They are the white-collar brigade who is better known for their fat salary packages, incessant working hours and work hard and party harder culture. They are the corporate people who are also known for flaunting sleek cars and expensive lifestyle products. But this Diwali; they are out for a cause, celebrating the Festival of Lights with underprivileged, people from old-age homes and orphanages. We check out what’s on their list.

For Vodafone, Mohali they took the inmates of Help Age India for a movie. Says an employee of Vodafone, “The true meaning of Diwali is to bring light into darkness and in collaboration with Fun Republic, our company took the members of Help Age India for the movie, Wake Up Sid and a lunch. This was our bit to bring a moment of happiness in these people’s life.” Ask them how did they paln the day and he says, “There was no great planning behind it just a gesture to says, we care.”

Well, that’s one initiative. There are others too who are determined to do their bit. Says Rupesh, head corporate communication, Reliance Anil Dhirubahi Ambani Group, “Though we keep doing something or the other throughout the year, this time we have been collecting old clothes from our employees to donate it to the needy. For this, we have put boxes in various offices locations and employees have been asked to donate their bit.” We wish more and more people donate for the cause.

For Bharti Airtel employees, they’re all set to spread the spirit of festivity and light up the Diwali for organisations like Senior Citizens Home and School for the Blind. A team of Airtel employees will visit these institutions and spread warmth and affection with special gifts on Diwali. “Our company has always been conscious of its social responsibility and we are always eager and happy to live up to this responsibility,” says Sanjeev Kumar Saxena, CEO (Mobility), Bharti Airtel Punjab, Haryana and HP Circles. Well, after this we cannot say corporates are only inclined to earn revenue.

In a special initiative, Fortis Hospital-Mohali, is helping the Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre (PRC) to brighten up its Diwali celebrations through a stall in the OPD of the Hospital where the PRC is selling beautiful candles made by its members. For yout knowledge, the PRC is devoted to make life more meaningful for soldiers who have lost or damaged their limbs while fighting the enemy of the country. That’s not all. The Black Cats (a club of Fortis employees) is holding a blood donation camp to give the best gift for Diwali–the gift of life. So, why not join in the gift of giving life and spreading light?

Fashion is their forte, but when it comes to a cause, Esprit is doing its bit too. Says Geet Sethi, regional manager, North, Esprit, “Though most of our activities are group based and are done on a national scale, but because of the initiative of India brand head, Manjula Tewari we have opened a school for underprivileged in Gurgoan. Other than that, we people donate the old stock of Esprit clothes to people who want it.”

Well, that’s the perfect way to say Happy Diwali!

jigyasachimra@tribunemail.com

Celebration is the mood of season, and Diwali itself is a reason enough to indulge in festive luxuries, gifts and lot of gifts. Plan, shop and distribute, it is helluva job to look for a perfect Diwali gift. And what makes your life tougher is when you have to think of a gift for someone who is miles away from you. Though the online gift options should be considered a revolutionary invention for sending gifts, but who minds a little innovation and wider scope. Also, it’s not just about sending a gift; it’s also about keeping up with the bond that you share and not letting distance come between commitment.

So, while you book that perfect silver or diamond gift or spend a fortune on shipping and custom costs, what exactly matters is that you care to continue the tradition. “Ever since my younger sister got married and settled in Seattle, I have been sending gifts and greetings without a break. So much so that it has become a tradition in itself. It helps me overcome the fact that she is not physically present with us on the day,” says Sonica Swaroop, a homemaker from the city. Emotions or convenience, it works both ways. “It’s a way of sharing the moment with our friends and family. Diwali is one time of the year when even distant relatives, forgotten friends and family living across the seas are remembered. One message or e-mail or gift will make them feel special. And isn’t this festival all about bonding,” says Ramninder Madaan, a media professional who has been religiously sending greetings and wishes to her father in UAE for the past 23 years. Her best one was sending him a silver bell on Diwali. “And I got an expensive watch in return from him,” she shares. Well, Diwali bumper!

