A-Desiflava Mar-Apr, 2020 Issue

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FREEEE FR IT ’ S

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Volume 9 | Issue 2 | MAR-APR 2020 HONG KONG’S FIRST LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE FOR SOUTH ASIANS

Entertain

Enlighten

Engage

IO N

C R IP T

IO N

Your Thoughts

Spinach Salad & Avoturmeric Smoothie

The body’s Best Antivirus Program

Wellness

Recipe

Entertainment & Engagement lifelines of Hong Kong Cover Story

The Power of Fashion in Our Lives

Do’s and Don’ts in Fashion

The Stylist

Our Must Have’s This Summer Beauty

What's on the Tarot Cards? Tarot



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EDITORIAL: Gaurav Pardeshi (Chief Editor)

PUBLISHER: Neha Gaurav Pathak

DESIGN CONSULTANT: Julian Fernando

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DISCLAIMER: No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without permission. The publisher, layout designer, Contributors, their employees and partners are not responsible for the results of any actions, error or omissions take on the basis of information contained in this publication and expressly disclaim all and any liability for any such action of any person. The views expressed in A-Desiflava are not necessarily those of the publisher, editor layout designer or contributors. The publisher, layout designer and editor cannot he held responsible for difference of opinion or statements published in good faith. The mention of specific companies or products in articles or advertisements does not imply that the are endorsed or recommended by this magazine or its publisher in preference to other of a similar nature which are not mentioned or advertised.

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EDITOR’S NOTE

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CONTRIBUTORS

I

t's not the end of the world to lose against a silly virus called Corona. Lets all of us stand strong, stay safe and stay healthy. One of the best Desi Jugaad is to have a glass of warm water with Turmeric (Haldi) every day in the morning empty stomach to keep your immune system strong. March-April 2020 issue has surely got delayed big time, and there are many reasons to not feel so happy while releasing this issue. My grandmother passed away and also this corona thing hovering all over the place is creating a very stressful feeling. Just the thought of catching this infection and getting quarantined and not being able to meet your family, friends, business, work makes everyone feel so sick. This issue does not carry anything related to or close to Coronavirus as already the entire social media, WhatsApp university, and talks are only about Corona. So the idea with this issue is to distract your minds from Corona at least for 5-10 minutes that you glance over and read some of the articles. The Cover Story is about Hong Kong's Indian people who are our community and entertainment lifelines, without these people living and doing their things in Hong Kong it would be difficult to imagine any community binding stuff happening in our city. We've spoken to magazine publishers, event organizers, DJs, dancer-choreographer and event marketers. Without them in HK, at least I cannot imagine any big Indian event happening here.

Poonam V Mehta Aunty MVP

Seema Puri Bhatia Recipes

Sonia Samtani Wellness

Munisha Khatwani Nirupama Tarot Vishwanathan

Rajshree

Pearly Chhabra

Julian Fernando

We, The Women

Did You Know?

Beauty

Mona Shroff The Stylist

Contest

Did You Know section, talks about how it is unlawful for an employer to discriminate against a job applicant on the ground of her pregnancy. Our regular columnist Niru Vishwanath from the Equal Opportunities Commission of Hong Kong has shared two real cases with her advice on information regarding your rights under Hong Kong's anti-discrimination ordinances. Beauty & Stylist section, cover articles by Pearly Chabbra and Mona Shroff. How do you figure out what to buy from a plethora of products flooding the beauty aisles? and the power of fashion in our lives. A must-read for the beautiful HK Indian ladies out there. We The Women section highlights beautiful and talented Rajshree Wakade who is a lawyer by profession and a fashion enthusiast. She is taking the Hong Kong Indian media by storm for sure. Tarot section by Munisha Khatwani covers your tarot predictions for March & April. I'm sure by the time you get your hands on this copy, March would be almost finished, but see if the predictions were correct in terms of how your entire March is going or has gone and look forward to the April predictions. Please revert back with your raves, rants, and comments. Thanks for your continuous support in our 10th Year of A-Desiflava Magazine. I would like to end by saying 'Go Corona Go', many of you'll have seen the memes and songs, so bring back the smile on your faces and enjoy a happy and healthy life.

Signing off

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CONTENTS

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Bye Richard Parker,

My Grandmother

Did you know?

Your employee rights during pregnancy

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Smt. Sitabai Lallu Pardeshi

Thank you for everything you gave us, taught us and preached us.

Beauty

Our Must Have’s This Summer

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The Stylist

The Power of Fashion in Our Lives

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We, The Women

Lawyer and a fashion enthusiast

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Wellness

Your Thoughts

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Tarot

What’s on the Tarot Cards?

Recipe

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Spinach Salad & Avoturmeric Smoothie 40

Gaurav Pardeshi, Neha Pathak with Gaurav’s grandmother Late Smt. Sitabai Lallu Pardeshi

I

'd never imagined I would have to dedicate this issue to my grandmother Smt.Sitabai Lallu Pardeshi who passed away on 23 February 2020 at the age of 83. On 19 Feb. around 11am I received a call informing me that my grandmother is vomiting and is critically unwell. Also, her neighbors mentioned that she won't go to the hospital until I reached there and took her myself. I rushed to her house and immediately called an ambulance and got her admitted to the nearest hospital. Even in her halfunconscious condition she kept on saying Gaurav I don't want to go to that hospital as it's not good, but looking at her serious condition and neighbor's suggestions I went against her wish and got her immediately admitted to the same hospital. On 22 Feb. the evening was the last time she responded to our voice and touch, but her soul was almost 90% gone just waiting to give us all a final goodbye. 23 Feb, We signed DNR with the consent of our entire family members and then the doctors stopped her ventilation, within a span of 5-6 hours she left her soul without even giving us any hint or signal of going away. “Dadi, I wish I could hug you one last time and say THANK YOU and I love you. She was our family's Richard Parker from the life of Pi movie, who left us heading straight towards the jungle even without looking back and giving us a chance to say Thank You.” The reason why I am comparing her with Richard Parker is that she left us without giving us a chance to say goodbye and also because her life was like a tigress who made us all grow from survival to luxurious living. My Dadi lived like a queen. She was the tigress of our family who sowed the seeds of entrepreneurship, ambitious living, hospitality, hard work, never forget your roots, always family comes first, save money for bad times, spend wisely and be independent. “I pray to God, Bhagwaan and Allah to bring her back to my family and may her soul rest in peace and spread her love, blessings, and care to our entire family from heaven. Dadi you must have met my dad (Papa) up there, please take care of him and stay united both of you. Papa, your son, and Dadi your grandson will always live up to your names no matter what, and if I do anything wrong in life, please put me back to the right path, if I am doing everything right in life, please hold my hands and walk with me.”

