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Foot Fetish Summer is the time to flaunt dainty footwear ‘n’ fashionable trinkets, writes Purva Grover
Well, while these are surely the days of dainty footwear, it is also the time when your foot seeks maximum comfort. So, the emphasis is on cushioned soles to let you walk with ease. Also, the popular wedge sole re-appears in a trendy form, in contrasting coloured upper with printed fabric wedge heel.
The most popular and the one that goes with everything from a straight skirt, cropped jeans, summer dress or an evening dress, is the all-time favourite flat V shaped slippers. Tells Amit Sukheja, manager at Mochi, Sector 17, "We will soon have a fresh range of formal V shaped sandals." Well, the fashion experts too suggest mostly flats or a very small heel for summers. To give the casual look a fashionable finish, pick on from the wide choice of tie-up sandals available at all the shoe stores in Sector 17. They make the perfect and the most comfortable accompaniment to capris, short pants or even a knee- length skirt. The sandals with delicate strings and braided straps are in vogue. Adorned with appliqu`E9 flowers, bows, butterflies or bold bands of colour, they look fabulous. And, if you are one of those who swear by denim, then pick up a pair of sandals adorned with tattered pieces of cloth from Glich, Sector 8.
If kohlapuris are on the racks, then the Punjabi jutti can’t be far behind. Glich has in store a dazzling range of juttis in vibrant colours with mirror, sequin and thread work. You can also pick on a jutti with kundan work for Rs 695. The colour for the season is tones of metallic. Says Ravijit Dhillon, owner, Glich, "This summer metallic colours will be in vogue, right from copper, bronze to gun metal. They can go very well with more than one outfit," chorus the fashionistas. For a formal wear you can slip into ballerina shoes in metallic gunmetal with a frill as adornment. The shoes lend a perfect edge to trousers. Take your pick Now, that you have picked up a perfect pair of sandals to go with your outfit, the next step is to adorn them with a piece of jewellery. Head to a jewellery store and you will find a wide range of stylish and elegant foot jewels like anklets and toe rings. Alluring anklets The traditional pajeb or payal kick started the trend of wearing an anklet a few years ago; now the trend is to sport a single trinket. The regular anklets with tiny charms, which includes hearts, sun, moon, bells, and leaves rule the roost this season. "The ones with multi-coloured beads in a plain black thread are a fave with young girls," says Raman, owner of Jewels, Sector 10. "The ones woven from fibers or colourful threads look great with casual sandals or flip-flops," he adds. They are priced between Rs75 and 150. Or still simpler, pick up some interesting stones, beads and sequins and string them in a thread. Strings of gold and silver threads too make a beautiful tandem with fashion shoes and look great for formal events. You can also pick an oxidised pair for Rs 800 at Silver Haze. Tells Sabby, owner, Silver Haze, "The antique look with coloured stones is most popular." With over 20 varieties to choose from at the store, including plain, carved, charm, floating and stone studded; you will surely end up buying more than just a pair. Trendy toe rings To complete the look further, pick up delicate toe rings. For the hip-n-happening party look, you could go in for a crystal heart shaped ring and if it is a salwar kameez you sporting then how about a flower or a tiny cherry toe ring? You could do away with the metal ring by picking up a toe-ring with an adjustable transparent band. Stone studded toe rings embedded with semi precious stones go well with causal up-turned jeans or knee length skirts. If you want to keep it simple and stylish then simple silver bands with patterns of waves and strips are a good buy at Silver Haze. And, if it is colour you are in for, then the latest coloured enameled toe-rings at the store is what you’ll love. For just Rs 200 a pair, you can pick on from glittery reds, blues and pinks and match it with your outfit. So, go ahead and pamper your feet! purva@tribunemail.com
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A tryst with religion The thought of a photo-exhibition by an IAS snap-shooter doesn’t click to begin with. After all, you hardly come across bureaucrats interested in capturing things, other than golf games, in their free time. So the crisp invite in green, asking you to have an enchanting "Tryst with Trees" at the Lake Club, takes you by surprise. But one look at exhibits by Punjab’s senior IAS officer D.S. Jaspal is enough to tell you that it’s more than just a leisure pursuit. In fact, standing there you realise the hobby of photography has not only grown on him, it has even helped him undertake the mission to preserve holy trees around sacred Sikh shrines across the country, religiously. On display are photographs of nearly 48 shrines commemorated by names of 17 native tree species. Jaspal took the photographs after