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Marinades from Melbourne, Apple from Atlanta THE festival of lights also reunites. It has scores of NRI skybags touching home turf. And in those bags, our sons and daughters of the soil have brought back a slice of the West for their rishtedaars. Along with those shimmery wrappers has unfolded a new tale: Of a subtle shift in the taste for tags imported, and a blurring of the borders between phoren and desi in the Line of Commodities. For, the Big Fat NRI Diwali Hamper has new gifting metaphors and how! Sauce route The way the Indian curry has been our culinary ambassador to the world, the West has taken the Sauce Route into our rasois. But now, with Indian groceries going global and the neighbourhood supermart becoming the new mecca of the gastronomically adventurous global Indian, many tastes trans-national come off the shelf in the tricity. What then in the NRI basket panders to the Punju palate this time? "Along with wines and cheeses, this year we've gifted our folks an assortment of marinades and spreads in wine-based flavours. Red wine 'n' garlic marinades, for instance, plus honey 'n' soya and eggplant spreads," shares Bini Singh, a city-trained engineer now based in Melbourne . Kroner and Kraft When spices come can sweets be far behind. Swiss and Belgian chocolates remain a gifting favourite. "Swiss chocos and Kraft cheeses are still popular as gifts from abroad, as many flavours are not found here yet," says Damini, an executive with a French firm based in Sweden , whose parents live in the city. All sweet talk. Nah! Sugarless jams are the new kids on the basket, says Bini. Digital divide Nothing quite divides the Old NRI Basket from the New Hamper better than its digital content. For, the gifts' EQ (electronic quotient) too has witnessed a generational shift, much like1G to 3G. The Nanos (Apple iPods) and Nikons and digital accessories are the new face of phoren in place of Brauns and Toshibas. "Earlier, the children used to bring watches, walkmans and mixis from abroad. Now, it's digicams and pen drives," says Veryam Kaur of Mohali. "We've got something different in electronics this time: digital frames on which a series of photographs can run," says Bini. "For dada-dadi ," chips in his son Zorawar. Wardrobe
function With many global apparel brands having cast an India footprint, the lust 'n' longing for these labels isn't much of a yarn to tell. "Some years back, my US-settled son would bring feather-soft Marks and Spencer and Scottish woollies around Diwali," says Minna Singh, wife of a retired IAF officer. Now, with the made-in-Ludhiana tag adorning the wardrobes of the world, she says gets similar stuff locally. That may be, but Arunima, based in Dubai , has got her mom a Zara tweed coat and her sister the made-in-China Aldo handbags this Diwali. Ah, but when it comes to the scent of a woman, an imported tag is still a prized present. "Perfumes like Nina Ricci and Poison are hot here. They're duty-free, so they cost less," says Damini. Mascots on
mantelpiece Among the imported piece de resistance that've travelled onto our mantelpieces are crystalware from Sweden and cut glass from Poland. "Our daughter has gifted us crystal artifacts, from Oms and Ek Onkars to an elephant face," adds Veryam Kaur. And only one thing matches the sparkle of this crystal: the shine on the faces getting these gifts. w
Swiss chocos w
Sugarless jams |
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Cricketer Harbhajan Singh and TV actress Mona Singh's power-packed Punjabi performance in the grand finale of the dance reality show Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena helped them bag the award for the best dancers on the show. The duo danced on the popular, fast and catchy number Nagaada nagaada baja from the hit film Jab We Met. The Sikh background of each of them gave them an advantage to add the right flavour to the performance and left the judges - cricketer Wasim Akram and actress Sushmita Sen — spellbound. While Sushmita said it was a good victory for the couple, Mona said: "Harbhajan has been a rockstar partner." The show aired on channel Colors and had six couples - a cricketer teamed with a TV actress in each case - competing on the dance floor. For the grand finale, Harbhajan and Mona were competing against S.Sreesanth-Surveen and Nigaar-Dinesh. The winning couple was awarded a trophy and a cheque of Rs.2,500,000. Harbhajan and Mona's stint on the five-week long show wasn't free of controversy. In one of the episodes, Harbhajan danced in the role of demon-king Ravan and Mona danced with him as Sita, Hindu god Lord Ram's wife who was abducted by Ravan. Many Hindu organizations had objected to the dance, saying Ravan could not be shown dancing with Sita. The Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhs in Amritsar, had also objected to Harbhajan hurting sentiments of Hindus and even Sikhs. But the two had apologised for the act and sailed through till the end to win the show.