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COVER STORY

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HK's Entertainment & Community Backbone

In conversation with Hong Kong's Indian Entrepreneurs who are putting together the Entertainment, Enlightment & Engagement aspects for our community. We approached these social entrepreneurs based in Hong Kong who are in the field of event management, music, dance, and publications, to share their stories with us. The profiles are shown in alphabetical order based on their first names, after the profile of Gaurav & Neha who are the founders of A-Desiflava Magazine.

GAURAV & NEHA ADESIFLAVA MAGAZINE & EVENTS Where were you born? And if you were born outside Hong Kong, what brought you here? I was born in Mumbai, Maharashtra and Neha were born in Jharkhand, Bihar. I came here with my work, as I joined AirTek International Ltd. in 2009, a Honeywell licensee for Portable Air Coolers and Portable Air Conditioners. Neha moved with me after our marriage in 2010.

How did you get into the line of work you are in? Do you enjoy your work? Yes, I love my work as I do so many different things at the same time. I doubt there is any industry or field where I haven't tried my hands. In Hong Kong, I joined as a Marketing Manager for my company, and after working for 2 years, Neha & I decided to start our own magazine for Indians. In early 2010, I realized that there

isn't a single magazine for south Asians in HK. At that time there were just two Indian magazines that I was aware of, Beyond Sindh and The Indian. But both these magazines had very limited exposure and was only limited to the closed community of Sindhi and well known old-time Indians living in Hk. There was no Indian or south Asian magazine reaching the Indian ex-pat community and middle to lower-income groups of Indians living in HK. This is when Neha and I started knocking from shops to companies, requesting to advertise in our first magazine for south Asians. In October 2011, we launched our first magazine and thankfully with God's grace we are still going strong. Many people have come and gone, but the magazine has never given up on the worse of the times. Alongside, A-Desiflava magazine we have our electronic brands trading company APL, which mainly deals in trading of Xiaomi eco-system brand electronics

to across the globe. We also business in India by the name of ALPS Enterprises, a national distributor of the Roidmi brand (a Xiaomi eco-system brand) of Cordless vacuum cleaners.

Do you work full time? We would love to know about what else do you do? Yes, full-time for me and parttime for Neha as our 4-yearold son Aadyansh keeps her busy the whole day with all his naughty games and playing. Brands trading I would say is our main business while the Magazine keeps our community involved and engaged. A-Desiflava Magazine was started as a business but now has become more of a passion. So it does not matter if the Magazine as a business makes no profit, but the show has to go on. I want to be able to bring it to a point where I can hand it over to a passionate entrepreneur who would take it to the next level in the field of publication.

List some of your most known achievements in Hong Kong. Is there a particular event or project that has helped you create your brand image in Hong Kong. A-Desiflava Magazine started in 2010.

A-Desiflava Box Cricket Sixes, HK's first box cricket tournament which was introduced by us in early 2013. We still host the box cricket tournament every year. Delia School of Canada Navratri Utsav, HK's biggest Navratri festival happening from the past 6 years now. Aamchi Mumbai Restaurant, a Mumbai theme based restaurant and bar, which got closed in 2017 but HK Indians still have their sweet memories of one of our experimental projects. Galaxy Gladiators Lantau cricket team, where Kumar Sangakarra captained the team for 3 years and Brian Lara the famous cricketer mentored the team for 1 year. Our company took sole responsibility for marketing and management for two years.

What’s in the pipeline for 2020? Anything, in particular, our Hong Kong Indians can look forward to? Navarati Utsav 2020 Adesiflava Box Cricket Sixes 2020 2020 seems like a difficult year for everyone and I just hope it passes away smoothly. As of now, there is nothing much planned other than our two signature events mentioned above.


COVER STORY

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Moving to Hong Kong has made me experience a profession beyond the passion, it has given me the opportunity to put various events together.

Is this your full-time work and bread earner? If not, what else do you do? For now, it is my full-time profession.

DJ DEEP REZONANCE EVENTS Where were you born and how did you move to Hong Kong (if not born in HK)?

What made you get in to what you are doing now and is the work quite satisfying?

I was born and brought up in Lucknow. In 2008, I moved to Mumbai and started my career as a DJ and in 2012, I had the opportunity to join an upcoming event company in Hong Kong which is called, Rezonance Events.

I have always been into music. Even in school, I used to lead a school band and later on, that passion had turned into a profession. Moving to Hong Kong has made me experience a profession beyond the passion, it has given me the opportunity to put various events together. My profession has helped me cater to wide range of clients from various age, race, ethnicity and my experience extends through private events, corporate events, club events etc.

List some of your most known achievements in Hong Kong, something that makes you feel has really helped you create your brand image in Hong Kong. I have been playing for Holi Beach Party which is the biggest Holi celebration in Hong Kong and I have managed corporate brands like HSBC, Caravel Group, Epic Group, Hong Kong Indian Diamond Association (HKIDA), Sarjan Group (Charity Organization), Pandora etc. I have also extended my passion as a visual artist, designing & development. As a VJ, I have had the privilege to be associated with few of the grand Indian weddings here in Hong Kong & Thailand. I have

also had the opportunity to work with renowned artist like, Akon, Jason Derulo, Redfoo, Badshah, Mika Singh etc.

What’s in pipeline for 2020 from your end? Something that our Hong Kong Indians can look forward to? One of the best events to look forward to this year would be Holi Fest 2020 – The biggest Holi celebration in music festival style in Hong Kong on 14th March. Along with this, there would quite a few Bollywood club events that we are planning.

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COVER STORY

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GURPREET KAUR B EYOND THE BOUNDARIES MAGAZINE

Do you work full time? We would love to know about what else do you do? Beyond the Boundaries and Sherry Concepts are not fulltime jobs. I would say I am a full-time mom of two first, with Sherry Concepts and BTB as my side hustle. Apart from them, I also do event planning and consultations on prints and design projects with my clients.

Where were you born? And if you were born outside Hong Kong, what brought you here? I was born and brought up in Hong Kong. My father moved to Hong Kong when he was 16 years old. He came here through the aid of his uncle who worked as one of the first Sikh officers in the Hong Kong British Army.

How did you get into the line of work you are in? Do you enjoy your work? My husband Sukhbir and I started Sherry Concepts which is a design and printing

company. I have always loved working with colours and graphics. I enjoy creating projects on the computer and then seeing the final print once it is done. We also started “Beyond the Boundaries” an online and print magazine here in Hong Kong. It was renamed from “Saanjh” (also an online and print magazine) last year which had been in print for 8 years. The work is very satisfying and exciting as we get to work with people in our community. Be it artists, writers, educators or entrepreneurs, we are fortunate to be able to work with all of them and provide a platform for the stories behind the people in our community.