When it’s your family, you know it’s a way of showing that they are missed on this occasion, but when it’s a professional network exercise, online services come easy. Share the greetings via an e-mail or e-card; scarp sending SMSes through web portals, picture scraps and glitter graphics through Facebook wall. The options are plenty. “It’s a convenient way of maintaining a social network. It might work for people you are not in regular touch with or just maintain a professional rapport with, but personally, I like to give a personal touch to my gifts,” shares Sachin Kumar, a marketing professional. Whether in Mumbai or Manhattan, he makes sure that his greetings are not just a formality. “An email may be convenient but it is eventually an e-mail. One receives thousands of emails and e-cards but written letter would, for me, make a better option and stand out as well,” he says.

nehawalia@tribunemail.com

It’s that time of the year when almost everyone is literally turning into an artist to welcome Goddess Lakshmi. Yes, they are using the floor as canvas and whatever available in their kitchens for medium, with a few innovations here and there. But, what about the ‘real’ artist community? Looks like the goddess has not been particularly kind to them and in return they too are maintaining some distance. They are welcoming her to their homes but not to their canvases.

And trust me, it is has nothing to do with M. F. Husain and the controversy he got himself into painting the goddess. For, one can always draw inspiration from Raja Ravi Varma who gave Lakshmi her present form — well-proportionate body, clearly drawn neat features and ornaments. The artist remained faithful to the scriptures by keeping four hands in one hand and lotus in the other.

But our artists have their own reasons. R. M. Singh, who painted Lakshmi at the Lakshmi Narayan temple at his village Bharouli, near Pathankot, once upon a time, never repeated it again. “I have been commissioned to do Sikh Gurus but never Lakshmi throughout my career. Even when I did the first time I did it because I wanted to,” he says.

Vinay Vadhera sketched the goddess once and guess where his sketch appeared? On the leaves of Punjab Lotteries!

One artist who has been seriously depicting Lakshmi on canvas is Ravinder Sharma, general secretary of the Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi. Though Lakshmi became incidental to his Shiva paintings, an annual ritual he has been keeping up for the past 25 years, Sharma gives equal emphasis on the goddess as Lord Shiva, bringing all three — Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati — into one form. “Goddess Lakshmi has two sides, Maya and Shakti. Maya is the illusion and symbolises materialism. The Shakti side is meta-physical, spiritual and this is what I have been trying to depict in my frames,” he explains.

Sharma who has moved away from figurative work toward abstraction, attributes the shift to the philosophy of creation. “Once you move towards Nirvana, forms become diffused, more symbolic than solid forms. Having painted the same subject for more than 25 years, I am beginning to understand my subject and hence my paintings are about bhavna, rather than figures,” he says.

However, aesthetics and sensitivity act only as hindrance while finding buyers for Lakshmi paintings. “People prefer replicas of Ravi Varma paintings or even prints, which come for a much lower price. But paintings, no! Paintings do not sell even during the festival season,” says Sharma.

But then, who is to be blamed? Has not her Maya side has blinded us all completely?

parbina@tribunemail.com

Two ways about it and no two ways about it. Light a hearth or a heart, share a sweet or a smile, spread the flicker or the flame? Light a diya, burn a candle, burst the cracker…practically speaking, you could still be doomed into darkness? What’s Diwali without donation and isn’t philanthropy, the ultimate philosophy? Fortunately, some student NGOs, think likewise. Bringing you a bigger, better, larger than life, way of celebrating the festival of lights.

Putting for the millionth time, it’s the festival of lights; it’s also a spirit of spreading that light into the lives that need it the most. “A festival or occasion isn’t just about spending a fortune, playing or having a good time, it’s also about sharing, giving and spreading,” Aman Ahuja, UIET student, presiding head, student based NGO, Youth United, defines it out. For the volunteers, it was a party time at the Sector 43 old age home just a day prior to the festival. “We are going to be playing games, lighting candles and celebrating.” He adds, “But we’re sure it’s going to be a green Diwali, observed peacefully.”

