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Alpha & Omega
"The list is endless. If you are good at your workplace, getting things done, you must be sleeping with your boss. If you are the boss, getting things done, then you are a tagged frustrated, control freak who doesn't have a life. I am confident when I say that most successful career women are proclaimed as bad mothers, bad wives and not marriage-and get-settled types," says Amanjot, a interior designer and a single mother from the city. "As women roles take on more responsibility, it seems that men reject the male roles of the past by prolonging the responsibilities that accompany them. Our society may have made peace with the fact that women are competent but then with that new stereotypes have been slapped on them," she adds. These things are engrained so deep in our social set up that it's difficult to live without any stereotypes. "No matter how highly a girl is educated or independent, it all goes out the window if she still has to end up marrying a doctor or a lawyer to get 'settled' in life," says Harleen Sekhon, a grooming and etiquette trainer from the city. “At social fronts, a woman cannot be allowed to be boisterous or wild unless she is ready to deal with the 'bad girl' tag. She is allowed to drink, but will definitely be judged on the way she holds her glass. The party animal in her has to die an untimely death when she steps into the wife phase from the girlfriend phase. She will look stunning in that little black dress but is expected to cook, clean, fax, make PPTs and take care of her husband, all at the same time. And all this while, the 'appreciating' man in her life is exempted from everything," she adds. Well, now there is something Alpha about the female. If behind every successful man, there is a woman, then after every successful woman there are lots of controversies. So, if a 'bad girl' is a social outcast, a bad boy is tagged as sexy, tempting hunk. A Casanova is charming, but a socially active female is perceived as a sex fiend. A 50-year-old man marrying a 20 something will make him a stud, but a 40-year-old woman falling in love with a 30-year-old man will make her a cheap goat. A man gets success after years of hard work and a woman does so by compromising her family life! Now, in what sense of the word does Alpha woman appear stong and liberated to you? Do let us know when you find the answer… nehawalia@tribunemail.com
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The NIIFT (Mohali) graduates have their own retail outlets in Paris and New York among other fashion cities. The collection named Feminity, comprised of lehangas, suits, evening dresses and tunics. There was a bridal collection by Roop, a graduate from Fashion Institute of Technology, New York. After working as an assistant designer with British designer Marylyn Clay den in Los Gatos, California and started her label Rubaiyat. Then there was another city boy, Alkesh Rambani, with his evening gowns. He has dressed actors like Priyanka Chopra, Sonam Kapoor, Asin, Mughda Godse, Kareena Kapoor and Sameera Reddy. Brand Full Stop too had many in rapt amazement with evening wear by Hemant Kumar. —TNS
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Short circuit
"I wouldn't like it if Gauri left her hair loose...she's so beautiful that I used to stop her wearing mini skirts or T-shirts," Khan said while admitting of being insecure of his relationship when they were dating. Talking to director Farah Khan on her celebrity chat show Tere Mere Beach Mein, to be broadcast this Sunday on Star Plus, the 43-year-old actor, who married his girlfriend Gauri in 1991, said he was desperately in love with Guari, which made him act in such a ‘rotten’ way. "But I promised her the minute we married that I'd never behave in such a rotten manner that she would ever feel she was curbed to do anything. I was only insecure till we were married because I didn't know if she belonged to me like I belonged to her," the actor said. Gauri, who has appeared on the cover of Indian Vogue, is considered one of the most stylish women in Bollywood and the actor says even their son hates seeing her in covered outfits. — PTI
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Wrong foot forward
He was so mad at me that he wouldn't even speak to me while eating meals. On asking him what was upsetting him, he said that you're Mukesh's grandchild and we're known for our goodness so how could I sign up for a negative role in my debut film," Neil said.Talking to director Farah Khan on her celebrity chat show Tere Mere Beach Mein to be broadcast this Saturday on Star Plus, the 27-year-old actor said that he stuck by his decision and managed to convince his father." I explained to him that it was necessary for people to recognise my acting abilities and that's why I'm doing the film. I can identify myself as an actor, make people identify with me as an actor," he recalled.His father's behaviour, however, changed after he got critical appreciation for his performance in the crime thriller released in 2007."Dad said that he respects me and is proud that I did the film," Neil said. — PTI Once more Pradeep Sarkar's last movie Laga Chunari Mein Daag may have failed to create wonders at the box-office but that has not stopped Yash Raj Films from roping him in for its next project. The filmmaker, who shot to fame with his debut film Pareenita starring Saif Ali Khan, Vidya Balan and Sanjay Dutt, for the yet-untitled love story, which will be produced by Aditya Chopra. Bollywood actor Neil Nitin Mukesh and Deepika Padukone as the lead pair in the gritty love-story, which has been set against the backdrop of Mumbai streets. The film is slated to go on floor this December and is scheduled for a 2010 release, a statement from Yash Raj said. —PTI