traveling over 30,000 km across India and Pakistan. Each snap, shot through his Nikon 12 mega-pixel camera, faithfully narrates religious history and an unending tale of neglect, or effort, aimed at preservation. Presenting a photograph of Gurdwara Tahli Sahib in Nawanshahr, Jaspal says the management erected a prayer hall around a 450-year-old tahli tree but left three openings in the ceiling for the tree to branch out. Baba Sri Chand, the elder son of Guru Nanak Dev, is reputed to have stayed here, tells Jaspal. The fact that Jaspal magnifies the discernible, yet imperceptible, realities of life and existence becomes evident from another picture of Gurdwara Ber Sahib. For most visitors, there is nothing significant about two date palm trees jutting out of a pilkhin tree. But Jaspal sees in it nature’s way of putting in shape the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev. "He believed in the fusion of Hindu and Islamic philosophies. And nature, by bringing together palm, the symbol of Islam, and pilkhin, the icon of Hinduism, only endorses his viewpoint". Taking you around the exhibition, Jaspal brings to the foreground the significance of trees by recalling a meeting with the president of Nim Sahib gurdwara in Akar village of Patiala. He told Jaspal that Maharaja Ranjit Singh bowed before a 90-year-old man just because he had seen Guru Gobind Singh. "And come to think of it, the 400-year-old neem tree at the gurdwara is the only living thing here that had actually seen the gurus." Jaspal’s concern today is to save the trees from indiscriminate construction in and around gurdwaras. And through the exhibition, he hopes to leave an imprint on the minds of the people about the significance of Sikh heritage and its tryst with trees. World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has sponsored the display while Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice Justice Vijender Jain inaugurated it. Jaspal could not have found a dignitary more apt. Justice Jain is known for his crusade against female foeticide and environmental concerns. In one of his speeches at a conference, Justice Jain had said: "When our judges set aside other regular cases, at least one day each in a week, environmental cases, which are deemed so urgent, have to take precedent over all other matters." The exhibition will be open to public on Saturday. saurabh@tribunemail.com
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Ammotje Mann’s latest film Kaafila throws light on cross-border migration and human trafficking
Ammotje has done just that. His latest film Kaafila deals with the sensitive subject of illegal immigration and delves into its depth, traversing continents and languages and analysing the cause and the effects of human trafficking on the immigrants, their families and the nations as a whole. He has come up with the fact that among the developed nations, Canada has roughly about 70-80 per cent of illegal immigrants from the Third World, who sneak across the borders and settle there, to realise their dream and eke out a decent living for their loved ones back home. Says Mann, "I have met those who have failed to cross, also those who have succeeded. The issue is deep-rooted. We are trying to get to the depth of the human trafficking problem through our film that has a global perspective, as this is not merely an issue about India and Indians who want to be at the land of their dreams at any cost. It is about the global impact of such a thought," he says. Kaafila features Sunny Deol in the lead role. It also has a set of international artistes, including Polina Stoyanova from Bulgaria, Sana Nawaz and Mona Lisa from Pakistan. Sukhwinder Singh scores music. The film is due for a worldwide release this July and has been acquired by Zee Entertainment Network. Mann’s earlier film Hawaayein had made its mark with the portrayal of reality. "These are the kind of films that I wish to make. The stories exist in our midst and I see no reason why we need to look westwards for inspiration," concludes Mann. — Dharam Pal
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Anti-age miracles
Pond’s International has kick-started a unique wallet and proof strip promotion activity. The consumer gets a proof strip with every two cream that she buys from the Ponds Age Miracle Range. The strip helps to see visible difference in the skin and within 4 weeks. Any consumer who buys two units from any of the Pond’s International Range – Ponds Age Miracle, Ponds Double White and Botanical Hydration, will get a genuine red leather wallet free. Experience multimedia Nokia Nseries, announced pre-booking for their convergence device, N95 cell phone. A multimedia cell phone it incorporates two-way slide concept that makes it easy and quick to access multimedia experiences that the product offers like browsing internet, listening to music, watching and recording high-quality videos, playing great quality games and viewing slideshows while on the move. The 5 mega pixels camera and Carl Zeiss optics facilitate real life imagery and DVD like video quality.