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Priyadarshan's next comedy De Dana Dan has been delayed because the prolific De Dana Dan is not technically a sequel to Hera Pheri, but is a kind of follow-up that stars Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif, Suniel Shetty and Neha Dhupia. Said Sameera: "I've never worked with Priyan before. But I think he liked my comic timing in Race where I played Anil Kapoor's airheaded assistant. "That's how I am in De Dana Dan too. I've always been a big Priyan fan." Sameera's enthusiasm, however, will have to wait. And the director sure is excited about it. Bam Bam Bhole is not a small arthouse film. It's a full-on entertainer. "Once I release Billo Barber, I need to promote Bam Bam Bhole properly. De Dana Dan with Akshay, Katrina, Sameera Reddy, Suniel Shetty and Neha Dhupia has gone forward by a few months." His Billo Barber stars Shah Rukh Khan, Irrfan Khan and Lara Dutta. De Dana Dan was earlier meant to be popular south Indian actress Asin's Bollywood launch pad. |
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Popstar Geri Halliwell is considering A listers like George Clooney and Wayne Rooney for her animated flick Ugenia Lavender. Halliwell, whose cartoon book Ugenia Lavender has become a huge hit with the kids will soon be made into an animated flick, with Halliwell voicing Lavender. "When I was initially approached about turning my children's book series into a movie I was incredibly flattered. But I can exclusively reveal these are the three leading men I've got in store for the animated film of my Ugenia Lavender series." She further adds, "It's a brilliant project and I hope to be really hands-on with it. I've already agreed to voice the character of Ugenia ..., which makes sense as she's pretty much based on me anyway!" Halliwell revealed that the book containing jokes on celebs was made for people of all ages. "I've got an actor character called Bradley Litt and Dr Clooney who delivers Ugenia's baby sister in a store called Garrods. Hmm, I wonder who and what these could be based on?!" Halliwell said. I've not met Brad Pitt so he's unlikely, realistically, to take part but I am desperate to get the gorgeous George on board," she added.
—ANI & IANS |
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Return gift It's the season of homecoming for many staying abroad. Called the NRI season, it usually starts around October and ends in February. To the delight of the business community of the city as these NRIs surely fluff up their business. Curious as what interest them? We do a little survey. "People coming from abroad like flashy stuff. And prefer to take back clothes, jewellery and home accessories," says Jyoti Sandhu, fashion designer from Sarhali Kalan in Amritsar. Talking about the fabrics, she says, "NRIs don't go for any particular trend. Long or short kurti does not matter. All they want is heavy embroidery and bright shades. Their taste runs towards gotta paati work, dabka and lot of stone work." She adds: "Earlier, NRIs were all for suits, but these days saris are a rage with them." "For me it's suits, footwear and crockery items like the typical Indian kadchi and churan," says Nandini Vaid who is here for a vacation from Seattle. She adds, "Though there are Indian stores abroad but the cost is almost five times there and not too many choices are available." Having stayed abroad for couple of years, Dr Sandeep Arora, owner of Hotel Western Court-43, knows what the NRIs want. "Whenever people come from overseas they take back a lot of jewellery, clothes and food items. Other than that they get their medical treatment here." According to Seema Sharma, fashion designer from Impressions-19, during this season NRI clients add to the business. She says; "I have quite a few clients from England and they want nothing else but typical Indian wear, with traditional designs and patterns. They have a liking for heavy embroideries, gotta work, sequins and it's the Patiala salwar that's a hit with them." Talk money and she says, "Local clients can't be compared with NRIs as they have much more paying capacity. All they want is exclusive stuff with a traditional touch." "Well, NRIs in this season are virtually the backbone of our business. They look for traditional things like saris, lehngas, suits and shawls. When it comes to colour, the brighter the better," says Rajneesh Jain from Meena Bazaar. "It depends on person-to-person but when it comes to NRIs, especially Punjabis, they love traditional designs," says Shruti Singhal, jewellery designer who runs a boutique at Aroma-22. On the NRI choice of trinkets she says, "I have clients from the US, Canada and UK and this time they are asking for Jodha-Akbar type of trinkets in meena kari with precious and semi-precious stones." jigyasachimra@tribunemail.com |