Beyond the Boundaries and Sherry Concepts are not full-time jobs. I would say I am a full-time mom of two first, with Sherry Concepts and BTB as my side hustle.

List some of your most known achievements in Hong Kong. Is there a particular event or project that has helped you create your brand image in Hong Kong. Our most well-known achievement would probably be the Diwali Extravaganza Bazaar which we have

organized every year since 2013. As well as “Beyond the Boundaries” magazine which has gained more attention since December, after we brought in a new editor, Shikha S. Lamba. Creating a brand is never easy and involves a lot of hard work and one needs a dedicated team which we now have.

What’s in the pipeline for 2020? Anything, in particular, our Hong Kong Indians can look forward to? We have quite a few ideas we want to implement this year. But our focus for the magazine will be to support our Hong Kong community which has seen some tough times in recent months. We want to showcase people and organizations who are doing good work here. Our Hong Kong Indian community can always count on us for great storytelling, and once things calm down here, we would also like to organize more cultural events and bazaars which have always been very popular with our community.


COVER STORY

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Where were you born and how did you move to Hong Kong (if not born in HK)? I was born and raised in Hong Kong. I graduated from Sir Ellis Kadoorie Secondary School.

What made you get in to what you are doing now and is the work quite satisfying?

HARRY BAATH FUNJABI BHANGRA HONGKONG

As a kid, I was not interested in learning about my culture and did not speak Punjabi fluently.However, I was allowed to perform for a Punjabi event from where I started learning more about my culture and people. From there, my Punjabi had started improving and my interest in Bhangra grew. Bhangra is not only a passion but a gateway to relieve stress from an everyday work life. There is nothing more satisfying than when the music hits the ears and the feet catches the rhythm.

Is this your full-time work and bread earner? If not, what else do you do? Teaching Bhangra is not my full-time job, I am a sales manager in a British company in Hong Kong. I do this for passion and to promote this culture to the youth so they can stay connected to their culture and grow from it as I did.

List some of your most known achievements in Hong Kong, something that makes you feel has

There is nothing more satisfying than when the music hits the ears and the feet catches the rhythm.

really helped you create your brand image in Hong Kong. It is a great pleasure representing Hong Kong on an International scale by competing in Asia’s biggest Bhangra competition “Arena Bhangra 2020” which we won 3rd place and “RedDot Bhangra 2019” where we won champions. Through which a lot of people in Hong Kong got to know us and are willing to be a part of our team. The team gets stronger and better with every competition that we take part in and gain experience. Also, “Lok Naach Caritas Bhangra Competition 2019” was a big achievement as it was the very first local competition and became a platform for youth to witness Bhangra in Hong Kong.

What’s in pipeline for 2020 from your end? Something that our Hong Kong Indians can look forward to? Our team “Funjabi Bhangra” is planning to compete in more international competitions such as in Australia and Singapore. There are more workshops, cultural events and a local Bhangra competition that are in store for the local Indian community of Hong Kong to join.

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COVER STORY

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HITESH AMARNANI WORLD DANCE COMPANY HONG KONG

Teaching dance has made me happier in a way I could never imagine, it has always been my dream and I’m living it. events, product launches and more. Teaching dance has made me happier in a way I could never imagine, it has always been my dream and I’m living it.

Where were you born and how did you move to Hong Kong (if not born in HK)? I’m Hitesh Amarnani, born and raised in Mumbai, India. In 2011, I had moved to Hong Kong as a senior dance instructor in a dance company. In 2017, with the support of my wife, Niharika Amarnani, I started my own dance company under the name “World Dance Company Hong Kong”.

What made you get in to what you are doing now and is the work quite satisfying? Back in my school days, we had a variety of extracurricular activities to choose from. I chose Music and started learning the keyboard and drums. When I was around 10 years old, I was invited to watch one of my best friend’s dance showcase and I got mesmerized by the whole set up such as the costumes, lights, stage, and of course, the dance styles. That’s

what changed my path and that’s when I decided to take dance seriously and I started learning and mastering the variety of dance forms. Eventually, I started to develop a huge passion towards dancing so while studying, I was also learning and gaining knowledge about dance from dancers like Shiamak Davar, Ashley Lobo, Stomp The Group. Being from a Sindhi business family, it was extremely difficult to convince my parents about taking dance as my career because back in those days, dancers were not looked up on and was considerate to be an underpaid job. However, that didn’t stop me from doing what I love. I started my career as a background dancer in Mumbai wherein I used to perform for award shows and other events across India. Yet, I wanted to be on the other side of the studio where I could teach and choreograph. I self-trained and kept on going and got to the stage where I was choreographing for schools, college fests, clothing brand

Is this your full-time work and bread earner? If not, what else do you do? Yes, this is my full-time work and bread earner. Apart from being a teacher/ choreographer, I have a passion for writing. I write short poems, experiences and hopefully would be publishing my 1st book soon.

List some of your most known achievements in Hong Kong, something that makes you feel has really helped you create your brand image in Hong Kong. • Ever since the launch of my company in 2017, we have around 9 centers all across Hong Kong catering about 175 students from 3 years to 85 years old, choreographed about 15 sangeets and been a part of almost every Diwali and private events in Hong Kong. • My biggest achievements are my students. Without whom I and my brand won’t be what it is today. It’s their

dedication, respect and love towards the art form which keeps me want to teach them more and spread the dance education with sheer honesty. • In the showbiz industry, I have gotten the opportunity to choreograph Shahid Kapoor, Salman Khan, Elnaaz Navrozi, and few more celebrities during weddings, diwali balls and other events. I’m truly grateful to various associations with whom I have gotten the opportunity to teach and perform at their celebrations. • The Indian Businessmen’s Association Hong Kong invited me as one of the judges at Hong Kong's Got Talent last year. Also I got a chance to choreograph a fashion show at one of IBA's event.

What’s in pipeline for 2020 from your end? Something that our Hong Kong Indians can look forward to? We are in the process of getting our 10th center, which would be announced very soon. We also have a few things lined up for 2020. Our annual dance showcase is on May 16th, that’s an annual dance performance for all “World Dance Company” students where they get to perform in front of their family and friends. Also, we are honored to be associated with India by the Bay wherein, we will be choreographing a fashion show for Raw Mango. Later in the year, we have a few Diwali balls and private events lined up and book. Overall, it’s going to be a great year for dance!