The eco-friendly option finds an echo. Avish Sharma, former students council president, evening studies, says, “We’ll observe this Diwali as Anti-Cracker Day in the campus and take out a rally with posters, placards highlighting their harmful effects.” He adds, “Some people think it’s the only way of celebrating this festival, whereas there are so many alternatives. We want people to consider their disadvantages on our health and environment.” All said and done, it’s not about being different but making a difference and eventually it’s about perpetuity. “There are the usual ways and I feel this is the best, it makes you happy, it spreads happiness around and it’s different,” says Karan Chhabra, student, organising committee, vice president, balakalakaar. The guy’s recounts his stint at one of the events of AIESEC programme balakalakaar. The initiative by the local office, aims at making an artist, exploring the creative aspect of underprivileged children. He adds, “Just a few weeks back at an event at Bal Niketan, Panchkula we made these kids draw Diwali cards.” As for today, “The AIESEC team’s headed to Aashiana, where we’ll be spending time, interacting with the kids, distributing sweets.” True, only a life lived for others is worth living. Pretty much the motto of NGO Tammana. Says Isha Kakaria, founder president, “A week ago we held a workshop for the underprivileged women. This workshop was all based on Diwali and the entire material was provided to them wherein they were taught how to decorate candles, lamps, photo frames etc, ”

From here the entire material is to be sold at specially permitted stall in Sector 15. From where on, the sale proceedings of the stall will again go towards their empowerment.

Let such circles grow, light lead, celebrations continue…Happy Diwali.

manpriya@tribunemail.com

It would have been impossible without the divine blessings and tutelage of Ustads for young Aamir Akbar to accomplish an adroit mastery in qawwali while he was still in his teens and carved a niche for himself in the realm as an established Sufi qawwal. Credited with three albums, this 18-year-old leads a qawwali ensemble of eleven musicians and supporting vocalists. What keeps him a cut above is his passion for Sai Baba and singing his philosophical preaching. In the city for a devotional concert, he shared his journey into music and Sufism.

So, what tempted him to choose devotional music at this age unlike youngsters who die for pop and filmi music? “My upbringing in a musical family where Sufiana music dominated, shaped my sensibility,” says Akbar.

“Listening to or performing qawwali with a contemplative mind takes me to a trance. Not devoting too much to classical music I learnt the discipline of Sufiana music, inspiring to surrender to the preceptor in totality and relish the delightful moments. My dada Ustad Azaad Saheb and father Rais Akbar taught me the nuances of Sufiana music, which has to be essentially contemplative, serene and sophisticated. Then pop or film music, though I can perform, perr feeka feeka sa lagta hai,” he adds.

On the future of qawwali, known as the Muslim devotional music, and reaction to his singing Sai bhajans, he says, “Devotional music and Qawwali are compositions of saints and Sufi poets. Qawwali is elaboration of a religious Sufi sentiment. It is a judicious mixture of solos and choral singing in recurring phrases with gusto. As a Muslim, my singing Sai bhajans in laudation of Shirdi Sai Baba lends a meaning and feel of secularism and communal harmony expressing faith in the oneness of God and His devout to live above caste, creed and religious considerations.”

If we go by the call of tradition, it's mithai, but modernity spells cakes, cookies, chocolates and even breads. Though there's an assortment of these stuff in the market and you can even customise according to your taste and liking, homemade cakes and cookies are more than welcome.

So, going by the popularity of homemade bakery stuff, we check out on these ladies who are running their business from homes - a trend for this Diwali.