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Fast, feast and festivity
Obviously they are hungry and want to have a morsel down their throat, but this festival calls for certain restraints, and at the end of the day, the fruits of fasting are delicacies particular to the region and even families. We check on with the customs and list out the significance of various victuals for the day. Ask her what’s the importance and she says, “This is my 41 Karva Chauth and all these rituals have trickled down from our elders to us. For
sargi, the ritual involved seeking blessings of the mother-in-law. And about food items there is no specific reason at our home.” Though the fast has a deep spiritual reason, this is one of the austere fast where women do not even take a drop of water. It begins before the sunrise and ends only after offering prayers and worshiping the moon at night, but every region has their particular customs and typical food items that they eat. Fasting is not only a part of worship, but a great instrument for self-discipline too. And, in ayurveda fasting helps detox the digestive system and all body mechanisms are cleansed and corrected through it. Says Ritika
Malhotra, an employee of a private bank in Sector 8, “At my in-laws place, we have sabut mah ki khichdi made with lal
chawal, ghee and dahi after the fast.” Ask her why khichdi and she says, “Sabut mah and these lal chawal are freshly harvested during this season. Since the fast is pious and signifies the longevity of life, these freshly harvested crop is considered fortunate.” She adds, “Thinking scientifically, khichdi is light and since you have fasted the whole day long, it would be easier on the system.” Hmm...that’s sounds interesting and healthy too, but all communities don’t have such rules and regulations and at the end of the fast they eat anything and everything. Well, life is all about eating and merry-making.
Isn’t it? jigyasachimra@tribunemail.com
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Launch Pad To coincide with the festive season, dairy company Amrit Food has launched a new international flavour to their range of Gagan’s ‘Just Milk’ Flavoured Milk. Coffee Toffee is the latest addition to the Gagan flavoured milk range comprising of strawberry, butterscotch, kesar badam, elaichi and coffee. Coffee Toffee is a delicious blend of natural coffee with toffee flavouring that is sure to appeal to all age groups across segments. The Just Milk range is made from low fat milk (Amrit Food was the first in its segment to introduce low fat milk in its flavoured milk range) and will appeal to all health conscious people as well. Priced at Rs 15 for 180 ml bottle, Gagan Just Milk will be available at select outlets in cities and towns across North India. —TNS For your heart
The Shakti Bhog mustard oil is Agmark certified also. The Kachi Ghani oil is an addition to Shakti Bhog’s existing product range which comprises of
atta, besan, Basmati and other rice, missi roti, tea, pickles etc. Shakti Bhog’s Kachi Ghani Oil is available in five different packs starting from 200 ml to 5
litre and the price range vary from Rs 68-70 per Kg. Poha goebranded
Shakti Bhog Foods Ltd has introduced branded poha in the market. Poha is made from rice and is extremely popular in India and serves as a stable breakfast diet, especially in rural and semi-urban markets. Best part is that it can be consumed in many forms like in raw and fried and can be consumed with curd or milk. Moreover it can even be cooked as sweet dish. Announcing the launch, K.K. Kumar, Founder, Shakti Bhog Foods Ltd said, “The poha is prepared by flattening de-husked rice which is rich in carbohydrates and calories. This makes it nutritious and delicious and thereby healthy to eat.” The company ensures that the poha is hygienically packed to maintain quality of the product. Available at Sabka
Bazar, Spencer’s, Big Bazaar and KB’s Fair Price.
—TNS Standing tall
The Jolly Fryer take-away has put a free diet coke on offer for anyone who can wolf down the massive meal without help from friends. "No one has managed yet. I'm not sure it's possible," Nick Lomvardos, the owner, said. Customer Luigi Armato, 22, added: "It's a challenge. You have to be a real man to eat one. I eat a Super Scooby about once a week. I'm not worried about the calories." —ANI
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Bon Appetit
Happy days are here again and we are on the brink of bingeing, gearing up for card parties, mithai mouthfuls and a general atmosphere of
jashn! It’s a pity that the festival of lights doesn't work towards lightening our weight! We helpless mere mortals with zero will power, succumb to the seduction of sweets and other sinful concoctions with a shrug of our shoulders, resolving to make amends later.