Authentic & rugged Numero Uno’s spring-summer collection has an assortment of non-tinted dark denims and cargo shirts for men, skinny-cropped jeans and funky tees for women. The collection for men includes lazer whiskers, scraping, teca and fraying jeans. A sporty range of cargo shirts in fabric mixes, over dying, print, embroidery, embellishments, and chain stitching, gives the shirts a rugged look. For girls the skinny-cropped fit jeans are back in fashion; they come with heavily embellished back pockets and teca whiskers. Window to comfort Fenesta Building Systems unveiled a range of monsoon-proof and wind resistant windows for high rise buildings and extreme weather conditions. The new system has an international look and provides an array of features for all segments of house dwellers. Owners of farmhouses and bungalows will have access to a trendy product with larger window sizes that provide wider, unrestricted views. House owners on busy streets can take advantage of the triple sealing system to completely obliterate noise and dust. The system is significant for high-rise dwellers as it effectively counters high-pressure winds and rains. Classic cuts Ninomantelli unleashed its summer collection of evening and loungewear. The summer shirts are comfortable and soothing. The cuts are classic and modern. The high-grade cotton used in these shirts offers a better luster and softer feel to the wearer. The collection is available in all the latest colours. The shirts are designed keeping in mind the European standards and the trend that is very much visible and vibrant in west.
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Summer gets cooler now!
The scorching heat definitely calls for a lot to cool stuff. From food to wardrobe, everything needs a complete summer revamp. Celebrating different shades of the season, Priya and Rupa brings to you their exclusive summer collection, ‘Megh-Malhar’ under their label ‘Aastitva’ at Hotel Aroma in Sector 22. A collection of unstitched and stitched dress material, ready-to-wear crisp cotton to mix-n-match salwar kameez, kurtis and salwars with coordinated kurtas, dupattas to kaftans—the exhibition has everything to beat the heat. "Our collection is a fusion of works. From chikan to kalamkari, khari to block prints, it’s a celebration of summer," says Priya. The trend that remains this season is straight and simple cuts in kurtas and kurtis. Tight clothes are a strict no-no, shares the duo. Besides these, a ‘must have’ this season is medium to knee-length kurtis with contrasting sequins work that can be paired with denims or churidaars. Apart from kalamkari sarees from Hyderabad and unstitched cotton suits from down south, AC quilts (so they are called) along with bed linen with matching cushions in raw silk finished with brocade work on display. White, of course, remains the choice of the day along with pastel greens, baby pinks and lemon yellow. The USP of the exhibition is the affordability with price range starting from Rs 250 onwards. On till April 29.