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Customised glow Nothing quite says 'peace' like the glow of a candle in the dark. Flickering in the wind, it's the glow of the candle that lends flavour to the festival of lights. Creating warmth, hope, relaxation and comfort, it's a candle that makes home away from home. With one day to go for Diwali, we give you a low down on how to make candles at home that would make for a perfect gift for family and friends. "Anything that is made at home calls for an extra effort, but the joy it gives to the loved ones is incomparable. Being the festival of lights nothing can be better than candles," says Shvetta Goyal, owner of Wrap in style, Panchkula. She gives us some tips to make candles at home, "With easy availability of almost everything that you need to craft a candle, it's much easier to make it at home than hunt for it in the market." So, what's the recipe? "Buy a paraffin wax and put it in a container to melt. If you want to make coloured candles, add colour or some left over crayons along with the wax. Let the mixture melt completely. Once it's done, lay the thread in the mould (it can be steel or a plastic mould that is easily available) and pour the mixture in it. But, remember to grease the mould, otherwise the candle will not come out. Let it cool. And what you get is a home-made candle," tips Shveta. Well, if you want designer candle, Shvetta adds, "You can add glitter while the wax melts, for those perfect glittery candles. Other than this you can decorate the candle with beads, sequins or kundan." This is not all, if, you are looking for how to make gel candle here is how you can make them. All you need is a glass container or any other translucent container to support the gel candle. With gel wax, candle scents (a drop), wicks and embellishments of your choice, and the way to craft- melt the wax in a bowl over a pan of simmering water. The gel wax will take little more time for melting than paraffin wax. Then add required colour, preferably liquid colour. Add scent quickly because the gel will start to set fast. Pour the wax into the glass container and let it cool. And there you have, a gel candle to light your Diwali.
—TNS
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wise Sachin Kalra WINTER WORKOUT COLD weather might make you feel like hibernating, but you don't have to give up on your fitness. Exercising in winters is a must cause it prevents you from gaining that winter weight and helps regulate your hunger (which tends to increase during winters). Staying in shape during the winters requires greater motivation and some planning. HELP TIPS: Get body
concsious- Since we bundle up in heavy clothes during the winter, it's easy to "forget" what kind of shape our bodies are in. So keeping a track of your body measurements will help you check your weight. Hydrate
properly- For proper regulation of body temperature during winters, you need water. You should drink plenty of water before, during, and after your workout. Even if you are not sweating, you are losing a lot of water. Take extra time to stretch- During winter workouts, muscles and tendons become tight and stiff, increasing the risk of sprains, strains and other injuries. Stretch for at least ten minutes before and after activity. Also, increase your warm up time. Keep up with weight training- Doing a weight workout that involves the major muscle groups of your chest, back, legs, abs and arms not only burns calories, it also builds and maintains metabolism boosting muscle. Forget the sweat- Don't assume that you have to sweat in order to get a good workout. Instead monitor your intensity through a heart rate monitor. Keep your clothes on - Post exercise hypothermia is possible if you immediately remove your clothes after the workout. Stay motivated- Exercise can help shake those winter blues. It improves your mood, increases your energy level and helps you sleep better. And you'll be in better shape when the weather warms up. Try different workouts like walking or running, yoga or dance aerobics. Check with your doctor- It is important to consult a doctor before beginning any exercise program. People with a history of exercise-induced asthma, heart disease, circulatory problems and other health conditions need to be cautious. There are plenty of indoor workout options to choose from. w
Walk around your house or do some on spot jogging. Climbing stairs provides you with an intense and effecient workout. w
Join a health club for variety of physical activities from weight training to aerobics. w