"People now-a-days are more interested in homemade stuff than readymade," says Sonia Kochhar, who runs her business by the name of Sonia's Baking and Cooking Classes in Sector 5, Panchkula. Spelling the USP of homemade stuff, she says, "It's hygienic, pure ingredients and it is definitely pocket friendly. While our lady bakes anything from Pinna Colada to traditional Dandi cake she says it's the homemade flavour that attracts people. "There's always a difference in the stuff that is made in larger quantity than made in smaller scale. I use pure ingredients, right from caramalised sugar to white butter and a variety of dry fruits, and that's what brings a different flavour to my stuff."

Ask her how are her cakes are priced and she says, "My date and walnut cake is priced at Rs 400, and for others they are at Rs 350 per kg and so on." Well, that's not all. If you want chocolates, Sonia makes them too.

A perfect gift for someone you care for or someone you'd like to get to know, cakes and cookies have found meaning in more than flavours. Says Veena, from Saatvik Cooking Classes in Sector 34, "It's not just cakes that people want to buy, the trend calls for variety. I have lots of people ordering and even enrolling in my classes to learn how to bake an eggless cake and cookies." Ask her which is the most liked flavour and she says, "Chocolate, of course, and rather than dry cake people prefer a cake with icing."

Well, that was for the flavour, but with people getting more and more health conscious, homemade scores on this front too. "When we bake at home, is there are no added calories and cream. People prefer homemade stuff because there's no thing hidden in it," says Ritu Aggarwal, who runs her cooking class by the name of Ritu's in Sector 28-A. Ask her what more calls for the demand of homemade stuff and she says, "Lot of people are turning vegetarian, this is another reason why people prefer things that are homemade, as they have faith that there will be no cheating and the stuff they get will be pure. Other than that home-produced cakes last longer and can be stored up to one week in the fridge and for at least three days without refrigeration."

jigyasachimra@tribunemail.com

Indian scientists claim to have developed a rice variety that requires no cooking, only soaking in water.

The rice variety developed at the government-run Central Rice Research Institute (CRRI) at Cuttack in Orissa is characterized by low amylase content and becomes soft on soaking in water, institute director Tapan Kumar Adhya said in an interview.

Production of rice in India is extensive and last year's production figure stands at 98.5 million tonnes. The present variety, he said, can serve specific niche consumers and make rice cooking a hassle-free affair.

The new variety, named Aghanibora, tested by the institute is of 145 days duration with a yield of 4-4.5 tonnes per hectare and is at par with the currently grown rice varieties in the country, he said.

"One can get ready to eat rice after soaking it for about 45 minutes in ordinary water, and 15 minutes if soaked in lukewarm water, whereas other rice varieties need cooking," Adhya said.

The rice is a local, improved land variety of Assam under the 'Komal chawl' category and is not genetically modified rice. It is like any other rice variety grown and consumed in India.

"However, this variety is usually prepared as parboiled rice and then it can be used for consumption after milling," the researcher said.

The initial experimentation was to test whether the rice variety could be grown in the hot and humid climate of Orissa and still retain the property of softness.

Scientists at the institute have done extensive research over the past three years and tested its nutritional properties and other biochemical parameters, he said.

"We are glad that our experiment has proved successful, and from our knowledge we believe it could be grown in the eastern states of India," he said.

"The present rice variety is an already released variety and can be taken up by the farmers with the availability of the seeds," Adhya said.

According to the institute director, the rice variety can be grown in all the eastern states of Assam, Bihar, West Bengal, Orissa and coastal Andhra Pradesh. "As such there is no technical barrier in cultivating it in any part of the country," he said.

"We do not have knowledge of any other country developing such rice variety as rice is a cereal with huge diversity. We do not have specific data about the average household requirement of fuel. But this variety of rice will help in saving fuel, at least for cooking of rice. Moreover, it will be a relief to housewives," he said. — IANS

Eating chocolate or drinking water can relieve aches and pains, a new study has shown.

A team of researchers says the distraction of eating or drinking for pleasure acts as a natural painkiller. Although the findings come from studies on animals, the scientists believe the same effect takes place in people.