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Late-night extravaganza
Starting today, the two-day night baazar at Chandigarh Club lawns will be open from 5 to 11 pm; and will unveil products ranging from jewellery to household articles, ladies knick knacks including bags, purses and summer apparel to home décor products like paintings to pickles and bakery items, pottery and lots more. In total, 50 designers from all over the country are participating in the exhibition; they are from Delhi, Jaipur, Kolkata, Pune Hyderabad, Lucknow, Mumbai, Amritsar, Ludhiana and Jallandhar. And, its not just shopping that beckons you; the idea is to indulge. “Apart from shopping there will be food stalls for shoppers”, says Reeti. Whether the idea clicks or not, one can’t say, but well the concept is already popular. As another night bazaar on the same lines is scheduled to take off at the Parade grounds starting from May 3. smritisharma@tribunemail.com
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Launching in style
Product launches are getting elaborately chic in the city. In fact now you just cannot introduce stuff to the customers without getting twinkling stars from the tinsel world to shine over the city’s horizons. If it’s not actor-cum-anchor Yana Gupta, it’s model Celina to endorse the products! No wonder, Louis Philippe, the super-brand that launched premium readymade garments in the Indian market, got Femina Ms India Dancing Queen Diksha Pathak and Grasim Mr India Bharat Kumra to inaugurate its first store in Chandigarh Friday afternoon. As the thumping beats filled the air, they walked down the ramp for redefining the brand experience for Indian consumers. With sparkling wedge heels, flashing psychedelic lights, gleaming crystals cascading down the glamorously glittering dresses and pulsating beats pounding against the chest, you couldn’t have asked for more from the models. Impressive was the word to describe the designer collection the ramp artistes showcased. Formal, yet stunning, the hot couture had a poetic charm with an unpredictable and dramatic look. Designed for all occasions, the ensembles were all set to give the wearer a contemporary look. The organisers asserted that Louis Philippe was offering its beautifully crafted new collections for this summer to give customers the very best in fashion. Enchanted Traveler was a vibrant collection of eye-catching formal shirts for summer. This collection was inspired by the modern traveler reveling in the exploration of different cultures. Making headway in the semiformal range, the Leisure collection boasted of relaxed stylish shirts, trousers and t-shirts in pure cotton and cotton Linen, brought alive by distinct stripes and prints. Also available for discerning consumers, were blazers, jackets and suits in the Louis Philippe summer collection, which were perfect for any formal occasion.
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Tea break The Taj, Chandigarh, has added another jewel to its crown. As the summers are making you sweat, the heat is on at the hotel to make its eating hot spots a chill out zone. To begin with they have come out with a new fangled menu, prepared keeping in mind the summers. The hotel on Friday afternoon launched its new menu in quite a poetic manner. “Just as the flower survives the harsh droughts in the summer and flourishes in the fall, and blooms every year, we at Taj, Chandigarh launch our new menu keeping in mind the guest preferences”, was how the hotel introduced the bill of fare. At Black Lotus, Taj’s Chinese restaurant, you can savour the magic created by Master Chef Yuan Shee. In fact, he offers you the best of local specialties, along with snacks with their origins steeped in the mists of time. The menu, offering the taste of Beijing presents an elaborate variety in seafood with crabs, lobsters and king-size prawn. You can also ask for trademark Chinese vegetables like snow peas, haricot beans, Dutch asparagus and variety of mushrooms including murals, and shitake. Just in case your idea of chilling out involves sipping tea, you can place an order for a cup full of vigor that promises not only refreshment, but also earthy flavour that resembles the smell of fresh, wet mud. The hotel is offering seven varieties of Chinese tea. Ask for Tee-kuan-yin. In Mandarin, it means ‘iron goddess of mercy,’ a name derived from local legend. The tea is arguably the finest of Chinese oolongs. Or else, go in for Puerh, which is well known for its medicinal value. You can also ask for Lapsang Souchong. This well-rolled tea from the Fukien province requires a careful manufacturing technique to achieve that distinct smoky flavour, and a mildly astringent taste. Or else go in for Formosa Green. A long curly leaf from the island of Formosa, this tea has slightly sharper taste compared to other teas. And, then you have Jasmine, a mild green tea with a heady fragrance of Jasmine flowers, it is known to for its digestive and stress busting qualities. Dragon Phoenix Pearl is from the Fujian Province. It is light and refreshing with a delicate aroma. In the end, you have Long Jin. The shining flat green tea leaves offer a lingering sweet after-taste. Happy sipping! saurabh@tribunemail.com
