The barter system that probably existed for the longest time and was prevalent till a few years back, was that of old clothes exchanged for a new utensil. The choice wasn't much but it probably was the easiest way for people in rural and in most of urban India to add a steel utensil to their kitchen. Times have changed and so has the design of steel utensils and the mode to sell them. How else would Art D'nox and Ebony have been able to sell steel under a label?

On the eve of Dhanteras (a custom according to which people buy a steel utensil on this day), we check out the revamped steel and what people are going for.

The branded steel might be comparatively costlier but is attracting no less buyers. As Arvinder Singh, manager of Ebony, says, "There is a difference of about 20 per cent in the cost of utensils in the market and those available with us." The cost seems genuine considering the fine finish of the utensils that can make for great gift items. Other than utensils, one can also pick from here steel Ganesha and vases. "Most of our clients are bureaucrats or from the corporate sector," he adds.

There is almost a virtual Diwali being celebrated at the utensil shops across the city. Besides the usual utensils, just for the auspicious occasion of Diwali, available here are sets of steel thalis to be used for the puja on Diwali. The thalis either have Lakshmi and Ganesha embosed or even paintings of these Hindu idols on them. "A variety in designs of such thalis are available here costing anywhere between Rs 190 to 350," informs Gaurav Bansal of Kapoor Chand Pawan Kumar-20.

Another significant change that has come to steel kitchenware is its matte finish. The cost difference between the normal and that with matte finish steel is about 25 per cent. "What accounts for the cost difference is the face value of the revamped steel," adds he. And, we did see people preferring matte finish over those with a luster. Nikita Gupta, a homemaker, has her reasons for buying these, "Matte-finished steel utensils can also be used as a gift item. Also, they are scratch-free and have a better finish than the lustrous steel."

Steel utensils to be used for cooking food have a base of copper now. Sunita Jindal, owner, Vijay Store, says, "Adding copper to the base makes the steel utensil more fire resistant and adds to the looks." As for the significance of the day, it is said that buying steel on the day brings peace and prosperity to the house. Most people we asked bought something in steel on Dhan Teras for the same reason, but for Kavita Sharma, a bank employee, it was, "Just an excuse to add something more to the kitchen and a way to follow traditions." Some people, different reasons! — Ashima Sehajpal

Things to keep in mind while buying gold this Dhanteras

On Dhanteras in particular and in Diwali season in general, every one wants to buy gold. The best way to make gold work for you is, first think why you want it and how you will use it.If you want jewellery, that's fine. Just remember, jewellery is like a car. You drive it out of the showroom for one price. You trade it back for another. You can immediately write off the making charges you are paying now.

 On designer pieces, that can be quite steep and not on the traditional per-gramme-of-gold basis either. The stones in jadau work should also be written off. Unfortunately plain gold jewellery is never truly elegant.

So be sure how much gold is there. Buying hallmarked pieces helps. The smarter thing to do is to see jewellery as bauble and not bank note. Instead of 'purity', get obsessive about the glamour quotient. Switch to lower caratage.

If you want gold as another way to hold rupees, then you have some more thinking to do. The two big issues are ease of storage and ease of use. If you don't trust bank lockers or have a transferable job, then bars and coins are not for you. The easiest way to store gold is to buy it on paper.

Bars and coins are far easier to sell because you only need walk into a jeweller's. Once you have chosen between physical and paper gold, there is only one final question left. Is it still a good time to buy? Will you be able to get good returns at Rs 15,800/10 gm (as I write)? Experts I've asked in the last few days say a resounding yes.

There are three main reasons why gold is still such a good buy. One, it helps you sleep better. Instead of global economic recovery, all that everyone can see is governments raising cash to give to people who are unlikely to put it to any productive use, in the hope it will somehow kick start the economy.

All this hectic activity, akin to printing notes, has made the dollar feeble. Since dollar is the currency that makes the world go round, when it starts quivering, it is time to return to the only store of value that has lasted man 4,000 years. Gold is a hedge against the types of investments Dalal Street sells. If your portfolio implodes, gold will be your only friend.

Three, and best of all, new supply is barely a trickle. While the demand is rising, supply won't keep pace. That's excellent news for prices. Gold has always been a man's best friend. Diwali may be a good time to smartly re-ignite it. Gold coins are also available in public sector and private sector banks.

Muthoot Precious metals allows you to invest your wealth in the power of purity. It has driven the business of gold to a higher altitude of purity. The core competence of this division is to refine and process gold by using best equipment and evaluation methods that adhere to BIS specifications. With such a stringent quality control it's no wonder that Muthoot Precious Metals is decidedly preferred in the jewellery market. 

