Threadbare The gift market for festivals is ever growing, so how can Raksha Bandhan remain behind? The festivals of India have something in common. Of course, there would a zillion heart-felt answers to this observation - colour, joy, and feeling of oneness, harmony…. more patriotic and sober answers follow.

Ode to brotherhood! Spare a thought for universal brothers this Raksha Bandhan. They promise security, safety, money, fame…a simple thread can work wonders! Tie them a rakhi and see how they bring happiness to your life.   — Photo: S. Chandan

No confusion! Desi Sultans along with Sa Re Ga Ma fame Ankit Balhara set to rock together Music and its manifestations - underground, reggae, western classical, Indian classical, Rap…anything that you could call a rhythm becomes music. And like that wasn't enough, we got in the trend of fusion. A genre that offers more than our mind can actually register. — Photo: S. Chandan

Lead on! Mapmyindia, a GPS and location-based service, has been launched in the city How often have you been startled, shocked and scandalised for a split second when a car screeches to a halt right in front of you? A strange face comes from behind the window with a strange query - 'which side is Sector 34.' Better still, 'Mrs Dhir, 138-A waley, unka ghar kis side ko hai.'
Rohan Verma with Meghna Naidu and Shamsher Mehndi at the recent launch of Mapmyindia

FLAMEboyant Darvesh Fire and Safety Industries, a division of Darvesh Group, has launched its ultra portable flame inhibitor- FireKiller. It is a revolutionary aerosol dispenser that is of tremendous value while subduing and extinguishing fires. An internationally patented product of Space Age Technology, the FireKiller is a non-toxic, non-pressurised, completely green product that comes with a life time guarantee.

Face off
Netizens could soon be able to identify people from photographs posted on the internet, all thanks to a revolutionary software being developed by Face.com. Face.com, the software company produced technology that can identify individuals on social networking sites and online galleries by comparing their image against a known picture of them.

Key note
Lava Mobile is the first handset brand to incorporate Rupee Symbol in mobile phones. It is a matter of pride for India to be the fifth nation having a currency symbol of its own. Lava, always a leader in consumer insight driven innovations ensured that the Indians did not have to wait too long to have it on their mobile phone keypad.

Titanic move
Scientists are hoping to virtually raise the doomed ship Titanic sitting on the floor of the North Atlantic by using 3D technology to map the wreckage site for the first time. A team of experts are set to reconstruct a detailed picture of the remains with cutting-edge robots, acoustic imaging, sonar technologies and high resolution optical, video and 3D imaging.

Code secure A laptop has become more of a necessity in today's world, as one needs access to the Internet and other important data at all times. But it is important to remember that the same problem of data recovery, spyware and viruses, which affect your desktop, can also ruin your laptop. Therefore, keeping your laptop secure is of prime importance. Here are a few tips. Protecting your laptop Carry your laptop in a dull, uninteresting case, which does not attract the attention of petty thieves. It is a known fact that the majority of laptops are stolen from airports, railway stations or when one is travelling.

Home front Nature’s own Free flowing water, cool wind and refreshing greenery come together in Namita Satnam’s home Ostentatious is a word that one would not associate with either her persona or her home. Spread over five kanals, city's leading architect Namita Satnam's house in Sector 10 optimises the natural elements.

Spade work
Stand up
Plenty of space or no space at all, if you are a gardener, you will be needing planters and stands for plant display. Those living on upper stories do need them more. It is not only specific for the resident gardeners, even at any premises, be it a hospital, club or a school, you need them. There are two types of planters or stands, one fixed and the others movable.

Chirpy verses
The poetic symposium or mushaira wherein poets recite their verses is a century-old literary tradition. But noted Urdu poet BD Kalia Hamdam gave a fresh twist to this literary genre by featuring birds as poets in his book Prindon ka Aalmi Mushaira on which a seminar was held at CL DAV Secondary School-Panchkula by the Ehsaas Adabi Society.

Eye spy! Even after over a decade of marriage, two children and hectic work schedules -— Bollywood actor Arjun Rampal seems to be madly in love with his wife Mehr Jessia as he made naughty eye contact with her during the Blenders Pride Fashion Tour ramp in New Delhi. Bollywood actor Arjun Rampal with his wife Mehr Jesia (2R) and designer Nandita Mehtani walk the ramp during a fashion show to display her creation, in New Delhi on Saturday night. — PTI photo

Comfort zone
Southern star Rana Daggubatti, who will make his debut in Bollywood with Dum Maro Dum, says he didn't face any problem while shooting an intimate scene with his co-star Bipasha Basu.

Close knit
Hollywood actor Julia Roberts' favourite past time is to sew and knit when she wants some quiet time to herself away from her family. The Eat, Pray, Love star, who has five-year old twins Hazel and Phinneaus and three year-old Henry with husband Danny Moder - has created a craft room in her house where she retreats to when she needs quiet time away from her family.

Rosie future
Transformers star Rosie Huntington-Whiteley is taking her relationship with Jason Statham to the next level-she is moving in with the Transporter star. The couple, who started dating in April, have now decided to move in together.

Misfit in Mumbai
Indian beauty Freida Pinto's international career is shining post Slumdog Millionaire but she won't be seen in any Bollywood film anytime soon because she does not think she fits the bill.

Million dollar baby Hollywood bombshell Pamela Anderson earned a whopping $18,000 in one night after making an appearance at a pub.The former Baywatch star thrilled clubbers at a London pub on Friday when she showed up for the nightspot's two-year anniversary celebrations. The 43-year-old blonde beauty is in the UK to promote her upcoming role in traditional Christmas pantomime Aladdin. Anderson took home the eye-popping amount for simply sipping booze in the VIP room and posing for snaps with revellers. — PTI