddle broccoli, parsley and horseradish! My own experience also smacks of a revelation. I wanted a particular type of travel sickness medicine commonly known as ‘Drammamine’ in the USA. Assuming that Drammamine is not available in India, I looked up the chemical ingredients of the medicine and walked into the neighbouring chemist shop and asked for something that would have Dimenhydrinate. While the sales boy looked quite baffled – the proprietor squinted and pondered. Then he bellowed out to the boy – Are, madam ko Drammamine de de. I gasped and said – Yahan Drammamine milta hai? He said, in a piqued voice – Kyoon nahi?
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Friends stand by you through thick and thin. Then again, one has to be lucky enough to have real friends. But for Pulkit Datta, he couldn’t have been luckier than this. For his wedding that took place on January 28, sixteen ‘Swede’ (that’s how he call them) friends came to join him, all the way from Sweden. When this former student of Punjab Engineering College working in Sweden did had invited his friends for his D-day, he did not expect that all of them will turn up to witness the Indian wedding.
“Actually the invitation was quite unexpected, we were ready always,” chuckles Belma with traditional henna on her hands. The ring ceremony and the sangeet have left the group awestruck. The reception will take place tonight in the city. “Our weddings are very quiet in comparison to the Indian weddings which are so elaborate and beautiful. It’s unimaginable even after being here,” says Annette. If there was one thing that all of them can’t get over is the sight of watching their friend riding a horse on his wedding day. “For us this was something out of ordinary. So was the act of dancing on the streets, I can never forget that,” gasps Paul. “Weddings in India are so full of love. The way bride’s and the groom’s family come close to celebrate the union of two people is amazing. We have never seen a bride crying on her wedding,” says Agnetta. The group is completely doused in Indianness. So much so that the girls draped themselves in whole nine yards of cloth, the saree, and the boys in kurta pyjama. And yes, the taste of the spicy Indian food is still a fresh in their mouths. “We didn’t know what all we were having but it all looked so good and tantalising,” laughs Magnus who even managed to learn a few Bhangra steps. So the taste of Indian food, dancing, flashy attires and tonnes of love are all that this group is going to take back as memories of India. Sometimes we do need a push or two like this to realise how lucky are we to be born here, isn’t it?— S.S
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Anchoring music And now our lady would be seen in an all new get up as a hostess for one of the oldest musical game shows. So how was it to leave those heavy whole nine yards mouthing
pre-written lines in a soap to don a real face without a script, in a show like this? “Difficulties, there were none but yes I was taken in as a new member of the family by the Antakshri team. Everyone around was very welcoming and the process to set myself in is still on”, avers the starlet. Like it would have been for anyone else, the offer to host the show with Annu, was too tempting to say no to and perhaps the only initial hitch was to match his level. But this twenty something, who is currently playing the role of a mother of a married son in Kumkum with aplomb, had no quandaries at all to do the same. In fact in real life, Juhi dotes on soft romantic numbers and believes music is food for life.
Perhaps her affinity for music would prove as her strength on the show. And for all her fans, well, this pretty lass who believes work forms only one part of her life, is very much single and is just waiting for her
‘Mr Right’ before she finally settles down in her life. Back to the
show, well, here’s hoping this one works just as well for her.
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Earthy and real
When a film is set at a traffic signal and the lead protagonists are beggars, prostitutes and slum dwellers, you cannot expect chiffons and caviar but only hard-hitting and realistic. We are talking about Madhur Bhandarkar’s new movie Traffic Signal, which opened on Friday at Nirman, Chandigarh and Fun Republic Manimajra. The film is the third film made in backdrop of Mumbai by Madhur Bhandarkar after Chandni Bar and Page 3. Traffic Signal is definitely different. It is a collage of life on the streets of Mumbai where all kinds of people live. The film manages to strike a fine balance between realistic and mainstream cinema and comes across as an intelligent film. Madhur Bhandarkar comes out with flying colours. Samir Tandon who has composed music for Page 3 and Corporate has come out with good situational soundtracks. Guest composer is roped in to create a thrilling two and a half minutes piece The Spirit O Signal. Former child artist Kunal Khemu is fabulous. Neetu Chandra, Konkana Sen Sharma also performed well. Ranvir Shorey, Sudhir Mishra and Upendra Limaye have been perfectly cast in supporting roles. Traffic Signal is one of the better films released this year.— D.P.