Heads turned and fashionistas drooled as Bollywood actor Sridevi walked the ramp as the showstopper for jewellery designer Queenie Dhody's couture line at the inaugural jewellery show of the HDIL India Couture Week in Mumbai.

Wearing a black gown with a white emerald cut diamond and canary yellow round diamond set with all solitaires, Sridevi who stole hearts with her performances in hits like Mr India and Chandni, set the runaway on fire last night.

"I truly felt fabulous on the ramp. I love Queenie's jewellery, its aesthetic appeal and style appeals to me being one of a kind handcrafted pieces," Sridevi said.

The actor got ample support from the film fraternity with stars like Dimple Kapadia, Twinkle Khanna, Raveena Tandon, Hrithik Roshan, Dia Mirza, Zayed Khan and Karan Johar cheering her from the front row.

"She is an ethereal timeless beauty, a theme that resonates with my jewellery and is mature and graceful enough to carry off couture, hence the perfect choice as my showstopper. Sri truly epitomises 'Be Fabulous', which is my theme for every woman to look and feel fabulous," Queenie Dhody said.

"From contemporary to ethnic, chic to heavy, precious to semi-precious, I have created a variety of styles keeping in mind the most important factor- budgets," she said. —PTI

Three cheers, two reasons, one freshers’! Man, they know how to blow their trumpet. How about welcoming freshers by celebrating success? Some smart move! The International Institute of Fashion Design (INIFD), Sector 8, freshers bash, was a celebration of the collaboration of the institute as official knowledge partner to Lakme Fashion Week for the next four seasons. So, theme up for 'Three Cheers INIFD', let's get going and the newbies? Well, they'll get a welcome automatically. "We have this event for all the three streams. And preparations have been going for the past ten-fifteen days," faculty, interiors, Nishtha Roshan, hip hip hurrays and briefs us about the event. She adds, "You'll find them all dressed in outfits inspired by their favourite fashion designers." There they were, up on the ramp, against the lights, in the limelight, being clicked incessantly, competing for the very staple of all freshers parties, Mr and Ms Freshers contest.

Fashion's supposed to be sleeping in stilettos, all things suave, and everything sophisticated. Done away with. The students were hooting, yelling, whistling, cheering, clapping, anything to buck up their buddy's confidence. No wonder DJ Bhanu's music was drowned in the excitement characteristic of such dos.

"I'm dressed up in Rohit and Abhishek ensemble, as per the theme of our chosen designer," says Kunal Sharma, II year fashion design student. Meanwhile, up on the stage a boy appears on the ramp, there's non-stop hooting and it's impossible to hear anything. Even before anyone can speak, hear, talk, there's salsa performance up on stage, some of the girls, decked to the T are still turning up, there's a question answer round yet to go and save for a few, all twenty-nine contestants must have given the judges Aditi Dua and Ritu Kochhar some tough time deciding.

-Manpriya Khurana 

There is a time in each one's life when one is forced to look deep inside, face dilemma, cover up in situations that seem impossible to tackle. Reminded of the day when your old man threw some pearls of wisdom your way, but you were busy cashing his ATM. When he said, "Life is hard. Being good, hell tough." But mankind would have been nothing if it weren't for their survival instincts. So, we have a way out for anything under the sun. And that means, even tight spots. When the urge to speak the truth is compressed, moulded, wrapped and glorified by figments of our imagination. All in the name of being civilized. C'mon, don't act like you don't know what is the topic of discussion here. We are all master in this all of lying beautifully, or to be politically correct, sugarcoat the unpleasant realities.

So, you need example! Here's one, try and remember each time you started or ended a discussion with the sentence, "With all due respect…", how many times did you actually lend your 'respect'. Let me tell you, for me the sentence actually means, "You are wrong, so shut up! You are due no respect." Similarly, what's the instant reaction when your boss introduces you to his 40-year something, fat (mind my manners, but plump cannot replace fat), wife whose first look reminds you of mythological characters like Hidimba or Tadaka? "Aww my God!" is what you may scream inside your brain, but you are your charming best in saying, "Please to meet you or you look great." And mind it, cut is a word derived for the convenience of mankind, so every time something doesn't fall into the category of being beautiful and since it is a social suicide to call somebody hideous, what do you say? "Oh it is so cute!"

The struggle between our 'inner' and 'outer' realities is not just restricted to social life. There are instances when we let our emotions speak out, but not without being proper. Oh, so mean you haven't had sleepless nights, thinking over or inventing innovative ways to refuse a guy or avoid an ugly break up the next morning? The most common exit line is when you are told, "You are everything I want in a girl, but…" That is a direct hint that girl you are not my type, what were you even thinking. 'You mean more to me than life itself' has an underlying message-- that I am suicidal.

