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SPAtial gateway
Nearly 40 minutes from the busy by-lanes of Chandigarh, in the mountains, amidst the soft rustles of the trees, in the unpredictable layers of cloud, in calm and unruffled air, lies a place, rather a storehouse of mystic bliss and luxury. And R.K Garg, chairman, Nainee Garg, joint managing director of Asia Resorts Limited, cull out a name for a holistic experience, which they endearingly get hand carved at the entrance, Moksha. The name validates everything that nature offers.
Located at a height of 5,000ft in Parwanoo, Moksha Himalyan Spa Resort opens its door for an out-of-this-world experience. The third property in the Himalayan-based, Asia Resorts Limited Portfolio, this eco-friendly spa resort is the result of dreams, and the will to turn them into reality right in the lap of nature. As Nainee puts it, “If you dream so big, then you are also bestowed the courage to give a firm platform to it.” So, ride on the golf cart with Ray Mc Shane, general manager, as he takes us around the tastefully furnished natural rooms with private balconies at Moksha Villa, and let us soak in experience standing on the fire terrace, enjoying the natural splash of water bodies, gauging far into eternity from the pool area, filling our lings with fresh air at the yoga session, and diving into the jacuzzi with a loved one probably accompanying you. Attaining moksha
Integrated water bodies, trees, and an infinity view, combination of all the elements of nature, a tasteful touch of copper on the ceilings and the walls and the nascent aromatic whiff that soothes the entire spa area, Moksha Spa holds the promise of a rejuvenating experience. Says Ray, “The spa starting at Rs 3,000 offers more than 60 different kinds of treatments, massage therapies, water therapy, body treatments and personalised attention by experienced and qualified staff. Ayurvedic, Thai treatment, Turkish Hamaam (the first one in India), oil-herbal treatments, scrubs, packs, steam sauna bath, we want it to be an elevating experience for our customers.” Moksha spa also houses outdoor all-weather pool, open-air jacuzzis, state-of-art fitness centre, and opportunities for outdoor adventure activities like trekking, hiking and cycling. The place also has 62 suites, which start from Rs 15,000 onwards, are centrally heated, with a grand bedroom, a dressing room and a huge bathroom (big enough to hold 10 persons!!). You certainly cannot miss the glimpse of 250 different varieties of plants all around the place. The good part about the spa the liberating and fresh feel that takes every customer right inside the lap of nature. Here, they can take a pick from a two one-hour treatments per day or the alternative of a 90-minute treatment option per day in addition to the spa, Wellbeing or Discovering progammes. Bar bar dekho
Now that your skin has exfoliated, massaged and treated with natural herbs, essentials oils, you can enjoy a drink at the Moksha lounge/bar with a bar terrace. “ We don’t to dictate any rules to our customers. They can use the place however they require,” chips in Ray. This means you can also slip into the business area and check your mailbox, once. “But we wouldn’t put up any signage to the room,” he jokes. As the sun slowly slips behind the animated-clouds, Moksha takes a new form, style and colour. Surrounded by lighted candles, high on soft music, the spa is drunk in the freshness of nature. That’s when you are automatically position yourself on the fire terrace, right under the naked sky with friends trying their hand on perfect barbeque. At a place, which is in perfect accordance with the nature, where not a single pine tree has been cut down to accommodate any bit or part of the property, the elements of nature hold hands and reunite for the experience called Moksha. Moksha will be formally inaugurated on December 22. jasmine@tribunemail.com |
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Flower
power
The Chrysanthemum show this year too is all about flowers, festivity and fervor. But since traditions seldom come with a change, this too doesn't demand so. An event that has been a constant celebration of winters with the Golden flower, Terrace Garden-33, once again has turned into a beautiful Chrysanthemum canvas, in full bloom. And the frills are not needed since the flowers do the needful.