Don't you know tomorrow never comes? It’s not easy to look the other way when a platter laden with syrupy mithai is passed around when you go visiting friends, especially when its pushed towards your gob by a true Indian, believing in forceful
khatirdaari!
These are unavoidable circumstances but if you make your own sweets using less sugar or sweetener, you could certainly reduce your calorie intake at your own home. Something's better than nothing! The sweets I bring you today can be prepared with either sweetener or sugar, or a combination of the two.
In my opinion these recipes are healthier from another point of view too. They use vegetables like lauki and parwal to an advantage, giving them a complete face-lift! So, if greens are good for us, these sweets can’t be too bad, can they? I've added a phirni recipe, simply because a cant resist this creamy, light dessert! Neither could Talat
Mehmood!` Lauki ki barfi 2 cups lauki (grated) Method Boil the milk in a heavy pan or a kadhai. Tip the grated lauki into the milk and continue to cook till the mixture becomes quite dry. (Remember, the addition of sugar shall again make it more fluid). Crumble the khoya over the pan, followed by sugar or sweetener. When the mixture starts leaving the side of the vessel, transfer it in a pre-greased aluminium tray. Dust it with cardamom powder and cut into pieces after it has firmed sufficiently. I am very anti-food colour but if you want the barfi to look more tempting, you may add a few drops of green food grade colour while cooking. Badaami kesar phirni Ideally, try to procure clay katoris for this dessert. They somehow add to the final product! 6 cups milk Method Using a stiff brush, scrub the clay katoris thoroughly and leave inverted for drying. Wash the rice and soak it in a little water for about 40 minutes. Grind the rice and 7 tbsp of the blanched almonds with just enough water to make a fine paste. Keep aside. Pour the milk in a heavy vessel and bring it to a boil. Let it simmer for 15-20 minutes. Meanwhile, take a little of this hot milk in a bowl, add the rice paste and dilute it to a warm, thin consistency. This system helps you fight the thick lumps that can develop when you add a cold paste to the boiling milk. Pour this into the milk and mix, stirring continuously. Cook on low heat till the milk has thickened. The custard like mix should coat the back of a spoon. Add sugar and continue to stir for 15 minutes or so. Remove from the heat. Sprinkle the saffron and cardamom powder on top and fold in. Ladle into individual katoris and garnish with pistachios, cashew nuts and the remaining almonds. Serve chilled. |
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Designer’s den
The three-day fashion extravaganza, Designers’ World, organised by Trendzun Ltd at Taj-Chandigarh brings the best of designer creations under one platform. The event flaunts exclusive and big names in the fashion and lifestyle segment. The couture, accessories, home furnishings, jewellery and artifacts leave you spoilt for choice. If you desire to flaunt a Satya Paul, then here is his collection ‘Satya’. Just back from the New York Fashion Week, the designer duo of Parvesh and Jai have their festive collection called Raasleela, with lehengas adorned with the classic gotta patti work. Their collection also includes eveningwear and Indo-Western tunics. Jyoti Khosla suits and sarees make for a good festive pick and an entire range of Kashmiri dori marodi work, intricately and richly played up to create a formal wear collection. Alkesh Ramvani’s evening gowns breaks the notion that gowns are only for celebrities. Ruksana Abbas, a designer from Pakistan comes with her collection of embroidered suits and Pakistani salwars under her brand called Roxanne. The bridal trousseaus from Rubiyat and designer Jasmine combine luxury with style and ethnicity. Asha Kumar, a city-based designer too has her collection of Indo-Western outfits. From Mumbai, comes a designer footwear collection with embellishments and defining latest trends for your feet. And, if the couture ends, there are exclusive collection of jewellery from the house of Krishna Tulsi from Ahmedabad with her artful designs and Rishi Zaveri from Mumbai, with innovative designs in silver, semi-precious stones and cubic zircon. Something that is not too heavy, on the pocket as well as on the eyes. Exquisite miniatures and paintings with gold work from Rural Crafts from Jaipur make for a royal festive gift. Another in this category is the silver and gem stone-studed gifts, artifacts and glitters for the season. Nanda Creations’ designer furniture combines contemporary style with comfort. The highlight of the exhibition though is the curio glassware, a premium US brand, in mouth-blown glass designs. Decorative lamps, artifacts and centerpieces in unconventional glass designs are simple luxury.