COVER STORY

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JAYA PEESAPATY THE HONG KONG TELUGU SAMAKHYA & RADIO PRESENTER HONG KONG my 5-year old son and with no relatives or close friends. The next day, my son got injured badly in a park and I had no idea how to get to the hospital or to whom to ask for help. After struggling a lot, I managed to get help from my husband’s office staff.

Where were you born and how did you move to Hong Kong (if not born in HK)? I was born in India and had moved to Hong Kong in 2002 along with my son and husband who is a Marine Engineer. Hong Kong being a shipping hub, my husband had received an employment opportunity that we couldn't resist and so packed our bags here from Vasco Da Gama, Goa.

What made you get in to what you are doing now and is the work quite satisfying? Just before I moved to Hong Kong, I was working as a Centre Manager for National Institute of Information Technology (NIIT) in Goa, India. Earlier, I had worked for Life Insurance Corp so when I arrived here, I was looking for an opportunity to work in these two fields as it is my expertise and I was fortunate enough to get to work with one of the reputed private Insurance Brokers of Hong Kong for a very short period of time. The day I arrived; my husband was sent off on a dry-docking project to China for 6-8 weeks. And here I was, in a new country, with

It was then I got the thought of creating a platform / helpline to connect to newcomers in Hong Kong and helping them on housing, schools, health care and general Hong Kong living, and more. That's how The Hong Kong Telugu Samakhya (THKTS), a non profit organisation registered with the Hong Kong Societies Ordinance was established. I am raising this organization like my third child. This gives me immense satisfaction even though, I have to answer calls from different countries in different time zones and it definitely consumes a lot of my family time. However, my family understands my purpose of this service and supports me wholeheartedly and that's why I am still able to continue doing it even after 17 years since its inception. Through THKTS, I am able to widely spread our helping hands to other members and societies and actively participate in Hong Kong government’s activities that give us a scope to promote and showcase our heritage, our culture & traditions. With the support of our members, we are able to help few families in need of any emergency situations here and in India as

well. Our members are all from the service sectors in Banking, IT, Shipping, Education, Medical and Trading, hence mostly here on short term from six months to two years.

Is this your full-time work and bread earner? If not, what else do you do? THKTS is not a monetarily paying job, but a job with much responsibility to keep our community together and healthy. I studied part time with Open University of Hong Kong while continuing with part time teaching. Thus I ended up working as an Early Childhood Educator with the reputed Woodland Preschools of Hong Kong, which makes teaching as my only source of income. I mainly volunteer and am associated with a couple of Indian organisations like Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, Indian Arts Circle. I have been volunteering as a presenter to a regional Global Web Radio for more than eight years now with a couple of very successful programmes dedicated to our Armed Forces & Farmers, named Jai Hind & Jai Kisan respectively which has given me wide recognition. I do programmes for Hong Kong too, which definitely was encouraging and led me to produce, coordinate and present programmes on Community Involvement Broadcasting Services (CIBS) of Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) with a limited honorarium payment for multi tasking.

List some of your most known achievements in Hong Kong, something that makes you feel has really helped you create your brand image in Hong Kong.

THKTS participated in many of the cultural exchange programmes organized by other Indian communities, such as UNESCO Peacemakers Cultural Celebration, Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances and more. As a radio presenter of a global web radio, I have been giving voice to the Unsung Heroes from the Armed Forces and from our society and based on this experience, my family and friends advised me to produce/ host radio programmes here in Hong Kong too and that's how, have been on air here at regular intervals.

What’s in pipeline for 2020 from your end? Something that our Hong Kong Indians can look forward to? Well, for 2020, of course there’s something!! Apart from the regular activities that I have been doing, I was suggested by many to pen my journey and so had been planning to put in print media. Secondly, I am happy to share that there will be a special radio programme for RTHK CIBS as, India & China will be celebrating the 70th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. To mark this a special occasion, the leaders of the two Nations has agreed to organize 70 celebratory activities including cultural, religious & trade promotion events in India & China, aiming to show the historic connect between these two civilizations. As part of these celebrations,radio series ‘YATRA-Incredible India’ is being proposed and supported by the Indian Consulate in Hong Kong, highlighting the diversity of India & various historic links with China with each episode illuminating unique cultures,trad itions,language,food,art forms & tourist destinations.

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DJ MOJITO STRAIGHT OUTTA HONG KONG

I genuinely don’t find myself at work even when I’m working, I find myself lost in the world of music trying to see what mixes well and sounds the best.

Where were you born and how did you move to Hong Kong (if not born in HK)? I’m born and raised in Hong Kong. Having attended a local school, every cab ride comes with the same conversation; how do you speak our language so well? My food preferences are food from the local cuisine as well.

What made you get in to what you are doing now and is the work quite satisfying? Passion for music and creativity got me into what I do. Initially, I started off as a rapper (still making original music) and then, I found my love for blending different music together along with the art behind Turntablism & DJing. Doing what you love and are passionate about is always above satisfying. I genuinely don’t find myself at work even when I’m working, I find myself lost in the world

of music trying to see what mixes well and sounds the best.

Is this your full-time work and bread earner? If not, what else do you do? Yes, music is my life and everything around me relates to it on a daily basis. I do all kinds of club events, private events, weddings and festivals. Also, I travel for tours to countries like Switzerland, Germany, Philippines, Myanmar, Thailand, India and more. Aside from performing and making music, I am also involved in some online businesses which are also related to music. I also am the brand ambassador and manage projects for the famous music/entertainment driven Champagne brand, Luc Belaire.

List some of your most known achievements in Hong Kong, something that makes you feel has

really helped you create your brand image in Hong Kong. In 2017, I created an event brand called Straight Outta Home Kong with a team of creative individuals which led to it being the hottest local Hip Hop club concert. The goal was to bring all the different aspects of Hip Hop together, including DJs, dancers, beatboxers, rappers and singers together. Now, that movement is carried on by different brands but I’m happy to see that we started the foundation and is being continued. In 2018, I performed a lot locally as well as internationally which led to me being awarded the Top 3 DJ in Hong Kong by hkclubbing. com. I also went on to do my first commercial Bollywood project in Goa & Mumbai, with Saregama music. We created the remix to Roop Tera Mastana (Reloaded), and that caught the viewers’ attention with over 5 million views totally on YouTube till today.

In 2019, I was more focused on performing as well as doing more exclusive events for different groups based in HK. The highlight show of 2019 would be performing the opening set for Hip Hop star, Kid Ink at Ignis Club in LKF tower. It was also a year where I worked on a lot of new music & content which is being prepared to release in 2020, as well as I went back to being a student, learning and fine tuning my skills as a musician.