The horticulture department has worked up the entire area, with small flower roundabouts in an attractive display of Chrysanthemum varieties. Adding to the décor are 13 figurines, in traditional folk Punjabi attire, welcoming the guests. The show this time has over 255 varieties on display in both, the amateur and institutional categories. "We have 130 varieties in double and 125 in single flower category. Five new varieties have also been added this year," says Arun Kumar Kansal, executive engineer, Horticulture department. The usual varieties that strike you with their beauty are Snow Ball, Orange Fairlady, Gambits etc. The institutional category too has eye-catching display put on by HCTM group of Institutes, Ambala. In the amateur category, Virinder Sharma comes with his three new self produce varieties-White Spoon; rust coloured Anemone and another decorative variety in pale lavender colour. Participating from past 15-years he says, "The weather has played a spoil sport this time." Apart from the flower show, there will be stalls, cultural programs presented by school children and competitions. Pradeep Mehra, UT Advisor will inaugurate the show, but swine flu is a scare here too as the organisers fear less outturn. But nonetheless, let the fun begin! nehawalia@tribunemail.com |
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Stage show
There lives a family in Moga city who breathes theatre, which is their family affair and even the relatives and friends visiting their home Off Stage are used to relish the rehearsals, dialogue deliveries of the plays in the making. Though our house is named "Off Stage", but most of the time we remain on stage, says Pali Bhupinder the acclaimed playwright and director, one of the best, among fourth generation thespians of Punjabi theatre. Pali is ably supported on and off stage by his art and life partner Sandeep Kakkar, daughter Palvika Singh (15) and son Shabaaz (11), who won applause for roles in plays like Ghar Ghar from Punjabi Sahit Akademy. An illustrious playwright and director of 32 drama classics with ten publications the senior lecturer at DM College Moga, is contributing substantially to enrich the Punjabi theatre to compete with International level. His resolute resolve and ceaseless efforts have been a triumphing success if the tremendous applause to his plays like Terrorist di Premika in Pakistan and Raat Channi, Dukh De Kalire and Wrong Number staged in Canada is to go by. In the city to stage his play Pyasa Kaan -The Naked Truth at the ongoing TFT festival, he shared his views on the contemporary theatrical scene. Pali maintains that the real promoters are the audience. "Theatre is the quintessential art of the collective participation of back stage artists, actors, playwright, director who cannot exist without the spectator. There relation gives the theatre a special passionate delight, which inspires the artists to perform again and again. With their over 200 years old established theatre tradition, especially Jatra Bengali theatre marches adopting to new innovated techniques and forms to meet the aspirations of the people. The Punjabi theatre too needs to shed the old melodramatic and fixed thematic form to come up age," he suggests. He further adds, "The national theatre festival, indeed a confluence of diverse genres of theatre from different regions are like a cultural exchange programmes where in every actor, director and technical artist would love to display his talent before the master thespians, experienced artists and the enlightened audience. I feel honoured to showcase my solo play in Punjabi because to watch and perform in a fest are equally significant for an intrusive art lover." Asked if he plans to adapt some classic English drama Pali reacts sharply and says, "We have abundant talent, themes for theatrical ingredients in India and Indian literature. Then why to borrow it, but we need to augment the infrastructure, facilities, technical virtuosity and vision for innovative methods," he suggests. Having watched both the best plays of 21st century, Waiting for the Godot and Death of a Salesman in Canada recently he says, "The artists there are purely professional in work and approach, even the rehearsals are duly paid. I interviewed an artist in Calgari and he charged forty dollars form me for one hour. We have yet to come to their level of commitment, dedication and overall professional excellence," signs off Pali The play will be staged on Friday at Tagore Theatre at 6.30 pm
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Lanes Surrogate counselling Joyshri Lobo Sometimes when the Agony Aunts, Confidantes, Phapakutnis and Counsellors are out of town or on vacation, their fractured clientiele turns to a surrogate like me. Gifted with practical horse sense, a dubious healing touch and the capacity to keep a secret, suddenly the demand for the Lobo brand is high. When not blabbering, I can be a patient listener. The following tales are from my counselling sessions at a slum where living space is cramped, incomes meagre and the male bastion all pervasive. Stress busters like films, restaurants and parks are non-existent. This leads to problems that are ignored or kept under wraps. There are no shrinks to render help. Strict confidentiality is being maintained and all names have been changed. I do hope the lessons learnt will help the sisterhood. Case 1: Vimla, a plain, dark, stodgy woman, has a very suspicious husband. He beats her when frustrated but compensates by giving her a new suit, custom made to her generous proportions. She earns double his salary and has four bachelors and two attractive married men working in her organisation. The husband times her every move out of the office, and stands behind trees, doors and walls to check on her fidelity. The main problem seems to be his meagre earnings. Vimla followed my advice and decided to leave for her parental home, minus the children. She packed her bags but was persuaded to stay. The prospect of house keeping, child rearing and a dip in the funds made the errant husband see sense. There are no more new dresses or thrashings. The verbal abuse continues but with