Didn't we say, life's hard. Well, you can't always be deeply offensive or be saying the truth. That's the way it works, nothing personal! (I guess, you know what I MEAN here!)

Back to roots: These organic products make for a perfect Diwali gift.

And while the scientists get all moon-struck and look for signs of life and water on other planets, here's how you can do your bit to preserve our planet and up your GQ (green quotient) this Diwali.

Seeds of responsibility

Vrinda Gokhale with her paper jewel

What better to sow the seeds of responsibility towards Mother Planet than giving planters that double up as bowls for all your floating candles 'n' chiraags and also serve as pots for fresh saplings. That's shouldering twin responsibility!

This hat ke item comes from Vatsal Chaya, a city-based NGO that channelises street children's skills into crafting artifacts from recycled material and waste.

"It's fashionable these days to lay out floating candles in bowls, thalis and what not. So, we thought why not make these terracotta holders that can serve both the purposes," says Sangeeta Vardhan of Vatsal Chaya.

Papersmith

Bag it all: Go green with the packaging too. Say yes to paper bags.

If you're thinking of the planet, then paper's bound to be on your mind. Saving trees, recycling paper…then why not gift paper. Of course, in recycled and reinvented form.

Vrinda Gokhale has just the gifting solution you may be looking for: paper jewels. Into this endeavour for the past over a decade, Vrinda says, "These paper jewels have a designer appeal and look as good as real ones."

Starting from a range of Rs 40 (earrings), Vrinda says the paper is not treated with any chemicals, which makes the products eco-friendly.

They may not have the dazzle of diamonds or the lustre of gold, but at least they are eco-friendly. The range of gift items includes vivid neckpieces in chandelier and other styles, ear studs, finger rings et al.

Elephantine task

Picture perfect: This photo frame is made from elephant poop.

Talking of paper, here's an avatar of the humble paper that you may never have imagined: paper made from elephant poop!

From collapsible photo frames, funky gulels (catapults for kids) to notebooks with the Khans on the cover, these products, marketed under the name of Haathi Chaap, are made from elephant poop paper that is completely earth friendly, made in the most user-friendly manner. Disinfectants (hydrogen peroxide) are added during the production process to make it bacteria free.

Say the owners of greensomethings, who brought the products to the recent Vanity Fair in the tricity, "The dung is washed close to cultivated lands so that the drained water can be used to fertilise the crops. No machines are used during the entire process of cleaning the dung, removing the useless fiber, turning into pulp and finally producing beautiful sheets of paper."

Quite sensible gifts for the Playstation-hooked generation of kids, for the catapults may even save them from becoming couch potatoes.

And freezing memories and moments in these frames will make Mother Earth smile this Festival of Lights.

chetnabanerjee@tribunemail.com

With Diwali around the corner, everyone is gearing up to give a festive look to their homes. Colours give an essential character to any space. 

So, what better than to colour your homes in varied shades and textures? Wall paints are the easiest and least expensive way of changing the look and feel of a space.

There are various choices for paints in the market to suit every pocket. 

According to Rajiv Goyal of Hari Enterprises the price range starts from Rs 615 for a 20 kg bag for acrylic paints and goes up to Rs 3,000 for 20 litres plastic emulsion buckets. 

Though acrylic paints are easy on the pocket, but these do not have protection coats against stains and are not washable.

Other than choosing bright colors and hues, another great way to spice up the interiors of your homes is adding textures and wallpapers. 

Again one is spoilt for a choice when it comes to textures and patterns available in the market. Textures add an element of creativity and can be used as a piece of art in an interior space.

For a festive look, you can use ethnic blocks or paint Indian motifs on a bright coloured wall. To give a contemporary modern touch, get a pattern in abstract. Ornate designs add a touch of sophistication while a spray of flowers make a room dreamy.

Jagbir of Heritage Solutions suggests ultra tech for latest designs and patterns in textures that comes for a price of Rs 50-200 per sq.ft. 

These textures have a wide spectrum to choose from — Maspar, Mass Décor, Fillipose, Velo….the list is endless.

For those looking for cheaper options, Nitco range starts at Rs 12 per sq ft. These textures are maintenance free and washable.

Though maintenance-free, it is important to have a good base to paint or texture walls.

 Two coats of putty and a coat of primer are required to apply textures.

Rustic or Royal Play, Perlina or Antonio….take your pick and add a new dimension to your home space, add life to your home interiors.

Now how could we afford to miss writing about lights on Diwali? It's so obvious and inevitable a subject, when the variety available in the market is incredible and waiting to be explored. While the range starts from desi and goes up to videshi (read Chinese), imagine how it would be if the lights you picked fused before the occasion or on the very night. What a showdown! We realised the fact so, here's an update to inform you what you can buy from where to aptly decorate you house.