The study, published in the Journal of Neuroscience by authors Peggy Mason, PhD, professor of neurobiology, and Hayley Foo, PhD, research associate professor of neurobiology at the University of Chicago, is the first to demonstrate that this powerful painkilling effect occurs while the animals are ingesting food or liquid even in the absence of appetite.

"It's a strong, strong effect, but it's not about hunger or appetite," Mason said."

If you have all this food in front of you that's easily available to reach out and get, you're not going to stop eating, for basically almost any reason," the expert added.

In the experiments, rats were given either a chocolate chip to eat or had sugar water or regular water infused directly into their mouth.

As the rat swallowed the chocolate or fluid, a light-bulb beneath the cage was switched on, providing a heat stimulus that normally caused the animal to lift its paw off the floor.

Five cups of green tea every day can cut the risk of developing certain blood cancers, say researchers.

The much touted beverage, drunk in China, Japan and the Middle East, has been previously shown to have a host of benefits including staving off cancers, helping the heart, boosting the brain and lowering levels of "bad" cholesterol.Now, in the latest study, carried out at Tohoku University School of Medicine in Sendai, Japan, researchers looked at the diets and green-tea drinking habits of 41,761 Japanese adults aged 40 to 79.The participants had no history of cancer and were followed for development of blood and lymph-system cancers.After reviewing the participants, researchers saw the chance of developing such cancers drop by 42 per cent compared with those who drank one cup or less.From further analyses, boffins also found a reduced risk of blood-related cancers even among obese patients "considered to have higher risk of these".The study has been published in the American Journal of Epidemiology. — ANI

Bollywood's original daredevil Akshay Kumar may have performed plenty of death-defying stunts in his career, but the Khiladi says that nothing compares to his upcoming film Blue, which he calls his "most dangerous film ever".

The 42-year-old actor said that he pushed himself to the limits for the film, with plenty of injuries on the way.

"This experience has pushed just about everyone involved to their absolute limits. From the producer's bank balance, to the director's maximum efforts for his first baby which just happens to be the most dangerous movie I've ever been a part of," Akshay posted on his blog.

The film which is being touted as the most expensive Bollywood film ever made marks the debut of director Anthony D'Souza and it's star studded cast includes, Sanjay Dutt, Zayed Khan, Lara Dutta, Katrina Kaif and none other than pop princess Kylie Minogue in a cameo.

"There is more to Blue than anyone who watches this film could ever imagine. It's not just the colour Blue, not since I cracked my head open and bled like a stuffed pig 100 feet under water!," wrote Akshay about his experiences while shooting the film. — PTI

India is already doing Chiggy Wiggy with Kylie Minogue. Kylie's meaningless cacophony Chiggy Wiggy in collaboration with Oscar winner A.R. Rahman (Slumdog Millionaire) has become a chartbuster and household word in India, a signature line for Blue, set-up new trend for Bollywood music, and taken up plenty of column inches.

Tipped by its leading star Akshay Kumar as "most dangerous film ever" and by media as the "most expensive film in the history of Bollywood", underwater thriller Blue also stars Sanjay Dutt, Katrina Kaif, Lara Dutta, and pint-sized Grammy winner Kylie Minogue as herself. This is Kylie's first silver screen appearance after Moulin Rouge!.

Shot in Bahamas and Thailand, its cinematography has been handled by Pete Zuccarini (Pirates of the Caribbean), action scenes by James Bomalick (The Fast and the Furious), and sound mix by Oscar winner Resul Pookutty (Slumdog Millionaire).

Rahman was quoted as saying, "By working with Kylie, I was able to create something truly unique for fans-the music fuses the cultures of mainstream pop, Hindi, and Bhangra." Acclaimed Indo-American statesman Rajan Zed has welcomed the West-East musical collaboration this film and Kylie offered and invited other world composers to explore joint ventures with India's musicians. “But in the mad rush, India should not forget its rich music heritage,” Rajan Zed, who is president of Indo-American Leadership Confederation, said in a statement in Nevada (USA). — ANI