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NGO Goonj is organising a three-day collection campaign from October 1 to 3 for the underprivileged people in 25 cities across India. You can donate old clothes, utensils, toys and monetary contributions at the six public collection centres set up by the NGO in Chandigarh at New Public School-18, Moti Ram School-27, Chitkara Institute-25, Yuvsatta, Karuna Sadan-11, Kundan International School-46. In Panchkula, the center is at the Gurukul School-20. Material collected from these cities will be used as a motivation for villagers to repair their roads, dig wells and put to use under CLOTH FOR WORK initiative. Akshaye Raj and Shiva Archan, who are taking the charge of the public collection centre at sector 18 said, "People are showing a great response. In the first two days, over 600 donors have come forward. We further appeal to the people to come forward for this noble cause." —TNS
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So, we have talked about single mothers, working mothers, famous housewives. We know of leading corporate ladies, glamorous fashionistas and stylish artists. We are inspired and impressed by strong women, with power and position, talking politics, sports, taking charge at every point. Hmm…taking charge! No stereotypes, breaking out. Well, here's a pointer. The 'Alpha female' is no better than her previous prototypes. In fact, it is the latest stereotype women face, the 'with it' tag that labels them as emotionally stronger, perfectionists with out-of-the-world multitasking abilities and making them to believe that they are a superior species, only to be exploited for all the above reasons mentioned. How? Let them tell you….
So, when we say that women are emotionally stronger than men, do we mean that they have a capability of taking all the emotional crap that you throw at them? Or, when studies claim that women have better organisational skills, it becomes mandatory for them to balance family and work at the same time? 
It was an evening of style and celebrations as Trendzun ltd brought some fashion thrills for Chandigarh, with models walking down the ramp in the latest creations of top designers in the country. The evening started off with classy Satya Paul contemporary designs bringing fashion with motion. The other designer creations included Parvesh and Jai, a known name in Indian Bridals, presented their exclusive trousseau range in city for the first time.
Superstar Shahrukh Khan may be one of the hottest men in Bollywood but the actor used to feel so insecure about his wife Guari Khan during their courtship days that he told her not to wear mini-skirts or T-shirts.
Bollywood heartthrob Neil Nitin Mukesh, grandson of legendary singer Mukesh, has revealed that his decision to debut with a negative role in Johnny Gaddar upset his father, who believed that it would taint their family's name."My dad (singer Nitin Mukesh) did not speak to me for six months because I signed Johnny Gaddar.
The Husband’s Day is approaching near (read Karva Chauth), and we thought why not write about the food on this all-so-important festival for women? Though this festival is all about dressing up, looking good and splurging on gifts, food still remains an integral part of the festival. We all know women get up as early as four in the morning to have
sargi, which includes pheni (a sweet made by using milk and semolina),
parantha, and various types of fruits, dry fruits, sweets and then wait eagerly for the moon to shine.
“Karva Chauth has an extraordinary observance rate among married women in Punjab,” says Kanchan
Bhasin, president, Inner Wheel Club. She adds, “Though the way of celebrating Karva Chauth varies on the regional basis, in Punjab, it’s the custom of eating sargi in the morning that includes
pheni, parantha, various types of fruits and sweets and 10 matthis with an equal number of puas (a sweet made of
jaggery) a must.” 
“At our home, we only eat sabut things,” says, Rohini
Walia, who runs her cooking classes in Sector 35. And, that includes? “Sabut
mah, channa, sabut moong etc, basically we don’t eat anything that is split.” The reason, “It’s an auspicious day, so anything that is broken or is split is not had. In fact, at my in-laws we don’t even use onion and garlic since they are not considered pure ingredients.” 
Shakti Bhog has introduced a new health product – Shakti Bhog’s Pure Kachi Ghani Oil (Mustard Oil) to provide its customers a healthy and prosperous living. According to doctors mustard oil is better then olive oil because it has very high levels of N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega3). Omega 3 fatty acids are known to protect the heart. 
UK's biggest burger boasting of 2,645 calories is up for grabs in Bristol. The 'Super Scooby', weighing more than 3lbs and standing six inches tall, is priced at 10 pounds, and is also served with a side portion of chips.