What’s in pipeline for 2020 from your end? Something that our Hong Kong Indians can look forward to? A whole lot including DJ remixes, new originals including an album that will be a mix of English & Hindi, a special music video that showcases my passion for rap/DJing & how they can turn out when combined, along with more videos showcasing turntablism through a movement that I would like to call “Transition Thursday’s”. On the performance side, a lot of more guest appearances and tours in the second half of 2020. My latest release is a Deep House mashup of one of my favorite tunes, Dekhte Dekhte: https://youtu.be/ AOu2CGYfVWQ Follow me and music on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, SoundCloud and MixCloud by searching @djmojito852.


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NEERA GUPTA KIT KAT EVENTS & MARKETING Where were you born and how did you move to Hong Kong (if not born in HK)?

Is this your full-time work and bread earner? If not, what else do you do?

I was born and raised in Abu Dhabi, UAE and I had lived in India, Singapore, China, Japan, Taiwan and Australia before moving to Hong Kong.

This certainly is full time but with the events industry, its very much project based. There are times when we work 72 hours straight with barely any sleep and times, we can comfortably take a week off and relax. Apart from running Kit Kat Events & Marketing, I am also a blogger with www.smequest.com and I do a lot of charity & fund-raising work for NGOs.

What made you get in to what you are doing now and is the work quite satisfying? Not many people know this about me, but I am a qualified dentist. Soon after I moved to Australia, I realized it just wasn’t for me. That’s when I took up a job in an event company and knew that was my calling. Having worked in many corporates such as IQPC, AMEX, CWT, I got the courage to start my own event company in 2014, Kit Kat Events & Marketing. And since then, there has been no looking back. I absolutely love what I do. I am able to also to maintain a perfect work-life balance. And the best part of the job is having your best friend (Shikha Sarkar) as your partner in the company!

List some of your most known achievements in Hong Kong, something that makes you feel has really helped you create your brand image in Hong Kong. Despite being a relatively new player in the market, we have managed to organize a variety of events benefiting the local community as well as corporate clients. From conferences, to exhibitions, to musical events, to hosting and producing TV shows, we have done it all!

Last year, the event featured 19 amazing women & 1 brave man who have gone above and beyond their course of work, service and passions to make a difference, empowering by engaging in pressing issues related to Women, finding a common ground through hope, meaning and ultimately, action! Kit Kat Events & Marketing were the first ones to bring India’s biggest singing talent show, Zee TV’s SaReGaMaPa, to Hong Kong, showcasing our local talent to millions of viewers across the world. With the winner Anirudh Trivedi crooning to the biggest Bollywood star Mr. Aamir Khan and fulfilling his dream of recording songs in Mumbai. And then bringing the musical game show we grew up watching on Zee TV, Antakshari to Hong Kong, where 32 teams battled it out for the winning spot. Episodes of the show were aired exclusively on Zee TV. Once again turning dreams into reality! Our annual event, Young Dreamers Arts Festival, has been quite a hit with the young ones for last three years. Children from age 2-15 not only participate in a drawing competition judged by renowned local artists, but also enjoy various activities such as Arts & Crafts Workshops, Dental Health talk,

Yoga Workshop, Children’s Book reading activity, Games & Food stalls etc. Also giving children an opportunity to learn and make a difference to the society they live in. And of course, we have to mention our signature event, Women Empowerment Forum which was conceptualized and organized to celebrate Women. Last year, the event featured 19 amazing women & 1 brave man who have gone above and beyond their course of work, service and passions to make a difference, empowering by engaging in pressing issues related to Women, finding a common ground through hope, meaning and ultimately, action! “Mrs. Shroff Women of Inspiration Award” were given to celebrate exceptional accomplishments & achievements of women from all walks of life in our diverse and thriving community.

What’s in pipeline for 2020 from your end? Something that our Hong Kong Indians can look forward to? You would be delighted to know; we are back with the 2nd edition of Women Empowerment Forum happening on the 25th of April. Once again featuring some of the most inspiring women from Hong Kong. More details can be found on our website www.kitkateventz.com. We’ll have our 4th edition of the Young Dreamers Arts Festival with this year’s theme being “Kind Hong Kong”. In addition to that we have some very interesting projects coming soon. Stay tuned for more details!

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we started to think, how we can combine all these skills to work together as a team and we came up with what we call today, Plus Group International Ltd. We offer services in design, print, marketing, corporate events, cultural events, and websites.

And are you satisfied with it?

NEERJA SUJANANI AND DEEPA NAINANI PLUS GROUP INTERNATIONAL LTD. “When women put their heads together, powerful things can happen.” - Oprah Winfrey We spoke to two such incredibly enigmatic women recently who have indeed put their heads, hearts, and souls together to create a brand which is very well known and well respected in the community. Together, they founded Plus Group International Ltd, a company that handles marketing, design, print, publishing, corporate events, cultural events, and website services for some of the biggest Indian events that occur on the soil of Hong Kong every year. And that’s not it, they also have several other exciting ventures to their names including Little India Directory (a portal to promote all things Indian), Hong Kong Resource Guide, Glam Fest, and Summer Sparkles to name a few. Let’s explore how they climbed the ladder of success and what

they have in store for us this year.

Where were you born and how did you move to Hong Kong (if not born in HK)? Deepa - I was born and brought up in Singapore. Marriage brought me to Hong Kong. Neerja - Similarly, I was born and brought up in Mumbai and post marriage, I made Hong Kong my home.

What made you get in to what you are doing now and is the work quite satisfying? Neerja - Deepa, you should go first! Your story has more masala. Both laugh... Deepa - Okay! So, we had corporate jobs for 10 years each. When we met for the

first time, we both were working individually for different organizations, both multinationals. And both of us had over 10 years of experience working with the multinationals. Neerja - With two kids each! Deepa - One husband each! Laughter... Deepa - So, we met, bonded and became really good friends, best friends really! We used to discuss how challenging working for an organization is - a lot of ‘reporting to’, no flexible hours etc. Having young kids, we needed more flexible time. We also could use our experience to our benefit, working on our own terms. So, one day we decided that we should get together to start our own venture. Neerja had a lot of experience in the print industry and I had experience managing logistics and in design as well. So,

Deepa – Yes very! It takes a lot of work, effort and stress to design something or plan an event but when we see the outcome, when we see something which we’ve designed on stage in the form of a backdrop or a hoarder, or we see an event materialize from a bunch of creative thoughts and ideas, to all the systems and processes that we put in place to make that event a reality, often a magnificent reality, we feel amazing. It gives you a kind of a high when you see something so beautiful and you know that you are the one who’s executed all this. And that, in turn, motivates you to go out there and create and envision stuff like that again and again. Neerja - That’s beautifully put, Deepa!