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Born to Cook Parbina Rashid
Not that I had a choice on the subject, but my respect for the author went up. By the time I came across her chicken recipes where Manekshaw scoffs at those repulsed by the idea of having a chicken with its skin — ‘a chicken without skin has practically lost all its flavour’ — I felt a bond forming between us. So, even if I have no intention of becoming a Cordon Bleu chef, I hung on to her words and, in the process, discovered not just her classical menus but her family too, including Jimmy, er… Air Vice Marshal J.H.F. Manekshaw, her husband and the father of aviation medicine in the country. Her journey from giving cooking lessons to her friends and neighbours for Rs 35 a month to becoming the first Indian to complete the Advance Certificate Course of the Cordon Bleu School of Cookery, London, in 1963, to catering consultant with various prestigious hotels and Air India — she was responsible for catering on all VIP flights — is an engrossing one. The book starts with a chapter dedicated, of course, to the boring basics, like how to choose the right fish, beef, poultry, fruits and vegetables, how to fillet or de-bone them (accompanied with photos) to some known and some unheard of culinary terms and techniques. I must confess, after finishing this chapter, one ends up knowing a lot more than the basics. Then comes the chapter on ‘Honeymoon Breakfast’. And the author, admittedly in a romantic mood while penning down this chapter, has packed it with everything exotic. The final chapter ‘Feast of Love’ has 50 menus, each comprising of an appetiser or soup, one or two main courses and dessert. But these menus are not rigid. One can always use a little imagination — triggered by either lack of ingredients or a crisis in the kitchen — and come out with different combos. There are charts and Ashish Chawla’s photographs make things easy. So one may get second thoughts after reading Manekshaw’s yardstick for a good cook –the imagination of a poet, the touch of an artist, the skill of a good worker and the gift of expression that comes from the heart — after finishing this 359 page book but one can confidently say, ‘If Bhicoo can cook, so can you!’ parbina@tribunemail.com
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Perfect to combat heat, high on taste, and now on hygiene too; roadside summer treats are not all that bad, finds Purva Grover The sight of a matka covered with a piece of red cloth, the tinkling sound of the bell of the kulfiwala and the typical call of the gannawala are so characteristic of summers. Healthy or unhealthy, upmarket or low-grade; the debate on these roadside cool delights is not new. While, we rightly keep our children away from them, we have to confess that at sometime or the other we all have secretly indulged in them. And, well if today we have moved from nimbu pani to lemonade; from banta to slush; and from kulfi to gelato; so have the vendors! The roadside summer delights are now prepared only in mineral water and also served in disposable glasses on request. Here is a quick check on what’s thanda on the streets. Ganne ka juice
Says Ramchand whose business domain is
Panjab University. I stay in the campus whole day, but my favourite
place is the boys hostel. "Boys love to have it and the best part
is they gulp down more than one glass at a time," he adds. And
well, if you doubt the popularity of the sugary drink then read his
profit figures. Rs 1,000 a fortnight! Price: Rs 5 or 10 a glass Statistic
check: 200 glasses per day per vendor; and there are around 200 vendors
across the city. Nimbu pani
Says Abdul Mannar, who has been
selling nimbu pani in Sector 5 for the past five years,
"This is a posh sector and residents of these sectors are my
regular clients." And, interestingly he says that at times his
regulars even get bottles to fill up and carry home. The pudina
leaves added for garnishing, add to the refreshing drink. And, well
while he does enjoy a huge clientele, he says he has to share his
customers with a dozen more vendors who are placed on that very road.
Phew, business threat! Statistic check:
100-150 glasses; around 100 vendors Banta
As a
four-year-old Bhojpal (29) would assist his father when he sold nimbu
pani outside Rock Garden. This summer, he has added banta to
his rehri. If you have tasted it then you know that the marble
fun drink tastes awesome when mixed with salt and lemon. "I thought
it would not be very popular as it is locally manufactured in Manimajra,
and not branded," he says. But, he has already sold more than 70
bottles within a week of introducing it. And, what’s more, he has even
hired an assistant to help him to keep up the growing business. Price:
Rs 5 a bottle Stat check: 80 bottles per day per vendor; around 50
vendors Jal Jeera
Price:
Rs 5 a glass Stat check: 150 glasses per day per vendor; around 150
vendors Kulfi
The trademark ghanti of the kulfiwala
is probably something that you have grown up with. The summer vacations
of the schools spell booming business for these vendors. On an average
they walk around 14 km a day in the sweltering heat to home deliver the
local desserts. Their clientele is mostly girls and children. For Neha,
a student from Sector 16, a stick is a must everyday after school.