her usual patience and intelligence, Vimla can now create another situation to barter for a change in patterns. She is also coddling her partner's rather fragile ego. Case 2: Manju is extremely hard working. Her out-of-job husband is a kind man. Manju is very energetic and has mastered tailoring, the art of manicure, pedicure, henna and bridal makeup. Her clientiele is from the slum and cannot pay much, but what she loses on cash is made up by sheer numbers. The trouble is that Manju's successes are her neighbours' sour limes. They pass snide remarks, pick fights and ignore her. Manju has visited their homes whenever needed but matters have gone from bad to worse. She even undertook free work for "friends." They still did not accept her and her blood pressure rocketed, the flow of tears turned into a rivulet. I advised her to remain aloof, ask for money for every job done and not to help anyone. I convinced her that she is far more talented and successful than they, and today her self-esteem soars. The neighbours now seek out Manju for her skills. Case 3: For many years, a young friend has been smitten by the love bug. The guy, a classmate, is handsome, the doll beautiful and courageous. When the nesting season arrived, both sets of parents showed reluctance over the issue of caste. Finally, the girl's parents gave in to the inevitable. The lad said his were amenable too. As suggested, my young friend went to visit her prospective in-laws, sans parents. When she put forth her case, she met an antagonistic wall. During the discussions, her beau did not utter a word. If he was so silent at such a crucial moment, could she expect him to speak up in the future? I am happy to report that my friend is now happily married to a very gutsy young man, chosen by her family. If your agony aunt is on vacation, do feel free to visit me! My email is: chinny_01@yahoo.com
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Picture perfect
Parbina Rashid If somebody asks us to name two landmarks of the Government College of Art, our instant reply would be Chacha ke samose and Santosh. Not necessarily in that order but both have been integral part of the campus scene, Chacha’s (his name is Ujjagar Singh, but not too many remember it, as he’s everybody’s chacha) canteen, ever since the college was established in Shimla as an offshoot of Mayo School of Art-Lahore after Partition, and Santosh, who have been working as a live model for over 20 years now. Both, in their own ways, have been contributing to the art scene of this region. So, when Santosh’s form in rock took the centre-stage at one of the exhibitions last month, it hardly took anyone by surprise. After all, his statues reign supreme on the college campus. Almost all students have either painted him or sculpted him or captured him in camera as part of their anatomy project. Aas Boondon Ki is how the sculpture has been titled by its creator Harpal Singh. “His kisan-like features are quite interesting and this is why I have done his portraits as well as his sculpture in Plaster of Paris,” says Harpal. Though Santosh does not have a macho frame to boast of, he has an interesting face with a distinguished pair of moustache. “There is a lack of live models for the students to work on. Santosh happens to be the only available one and with his interesting face-cut he has been able to cater to the students’ imagination,” says D S Kapoor. A second-generation model, Santosh was introduced to this profession by his mother Kalawati, who posed for art college students for over three decades. Santosh is about 50 and on the verge of retirement as his poor health makes it impossible to sit for long hours in classroom. And, when we finally meet him at the college canteen in between his sessions we know why? Frail, with grey studs, suffering from severe cough, it is difficult for him to bare it all for the budding artists, that too for something a paltry a sum of Rs 44. “It’s Rs 20 per session for a portrait, Rs 30 for semi- nude and Rs 44 for posing nude,” Santosh gives us a clear picture. A simple enough calculation but it gives us an insight to the functioning of the college. With the meager amount spent on live models, students are getting deprived of quality models. “Students get tired of painting the same puny figure, but what to do. No one would be sitting for long hours for Rs 20 or 40,” says an insider. And as for Santosh, he is willing to sit as long as his health permits, for he is as keen to see the end product, be it on canvas or stone, as his painter, but not enough to care what happens to the art piece once it is done. “There are so many of them lying everywhere on the campus, mostly in broken conditions. If they do not preserve their creations after it serves the purpose, it is up to them, but as a person serving here for so long, I expect to get some kind of pension once I retire,” he tells us. Right, art is divine, commerce is no less important. parbina@tribunemail.com
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Musical ecstasy
Among the very few chosen by God, Sant Satnam Singh (43) an embodiment of spirituality and Indian classical music is admired equally in India and abroad for excellence in classical music and social service. Blessed with a rare combination of extraordinary talent and spirituality, Sant Satnam Singh articulates the classical and devotional Gurbani Kirtan with remarkable dexterity and remains in demand for concerts. Born in a sleepy village of Chamiari in Jallandhar district he graduated from Layallpur Khalsa College there. “But as ordained I came under the influence a spiritual saint Garib Dass and turned a sadhu after completing my school,” disclosed Satnam Singh reverently called Baba ji who runs an Ashram. As many as twenty-five of his disciples live there permanently to whom I give musical and spiritual education besides they attend to their regular studies, adds Sant ji. Having done numerous broadcasts, he remains a favourite on All India Radio as a classical performer. While performing in countries like England, Canada, Scotland, Germany, Spain, Sant ji has received universal acclaim for his melodious performances.