Is this your full-time work and bread earner? If not, what else do you do? Deepa - Yes, it’s not only bread, it is bread and butter for us. We’ve always been working women. I actually started working at the age of 14 and I’ve never stopped ever since. So, yes, Plus Group is our full-time work. This is how we pay our bills. We also do other


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things for the community in the spirit of giving back. Neerja - Yes, like I have served as the President of Rotary Club and also India Club. I’m also the President of the Entrepreneur’s Club. Deepa - We organize these two shopping fairs - Summer Sparkles and Glam Fest where we provide a platform to small and medium enterprises, to give them an opportunity to showcase and market their products because Hong Kong’s shop front spaces are very expensive. So, we being women entrepreneurs want to provide that kind of platform to other women entrepreneurs and small and medium enterprises. And that’s something we are really proud of. Besides that, I have also served as the president of the Indian Businessmen’s Association.

List some of your most known achievements in Hong Kong, something that makes you feel has really helped you create your brand image in Hong Kong. Deepa - We have till date done work promoting some of the finest in all fields of entertainment like Vir Das, Amit Tandon, Papa CJ, Tarun Tahiliani, Manish Malhotra, Vishal Shekhar & various Bollywood Stars. Most recently we have even had the privilege to promote President Barack Obama’s and Michelle Obama’s talks in Singapore. Besides known artists we also promote huge brands like Dream Cruises, builders, restaurants, jewelers and many more… Neerja - For our efforts, we’ve been awarded the ‘Caring Company’ Award which is

a government award for companies that work in a way that benefits the whole community. We were also awarded by the African Book Publishing Council for the quality and content of books that we helped publish in the last several years. Deepa - The other thing that we are quite happy about is that we were given the opportunity to design the Indian Chamber of Commerce’s 60th Anniversary Commemorative Stamp, here in Hong Kong. So, that was a real honor for us. Neerja - For the last 6 years, we’ve also been supporting the Hong Kong Youth Writer’s Awards, an annual competition and a fantastic opportunity for aspiring young writers to showcase their talents

What’s in the pipeline for 2020 from your end? Something that our Hong Kong Indians can look forward to?

Deepa - For 2020, we’ve been lucky to be able to associate ourselves with a very new event called Accessible Wellbeing which will happen in June. This is a full day event to promote awareness for people with disabilities and special needs featuring a conference along with workshops, activities and panel speakers. We are very very proud to be a part of that. Neerja - We are the digital marketing partners of India by the Bay, which is the biggest Indian cultural fest celebrated in Hong Kong every year. This festival originates from India by TeamWork Arts, in conjunction with their Hong Kong team led by 3 wonderful women, Lakshmi, Sonali & Paru. It’s a 7 to 8 day event with almost 9 events back to back, be it food, music, dance, literature, Bollywood, theatre and health & wellness. April 2020 will mark their 6th year and we are very excited to be a part of an event like that. Deepa - It keeps growing every year. This year they’ve

come up with a concept called Holistic Sunday which features a whole day of wellness events and Literary Saturday where 6 acclaimed authors will come down from India for book readings and public interactions. This is in conjunction with the Indian Consulate in Hong Kong as well as the Asia Society in Hong Kong. Also, our two shopping fairs which we talked about earlier, Summer Sparkles and Glam Fest are something to look forward to this year in June and September respectively. We are also looking to venture into a wellness space but it’s still work in progress. Lastly, we look forward to continuing to support all events, businesses and social causes in our community, be it entertainment, fashion, food & beverage, restaurants, or anything else for that matter. This is what we’ve been doing for the last 12 years, promoting and supporting all things Indian in Hong Kong!

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It is absolutely important to unite people who are having exceptional intellect, wisdom and knowledge so that all can grow together and develop a community with wider vision. foster excellence to become a role model, and I am happy that many people are inspired by my hard work.

SANJUKTA GHOSH RADIANCE EDUCATION, COHERENCE MAGAZINE & SKG EVENTS Where were you born and how did you move to Hong Kong (if not born in HK)?

What made you get in to what you are doing now and is the work quite satisfying?

I was born & brought up in Kolkata, India. My father and my elder sister are engineers, and I also wanted to continue that path. Hence, I got my Physics Honors graduation from University of Calcutta and then did my Masters. When I started my PhD, I travelled & stayed mostly in all the big cities in India namely Delhi, Bangalore, Bhubaneswar, Hyderabad, Indore & Mumbai. After completing my PhD, I joined an ‘Institute of Physics’ in Bhubaneswar for a PostDoctoral Research Fellow. In 2006, I went to Tokyo, Japan where I worked as a JSPS post-doctoral fellow in University of Tokyo. In 2012, due to my husband’s job, we moved to Hong Kong.

I extensively work on women empowerment, focusing on the leadership skills of a women. I’m also focused on Mum Entrepreneurs, I try to give them a platform for their future endeavors through my magazine publication, social media promotion and through my events regarding women. I do give an ample of opportunities to those who are interested to learn about business and entrepreneurial knowledge through talk & seminars. It is absolutely important to unite people who are having exceptional intellect, wisdom and knowledge so that all can grow together and develop a community with wider vision. It needs a lot of selfconfidence, self-esteem &

Now coming to your question, I believe there are 2 types of investments either you invest money or you invest time. I invested my time for my academics’ career and I have achieved quite a lot in terms of academic success. In 2018, after my father’s sudden demise, I decided to give back to the society by threading a bond and uniting people through my Coherence magazine. Coherence is a physics term, and I used it keeping in mind. It means connecting people of same mental frequency or in other words, to unite people to have the same frequency of thoughts. Lastly, I always want to keep my graph moving so I am never fully satisfied of what I have done because I want to do more and more. It is said that ‘History is never created in a day’ and I believe so.

Is this your full-time work and bread earner? If not, what else do you do? Yes, I am a full time Business Entrepreneur, who has created an education center,

a magazine and an events company. List some of your most known achievements in Hong Kong, something that makes you feel has really helped you create your brand image in Hong Kong. In 2013, I worked as an Honorary Physicist for few months in CUHK In 2014, I established my company called “The Radiance Education Limited” Since 2016, I started to celebrate International Women’s Day as my Annual Event on each year at 8th of March. Since 2017 onwards, I started to work on MumEntrepreneurs & related events. In 2018, I became the editor & publisher of my Coherence Magazine. Received an honor and mementoes during the Kargil Vijay Divas and Hong Kong Telegu Samakhya for Coherence Magazine & SKG Events Ltd. Received, ‘MileStone Global Awards – Inspiring Achiever’, under the Education Category on 13th January 2020.