If you wish to buy lights that can be used even in the next season, pick LED lights. They are waterproof. Take the shopkeeper's word on that, they would never get fuse and work till you don't get bored of them. Ajay Singla of Singla electricals, Sector 37 tells us more, "The lights bulbs are covered with plastic that doesn't let water fuse them. Also they come in varied shapes like cherries, chilies, flowers, pearls etc, which make them the best buy this season." One can buy lights from here anywhere in range starting from Rs 60 to over Rs 1000.

This one may not be as fancy as the LED lights but they have an equally long life. The pipe lights are the ones in which small bulbs are uniformly arranged inside a narrow pipe. The lights can be permanently affixed in a wall and used well in all weathers. Buying imported lights for the season is certainly a better choice. Sanjay Singhal of Hindustan Electricals, Sector 18 says, "Local made lights get fuse even if one bulb runs out of order. Imported lights don't work in the same way and are thus better."

For those of you who like to decorate the house everytime with lights of different designs, the best pick would be Chinese lights costing not more then Rs 60 to Rs 100. Gaurav Jaiswal of Jaiswal electricals, Sector 18 says, "Chinese lights are generally preferred because people use it for one season and then buy the latest design in next. Price of these lights is very affordable, so this is another reason for their demand. And for people who don't want to go in for the usual lights, pick the ones sequenced in the shape of Om, Swastik and Ek onkar."

We've listed the various options, so wait for none and pick the best.

lifestyle@tribunemail.com

Going by the short life of Chinese lights, this Diwali take a pick of other options in the market

Microsoft Corporation India Pvt. Ltd. announced the availability of a new range of handsets from device partners, featuring Windows Mobile 6.5 - the latest version of Microsoft’s mobile phone software. With Windows Mobile 6.5, Windows Phones will deliver new customer experiences through an improved, easy-to-use and customisable user interface and an enhanced browsing experience. 

Microsoft is also debuting two new services, to bring added value to consumers - My Phone is an in-built, free service that offers 200MB of online storage to back up all contacts and phone information, and windows marketplace for mobile offers consumers an easy way to find and purchase high quality mobile applications.

The new Windows Phones that are available today include Acer Be Touch E100, Acer Be Touch E101, Acer Neo Touch S200, Acer Be Touch E200 and HTC Touch 2, and will be the first to feature Windows Mobile 6.5.  Additionally, some of the existing popular phones running Windows Mobile 6.1, namely - HTC Diamond 2, HTC Touch Pro 2, LG Eigen and Samsung Omnia Pro, can be upgraded to Windows Mobile 6.5.

“We are delighted to offer the all new Windows Phone, powered by Windows Mobile 6.5 to consumers in India. Windows Phones have been designed to meet the evolving needs of today’s consumer who moves seamlessly between work and play,” said Hemant Sachdev, joint managing director, consumer & online, Microsoft India. He further added, “Also with the new My Phone service available today, users can be assured that their contacts and data is safe even if the device is lost or damaged!”

My Phone is a free service that helps people manage and protect the invaluable information stored on their phone, providing peace of mind and an easy restore option if the device is lost or damaged. It is a built-in service that helps manage and protect invaluable information - from contacts and appointments to SMS messages, photos, videos and more. It offers 200 MB of online storage and automatically synchronizes a phone’s content to a password-protected Web site.

Also launched was Windows Marketplace for Mobile, which offers people an easy way to find and purchase high quality, Microsoft certified mobile applications for both work and play. — TNS 

We have also increased the quantity of the chemicals that emanate various colours and light. We have used herbs while manufacturing these crackers, so that smoke is less, when they are burnt," said Zahir Ahmad, a firecracker, shop owner.Customers are also glad to see new varieties of smokeless crackers as they are environment friendly."These firecrackers are environment friendly. 

By using them, we can reduce pollution level. It also benefits those who are suffering from pollution related diseases," said Sanjeev, a customer.Red shower, star night, digital star, red chilli are some of the varieties among smokeless firecrackers.The smokeless crackers cost a little more and the minimum range starts from Rs 250 per item and goes up to Rs 5,000.

Firecrackers have traditionally been an important part of "Diwali". Millions of rupees worth crackers are burnt on that day across the country.As to make most of the festival demand, firecracker units have come up with different type of firecrackers. — ANI 

Diwali is a festival that witnesses celebrations of the highest magnitude as the entire country is lit with beautiful lights and fireworks. On this occasion, people express affection for their loved ones by gifting them enticing Diwali gifts that reflect their token of love.This year, make your loved one overwhelmed with happiness by gifting them stylish sunglasses from Bvlgari.

Having launched its new sunglasses collection that reflects luxury and glamour-a perfect gift on the occasion of Diwali. — TNS