“The spirituality and music are complimentary to each other, which I have observed after years of rigorous study of the scriptures and musical training under the tutelage of Pandit Mani Prasad of Kirana Gharana. See the holy Guru Granth Saheb wherein the spiritual wisdom of great gurus and magical magnificence of classical music coalesce to create celestial effect on the mind of a devout listener,” elaborates Satnam Singh, who has acquired an exquisite understanding of Raga tradition and Gurbani. He effortlessly improvises and displays an unsurpassed depth of knowledge. His voice is characterised by an unusual richness, combining grace with power. Recipient of the prestigious Surmani Award for creative excellence in classical music Satnam Singh performs at the Swami Haridas Sangeet Sammelan in Mumbai. “It is indeed an honour for me,” says the Sant. “I also run the Anhad Raga International Tutorial Charity and have extensively performed in Europe and as such there are no financial constraint to run my Ashram that houses 25 inmates.” Chhote ustad “Chhote Miyan Subhaan Allah..” remains the common adulatory compliment for the prodigious Rishab Seen, the grandson of Punjab gharana tabla maestro Pandit Lacchman Singh Seen and son of Etawa gharana Sitar virtuoso Manu Kumar Seen. 12 years old, he has got a systematic and regular training in vocal music and tabla playing from his grandfather and has learnt the intricacies of sitar under the tutelage of his father. Having secured first positions and gold medals in numerous music festivals, Rishabh is a young sitarist with fine musical sensibilities and is hailed as ‘Chhote Ustad’ in music circle. Performance on Friday, at Pracheen Kala Kendra, 6:30 pm |
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Priceless!
A Rembrandt painting unseen in public for nearly 40 years sold for a record 20.2 million pounds ($33.2 million) at auction in London on Tuesday, the highest ever paid at auction for the 17th century artist. Christie’s said that “Portrait of a man, half-length, with his arms akimbo”, painted in 1658, fetched the 4th highest-price paid at auction for any old masters painting.
It was bought by an anonymous client bidding via telephone, Christie’s said. The record for a Rembrandt previously stood at 19.8 million pounds (then $29 million) in December 2000 for “Portrait of a lady aged 62.” The Rembrandt was the star lot in Christie’s auction of old masters and 19th century works, which have stood up relatively well during a financial downturn that has hit much of the rest of the world art market. “We are delighted to have been able to exhibit this masterful portrait for the first time in nearly forty years leading up to the auction, and to have seen it realize such a strong price that reflects its importance and magnitude,” said Richard Knight, international co-head of old masters at Christie’s. The last time the 1658 Rembrandt painting was sold at auction was in 1930 when it fetched 18,500 pounds. It later went into a series of private collections in the United States and was last seen in public at an exhibition in Detroit in 1970. The top price at auction for any old master picture is 49.5 million pounds ($77 million) for “The Massacre of the Innocents” by Peter Paul Rubens set at Sotheby’s in London in 2002. |
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Dollar deal
A portrait commissioned by Michael Jackson has fetched 175,000 dollars at a New York auction. The painting, “Equestrian Portrait of King Philip II”, shows the King of Pop on horseback, dressed in regal garb and attended by two cherubs.
The 3.51 (11.5 feet) by 3.1 meters (10.1 feet) canvas, by New York-based artist Kehinde Wiley, was sold to a German collector at the Art Basel show, according to Kathy Grayson from Deitch Projects gallery. “I was receiving messages saying Michael Jackson wants to reach you. I ignored them because quite honestly I thought it was a prank,” the Telegraph quoted Wiley as telling the art show’s daily publication. “Unfortunately, I didn’t have as much input as I would have hoped for, but I think it’s something he would have been proud of,” she added. Jackson, who died aged 50 from a cocktail of drugs on June 25 this year, never got to see the finished form. Wiley said: “I think that his idea of collaborating with me was something that he really wanted to see through. “I felt a responsibility to him to get it done (after he died).”
—ANI
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