What’s in pipeline for 2020 from your end? Something that our Hong Kong Indians can look forward to? To keep the public interest on a high, I will announce, my magazine & my events with time in due course.


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SASHA WASEEM SONY TV, SANG MEDIA HONG KONG & FASHION TV ASIA

After that, there was no stopping in creating, building and growing Asia with our platform and I’m so thankful to the people of Hong Kong Indians and Asians. Where were you born and how did you move to Hong Kong (if not born in HK)?

Is this your full-time work and bread earner? If not, what else do you do?

that makes you feel has really helped you create your brand image in Hong Kong.

I was born in India and I moved to Hong Kong in 2004 and now it’s been more than 16 years that I’ve been working in this city. Earlier, I was working in New Delhi in a media production house and was travelling a lot around the world for work purposes. I’ve visited Hong Kong a lot of times and I was so in love with this place and with the people here so I decided to shift here.

Yes, this is my full-time work. I have my own media & advertising production company called “Sang Media Hong Kong” and since I believe that I have a good social media network, I would travel all around the world. Also, I own a Web TV that’s related to Film Festival and Red-Carpet Events and get the chance to take interviews of celebrities across the globe. Also, I am an advertising manager for Sony TV, which is India’s top TV channel. Through that, I am connected to all Indians in Hong Kong and provide my services. Moreover, I am an International Director for beauty pageants and model contest for many countries. I would give them a global platform to promote themselves in the top events shows of fashion lifestyle modelling and advertising.

Some of my achievements are when I became a producer for Fashion TV Asia based in Hong Kong, I was invited as a VIP guest & judge in a top event and show. Also, I got invited to be a part of the top film festival representing Hong Kong just like how in Europe, they have the Cannes film festival. After that, there was no stopping in creating, building and growing Asia with our platform and I’m so thankful to the people of Hong Kong Indians and Asians.

What made you get in to what you are doing now and is the work quite satisfying? I have done journalism and mass communication and since I was interested in media, I joined a media production house in New Delhi where I was a producer and video editor for TV programmes related to Fashion Lifestyle and Entertainment. And now, it’s been more than 16 years in this field of PR, Events and advertising.

List some of your most known achievements in Hong Kong, something

What’s in pipeline for 2020 from your end? Something that our Hong Kong Indians can look forward to? We have a lot of great plans are coming up this year. We’ll be creating several events related to entertainment and making it an international platform so all Indians and other nationalities can come and enjoy our event. Since

Hong Kong is one of the busiest and stressful cities, we want to create more and more events for people here to relax. Beside this, we will be creating a platform for grooming, and also, building a networking platform related to business so that by networking, we all are connected to each other and help and support each other. www.instagram.com/sashawaseem


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2019-2020 has seen some changes in the entertainment world because of certain challenges Hong Kong has faced. Our attempts to bring laughter with Papa CJ during the tough times, were appreciated by the bravest and most positive Indians of HK.

SINDHU KAPOOR & DEVINA BANNERJI RED PEPPERS ENTERTAINMENT Where were you born and how did you move to Hong Kong (if not born in HK)? Sindhu Kapoor: I was born in Trichur, Kerala, but was raised in Chennai. Schooled in a CSI convent, I specialised in hotel management, nutrition and applied sciences. My father was employed with Air India and my sister with British airways therefore, I guess a step into the world of aviation was expected from me. I came to Hong Kong after being recruited by Cathay Pacific airways as a flight attendant. Working with Cathay gave me the opportunity to fulfill my travel dreams, and to explore different countries, cultures and customs. I would say it also helped me settle down faster in a multi-cultural set up.

Devina Bannerji: I was born in Baroda, India, where my father was posted as a young Major in the Indian Army. Thereafter, I had my schooling in various cities around the country, eventually graduating from Jesus and Mary College, Delhi University and then Fergusson College, Pune, in English Honours. I moved to Hong Kong after joining Cathay Pacific Airways, which happened by default rather than by design while waiting for the results of my entrance exam and interview to the Indian Institute of Mass Communications, Delhi , to join the advertising industry as a Copywriter. The results of the Cathay interviews came in before those did and hence I ended up coming to HK.

What made you get in to what you are doing now and is the work quite satisfying? Sindhu Kapoor: I’ve always had a creative leaning. As a young girl, I was fascinated to sit as one among the crowd and step (for an hour or two) into a magical world of music, dance or acting. The lights, the action and the sheer impact of powerful performances, the appreciation, the conversations and the excitement after an event always enthralled me. When I came to Hong Kong, I found there were very little options for the Indians here. The events were few and not of a scale I would’ve loved to go to. So when my friend Devina approached me with an idea,

I was more than thrilled to start this company with her. I can safely say that it is our own passion and love for entertainment, that was the inspiration to showcase Indian events to the audience in Hong Kong. Devina Bannerji: After resigning from Cathay Pacific as a First/ Economy class Purser, I moved to Australia with my family. Over there, I went back to university and studied Advertising, Events and Public Relations - the field I had always wanted to pursue. This helped to pave the way for what came next. Upon returning to Hong Kong in 2009, I decided to incorporate an Events and PR company and asked my friend Sindhu to join me. Red Peppers Entertainment was thus established, with Pankaj Udhas being our very first gig. The work we do and the events that we undertake are exciting, gratifying, fulfilling and satisfying.

Is this your full-time work and bread earner? If not, what else do you do? Sindhu Kapoor: Our company focuses on two to three exclusive public events a year. Besides these, we manage and organise a few private or corporate events. This gives me the time to pursue my other interests and focus on my family too. I travel back and forth to India also as I manage a family business in Mumbai. In any spare time I have, I love to sketch and paint, as art is my passion. When I’m in Hong Kong, I volunteer (on a part time basis) at a special needs school.


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Devina Bannerji: This does take up most of my time, however, modelling is an interest/ passion that I’ve had since college, which got revived in the last few years. I had started modelling while in college and had won the pageants of May Queen and Halo- Colgate Palmolive Queen , done fashion shows and some still shoots.Then, an opportunity came my way and I participated and was a finalist at the Mrs India Worldwide 2015. Since then, I’ve modelled for Italian designers ‘Estes’ -Jackets, ‘J full’- sunglasses and ‘ Francesca Sarne’- designer handbags ; done a Calendar shoot, a music video , walked the ramp for JJ Valaya, Anju Modi, Reynu and Nikhita Tandon to name a few and am currently the brand face - Far East for Indian designer Elysian Desire.