Hire a personal trainer. There is nothing like one to keep you motivated and on the right track. kalrasachin@hotmail.com |
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Boney concern What is osteoporosis? Osteoporosis - which literally means porous bones - is a serious global health issue affecting a third of women and one in five men over the age of 50 years. This condition, which makes bones weaker and fragile has devastating health consequences through its association with fragility fractures. According to Dr Wadhwa, the socioeconomic impact of osteoporosis reaches beyond the individual. Unfortunately public and medical awareness of this treatable condition is not getting enough publicity so that more people with osteoporosis can be identified and treated before they experience the devastating effect of fracture. Symptoms This condition causes damage silently until a bone breaks. Many patients do not have symptoms. Some complain of backache, aching limbs and occasionally generalised aches with feeling of lethargy. Ostroporotic bones are likely to break with minor fall or injury. Quality of life in patient with severe osteoporosis is significantly impaired not only because of pain and deformity but also because of limited ability to move and to be active. Post menopausal women are at greater risk of developing osteoporosis. Lack of exercise, smoking, excessive alcohol intake, poor nutrition (low calcium intake), some hormonal conditions and disease like rheumatid arthritis contributes to severity of osteo porosis. Detection and Treatment X-ray of spine, hips, Bone Mineral Density (BMD) test, blood tests and DEXA tests can detect severity of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a treatable condition. Regular weight bearing exercise, exposure to natural vitamin D, walking and eating calcium reach food helps to prevent bone loss and decrease the risk of osteoporotic bone fracture. There is no 'quick fix' to strengthen bones effectively and treatment of osteoporosis generally needs to be taken for at least two years. Incidence of osteoporosis is rising. Awareness of this condition has increased globally. It is our collective responsibility to fight against this treatable silent disease. Role of Exercise in Osteoporosis Exercise plays an important role in prevention as well as management of osteoporosis. Exercise which are performed in weight bearing positions such as standing or sitting are generally beneficial in comparison to exercise performed in non-weight bearing positions such as laying down or swimming. Regular walking is a very good exercise for osteoporosis and for those, suffering from diabetes or coronary heart disease. A few precautionary measures can prevent occurrence of osteoporosis: w Take a diet, rich in calcium and vitamins. Milk and dairy products, green leafy vegetables and fish are the major sources. w Direct exposure to sunlight for a minimum of 15 minutes per day. w Follow regular weight bearing and muscle contraction exercises. w Avoid smoking and limit alcohol consumption. lifestyle@tribunemail.com
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A new study by researchers at the University of California-Davis has suggested that making vegetable juice a daily habit could be a small step that can lead to big changes in meeting daily vegetable recommendations. For the study, the researchers looked at three groups of healthy men and women. All three groups received dietary counselling on ways to get more vegetables, but only two of the groups were instructed to consume at least one serving of vegetable juice each day. Of those two groups, one drank one 8-ounce glass of vegetable juice every day and the other drank two 8-ounce glasses of vegetable juice as part of a balanced eating plan. The researchers found that those who received dietary counselling and consumed vegetable juice were far more likely to meet the daily vegetable recommendations, about two and a half cups (five servings), than those who received counselling alone. "What we found in this study is that drinking vegetable juice seemed to address some of the barriers to vegetable consumption such as convenience, portability and taste, so individuals were likely to meet their daily recommendations," said Carl Keen, study author and distinguished professor of Nutrition & Internal Medicine at University of California, Davis. - ANI
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Family business Bade