"Luckily, the time of my school van coincides with the kulfi vendor,"
she says. Price: Rs 5, 8 or 10 a stick Stat check: 60 sticks per
day per vendor; around 2 vendors in each Sector
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Chatpati Chutneys Kandla Nijhowne With the raw, green mangoes making their debut now, this seems a perfect time to talk chutneys. As a genre, chutney is quite similar to the Latino salsa. The Angrezi answer to it would be a relish. The hilarious old Hindi idiom — Kisi ki chatni banana — explains it all. It means to crush beyond recognition. A chutney is exactly that — an amalgam of ingredients, sweet, spicy, hot and tart, crushed together till they lose their identity, resulting in a tangy, tantalising concoction, guaranteed to get us drooling! Sweet mango chutney
Tip of the week
6 medium raw mangoes 1 ½ inch piece ginger 10 cloves garlic 1 cup vinegar 1 cup sugar 1-1 ½ tsp chilly powder Salt and masalas to taste Method Peel and thinly slice the mangoes, ginger and garlic. Leaving aside the sugar, bring all the ingredients to a boil, using a heavy kadai. Add sugar, reduce heat, and simmer for about 40 minutes, stirring to prevent sticking. Cool and serve with paranthas or pooris. Fruit & ginger chutney 3 cups of a chopped mixture of one of the following: Pineapple, dates, papaya, mango, peaches or pears ¾ cup, raisins, snipped into halves ? cup,
vinegar, (preferably cider or balsamic) ¼ cup, honey 1 medium onion, finely diced 4 tbsp grated ginger ½ tsp each, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves,
powdered Method Combine all the ingredients in a heavy pan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring frequently till it thickens.
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Haryanvi
bonanza
Riding on the tremendous success of the first weeklong Haryanvi Swang festival held during December last year, the Department of Public Relations and Cultural Affairs, Haryana, is all set to bring alive the richness, vigour and élan of Harynavi folk culture yet again in the musical bonanza. The event with six swangs will bestaged
at the Tagore theatre from May 1 to 6 and is being organised in collaboration with the North Central Zone Cultural Centre, Allahabad.
Agricultural and martial backgrounds are woven into the swangs and raginis.
— TNS
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Health tip of the day
Most headaches are attributed to psycho-social origin termed as tension
headache. — Dr Ravinder Chadha |
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It’s
Add honey in your footbath. Apparently, honey forms hydrogen peroxide, which is a great anti-bacterial agent.
This season, the traditional
kohlapuri too gets a contemporary look. At Glich, the usual brown
tones getting replaced with bright colours and sequin work. At Mochi, the kohlapuri
in metallic sultan colours like pinks, light blues and peach are
selling well. Tells Sukheja, "It can be worn with Indian outfits and
it takes on a completely new look when worn with jeans."
The Katara case, which has
brought once the human trafficking issue to fore-front, has generated
interest among the film-makers too. "It may be just the tip of the
iceberg, and one has to look at the issue from a global
perspective," says actor-writer-director-producer Ammotje Mann,
whose last film Hawayein critically acclaimed.
The blazing summers is forcing one and all to stay indoors. No doubt, the days are too hot to move out and shopping sprees take a back seat. And, with trouble comes the way out. Keeping the rising mercury in mind, Reeti Singh and Nikku Sehgal have come up with a unique concept of a ‘night bazaar’ in the city. Says Reeti Singh, “The days are really hot and hardly anyone is seen outside; the concept of night bazaars is a hit in metros, so we thought of bringing it to Chandigarh.” More so, those who are working during the day can benefit with the night bazaar,” state the duo. Working under the banner ‘Theme for a dream”, the theme of the night bazaar is gazebos. “The exhibition would be a unusual one, the exhibitors would be provided gazebos,”
says Reeti. 
For people like me, going through a cookbook means flipping through its pages carelessly and lusting after the displayed dishes without bothering to learn their names. But Bhicoo Manekshaw’s Feast of Love came as an eye opener. Not for its romantic title, but for the command the author exerts in her opening line – “If you feel that this section on ‘Boring Basics’ can be skipped over, shut the book and forget about cooking perfectly. Present it to someone who loves cooking.”
Price: Rs 5 a glass