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After the two items, it was the time for the most awaited event in the show, the fashion fiesta that saw Delhi-based models, including Ritu Kapoor, former Miss Delhi- 2003, Anni, Miss North India- 2004, Kajal, Simple, Rose andother models from Delhi’s fashion circuit, sashay down the ramp in outfits from the designer house of ‘Hues’, with aplomb. “The show was organised with the aim of encouraging the club culture in the city,” says Sanjeev Kumar, Manager, Operations, Mohali Club. The club will organise a 9-ball open championship in the club.
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Never compromise in relationships
I am 29 and have a relationship for the past five years with a 35-year-old man. Although we live in different cities, we catch up once every month. I feel that I have found my ideal life partner as we share all our likes and dislikes. Now my family is pressuring me to get married. I have discussed this with my boyfriend but he seems to be reluctant to make a commitment. Each time I broach the subject he either avoids it or says he is thinking about it. I know that he cares very deeply for me and his whole world revolves around me but how can I make him realise that? Shagun Walia, JalandharThis dilemma is a phenomenon of the changing times. You are going great but are you very sure that he is really there for you. I feel you are making many compromises in dealing with the situation. You are enjoying the relationship but if you are looking for a commitment and he is not really willing to get into it then definitely the situation needs another looking into. The other person is not you. No matter how much they seem to like you, if they are not sensitive to your feelings then it is not good enough. We must never compromise in relationships, as they are a part of our learning experience in life. Give them adequate thought and space. Weigh out your priorities. Are you happy to hang in a limbo? Have the courage to ask him point blank what are his intentions and them move accordingly thereon. I am a 32 years old woman who works in a multinational and have just moved to a new job in a new city. This time when I was visiting my childhood friend at home, I was very upset by all the things she told me. According to her my appearance was wrong and my hair wasn’t right, my dress sense was not appropriate and neither was my make up good enough. She knows I am very dependent on her opinions. I was very hurt by all she said but I have always been very happy with the way I look. She feels that since I am not married I must start having a better image so that I attract some interesting people. In fact after her critical attitude I feel rather low. Do you think she is jealous of my success? I am very fond of her but I feel disturbed. Kitty Johar, ChandigarhDon’t sound so very upset and do have a more positive approach towards life and your girlfriend’s attitude. After all you are childhood friends and she probably feels that she has the right to say anything she wants and yet be accepted for her opinions. Sometimes we are so weighed down by our own apprehension about ourselves that we always view the other person’s advice very skeptically. May be she genuinely feels that you need to smarten up and if you feel that she genuinely cares for you then she does have your best interest at heart. Even if she is jealous of you, I feel it would do you no harm to take a good look at yourself objectively and perhaps perk up on your appearance. Sometimes it needs an outsider to tell us more about ourselves as we just slip into a comfort zone and start feeling good in it. The truth often hurts and we run from it but it is always only for our own good. So please thank your girlfriend for her advice and learnt to accept her. Do not spoil a childhood friendship try to sustain it.
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Health tip of the day
Talk Test is an important guide for testing intensity of exercise. If one is unable to carry on a conversation while exercising, the exercise is too strenuous; if one can ‘sing’ then the exercise is too
mild.— Dr Ravinder Chadha |
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They are the heart and soul of every Indian wedding… helping the bride get ready, hiding the brother-in-law’s shoes, decorating the wedding car, just being there. While the bride blushes away to glory, smiling demurely for the cameras and the seemingly endless queue of relatives wanting to be on stage, the bridesmaid holds stage. She could be a sister or a friend and definitely your knight in shining armour – for the day at least! 
Some people eat to live and some live to eat—whoever coined this phrase must be a food lover himself. In any case it’s the grub that matters. When it comes to delicacies, of course our city can boast of eateries ranging from European to American, apart from a whole lot of Indian restaurants that promise to slake even the growling tummies.
The promos of the vintage show (if can take the
liberty of calling it so!) Antakshri-the great challenge, are already doing the rounds of the TV channels. Veteran Annu Kapoor is all set to come out of his isolate, once again to sing songs coercing others to hum the zesty notes on the show and finally Juhi Parmar of Kumkum got the coveted (yes it is!) opportunity to co-host the show with Kapoor. So the lady hailing from Jaipiur, made her television debut with Shaheen and went on to do another soap, Choodiyan and finally it was Kumkum offered to her by mother of all ‘K-serials’, Ekta Kapoor that brought her the true recognition of her work.
Friday night saw people of Mohali come out for a Fashion Show at probably the only club in this better-known cousin of the city beautiful, The Mohali Club.
Titled the ‘F Factor’ the show started with some scintillating dance performances by a Chandigarh based dance troupe. Daljeet Singh, an up coming singer who already has two albums to his credit enthralled the audience with his singing.