miyan so bade miyan, chhote miyan subhaan Allah… or Honhaar birwaan ke hoat hain chikne paat (Coming events cast their shadows before) is the spontaneous comment of the audience, whenever the immaculate solo recital or accompaniment by Ustad Mehmmod Dhaulpuri on harmonium or on sarangi by his young son Fakruddin Dhaulpuri is held. Some connoisseurs feel the son eclipses the performance of his father Mehmood Dhaulpuri, exactly like the latter doing better of his father and the practice is in vogue for the last seven generations of the acclaimed musical family of Dhaulpur (Rajashan). But Mehmmod had created history, being the only accompanying artiste in India to be bestowed with the coveted Padmashri honour by the President of India in 2005. In the city with his sarangi player son Fakruddin for a performance at the Chandigarh Sangeet Sammelan, he shared his experiences and views with the Lifestyle. A proponent of perfection on stage Mehmood in all humility dedicates the honour to all his fellow musicians. "Gone are the days when only the lead performing vocalist was given a far reaching status in comparison with an accompanying artiste," claims Mehmood. But he maintains that the success of an ideal performer lies in emoting feelings in himself and listeners - where he is lost in his creative artistic expression and the listeners are lost in the creation of the artiste. " The most sought after harmonium maestro of the Gwalior gharana has provided memorable accompaniment to music wizards of ten top gharanas representing diverse schools of thought in India and abroad. But I have never been controversial since firstly I belong to the Indian gharana which is saare jahan se achha," he laughs. Coming from a family of sarangi players, Dhaulpuri had fascination for the Harmonium. "I learnt and mastered its finer nuances but felt bad when the All-India Radio banned it for some time. Advocating the superior features of harmoinum he avers, " No doubt sarangi being closer to the human voice and capable of emitting whole spectrum of human emotions but harmonium offers brilliant chord system." Representing their seventh generation Gwalior Gharana, Fakruddin has cultivated an innovative style of his own, by blending tradition and modernity. Unlike his ancestors who had been performing as accompanists only to vocal artists on saranagi, Fakruddin ventured to give only solo performances on sarangi. Sharing his voyage to recognition, Fakruddin reminisces old childhood days when his friends played and loitered as he used to concentrate on 'riyaz'. Adulations flowed in abundance after every performance in the region. While just in his teens, Fakruddin was honored with the 'Vashisht Nagrik Samman' of Dhaulpur district, not once but thrice in 1996, 1998 and 1999. Winning the first prize at the Harvallabh Sangeet Sammelan as a teenager brought him recognition in classical music circles. Ten years study scholarship from CCRI, HRD ministry and Rotary club Delhi were a testimony to his brilliance as a musician of rare calibre and commitment. Having won laurels at the top Indian classical music festivals, Fakruddin had regaled the foreign audience too. Being the youngest participant and performing on the intricate complex instrument at the Agha Khan music festival in Kenya and Norway in 2004, Fakruddin remained in focus. The same year he performed at the Concert Hall at Singapore that won him a concert tour to the USA. "The experience to accompany the world renowned chalo player, Yoyoma at the Lincoln Centre Hall, New York was a celestial experience which still rejuvenates me," says Fakruddin. |
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IT was one happening bash that had it all to make us thoroughly enjoy it. With Women flaunting their best party wear and men looking even more dashing in their graceful formals, the night actually promised a lot of celebrations. Well, the event was 15th anniversary of World Wide Immigration Consultancy Services (WWICS), which saw people applauding its accomplishments. Held at the Mohali headquarters, 6, the employees of WWICS, world leader in global resettlement solutions indulged in partying and celebrating the occasion to the hilt. Also the party enjoyed presence of some big wigs of Punjab and Chandigarh, all lining to congratulate WWICS family on this great occasion. The mega event started with an annual prize distribution ceremony during which, employees were honoured for their valuable contributions towards the success of the organization. Lt Col B SSandhu (Retd) was showered with congratu latory messages. This was followed by the release of a souvenir on "15 years of Successful Journey of WWICS" by the Chief Guest Capt. Kanwaljit Singh, Hon'ble Cooperation Minister, Punjab and Lt Col Sandhu. The guests of honour for the occasion were Avinash Rai Khanna, MP-Hoshiarpur and Jasjit Singh, Chairman, Punjab State Cooperative Bank were the guests of
honour. —TNS |
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