List some of your most known achievements in Hong Kong, something that makes you feel has really helped you ceate your brand image in Hong Kong. Red Peppers Entertainment has had very successful large scale public events in HK over the last decade. Some of the best Bollywood music concerts with the biggest names in the industry- Pankaj Udhas, Shreya Ghoshal, KK, Shankar Mahadevan, Mohit Chauhan, Shekhar Ravjiani to name a few. We have scouted local talent for TV shows, held workshops for budding creatives and artists and hosted events for large corporates.

In 2014, we expanded to include Indian Art into our bouquet of events and ever since then, we have been representing some of the most prominent Indian art galleries and promoted India’s foremost masters of Modern and contemporary art. We are deeply indebted to Mrs. Purviz Shroff and the late Mr. Rusy Shroff for their continuing supprt to Red Peppers and the Indian community at large in HK. All this wouldn’t be possible without the support of the Consulate General of India to HK and Macau. We look forward to working with the Honourable Mrs Priyanka Chauhan in the future.

What’s in pipeline for 2020 from your end? Something that our Hong Kong Indians can look forward to? 2019-2020 has seen some changes in the entertainment world because of certain challenges Hong Kong has faced. Our attempts to bring laughter with Papa CJ during the tough times, were appreciated by the bravest

and most positive Indians of HK. Red Peppers is continuing to bring art to art lovers via our newly launched monthly Art newsletter and in addition to paintings- now murals, sculptures, installations and commissioned works can be chosen straight from our newsletter and will be shipped worldwide by us. We do art consultancy as well. High- end destination weddings in India with former palaces and other top notch venues to choose

from, to have your perfect dream wedding, have also been launched by us in 20192020. We hope to bring more exciting events to end the year on a high note. Watch this space!

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you “ Didknow… that it is unlawful for an employer to discriminate against a job applicant on the ground of her pregnancy by withdrawing a job offer made to her?

E

mployers have a responsibility towards the well-being of their employees. This includes providing them a safe, fair and equitable place of work. It is no secret that an employee who is justly treated and has equal opportunities for growth, development and reward is a more loyal, productive and creative member of the team. It is incumbent upon every employer, no manner the size and nature of business, to have policies in place that take care of the requirements of the law. Employers can go beyond the mere requirements of the law to create harmonious workplace environments by putting in place efficient grievance handling mechanisms, employee support groups, team building activities etc. One area of discrimination in employment seen quite often is pregnancy discrimination. Employers must understand the law and make sure their policies reflect these laws. More importantly, all staff must be made aware of these laws and policies as acts of discrimination performed by

employees may lead to the company too being vicariously responsible for these.” Case: Jenny* was offered a position as a manager with a financial company. She was requested to undergo a medical examination. On the day Jenny went to the office to collect the notice of medical examination, she disclosed that she was pregnant. According to Jenny, the company withdrew the offer consequently. Although the company informed the agent which had arranged for the recruitment that the recruitment had been suspended, Jenny did not believe it as she found a similar job position in the same company advertised after the withdrawal of the offer. Jenny lodged a complaint with the Equal Opportunities Commission against the company for pregnancy discrimination. The case was settled through early conciliation and a settlement was agreed upon.

“The Law: Under the Sex Discrimination Ordinance, it is unlawful for an employer to discriminate against a job applicant on the ground of her pregnancy.” *Not her real name. Pregnancy discrimination means treating a woman less favorably on account of her pregnancy. The Sex Discrimination Ordinance protects a woman from pregnancy discrimination in various areas including employment and provision of goods, facilities and services. Under the Sex Discrimination Ordinance, it is unlawful for a Hong Kong establishment to subject a woman to a disadvantage or dismiss her

on the grounds of pregnancy. This applies to all kinds of work including contract work. While the case of Jenny relates to recruitment, pregnancy discrimination covers all aspects of employment. Under the law, employers are not allowed to: • Refuse to hire a woman because of pregnancy. • Limit a worker's transfers or training options because she is pregnant. • Fire or force a worker to leave because she is pregnant. • Fire a woman on return from maternity leave. • Take away credit for service because of maternity leave.


DID YOU KNOW?

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Case: Marie* had worked for a bank as an Assistant Manager for about four years when she became pregnant. She alleged that after notifying her supervisor of her pregnancy, she was presented with a poor performance appraisal which she disputed. During the performance review meetings with her supervisors, she was repeatedly queried about her ability to work during her pregnancy. As a result of the poor appraisal, she did not get a salary increment and yearend bonus. Marie lodged a complaint with the Equal Opportunities Commission against the bank for pregnancy discrimination. The case was settled through early conciliation after the bank agreed to a monetary compensation and also an agreement to withhold disclosure of her performance records to any organizations without her consent. The Law: It is unlawful for an employer to discriminate against an employee on the ground of her pregnancy by subjecting her to detriment. Employers should adopt good management practice to prevent discrimination and promote equal opportunities in the workplace. *Not her real name

What employers can do to prevent discrimination? Employers should avoid making assumptions about the abilities of pregnant women. Just because a woman is pregnant, does not mean she cannot perform her duties or is less effective at her work. Employers should

be aware of the rights and responsibilities of both their organizations and pregnant employees and applicants. Employers should also ensure that they comply with the provisions of the Sex Discrimination Ordinance and the Employment Ordinance.

Employers can help prevent discrimination by: • Advising pregnant employees of their rights and responsibilities in relation to maternity and sick leave • Having clear and consistent policies on prenatal checkup and maternity leave, staff recruitment, transfers, performance appraisals, pay rises and bonus system • Providing training to staff in relation to these policies and encouraging a culture of understanding and openness “To all employers, be they large, medium or small or young entrepreneurs just starting out, awareness of the law is a must. But remember, compliance with the law is a bare minimum. You can go well beyond and create model organizations and institutions which can serve as beacons of equality and fairness for others to follow.” If you need further information regarding your rights under Hong Kong’s anti-discrimination ordinances and the complaint handling procedures of the EOC, please contact: NiruVishwanath Ethnic Minorities Unit Equal Opportunities Commission

Equal Opportunities Commission 16/F 41 Heung Yip Road, Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong Hotline: 25118211 Email: eoc@eoc.org.hk Website: www.eoc.org.hk Office hours: Monday to Friday from 8:45 am to 5:45 pm

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BEAUTY

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Our Must Have’s

THIS SUMMER How do you figure out what to buy from a plethora of products flooding the beauty aisles?

S

o, you’re fond of make up but hate wearing “a face” in the heat! Internationally Certified Pro Make-Up and Hair artist, Pearly Chhabra has put together a straight-forward product list to ease out your dilemma. Before we start, you must make sure the products are smudge proof and water proof and slather a ton of sunscreen this muggy season.

Remember “less is more” and with the right products and application your make-up won’t feel heavy and still look fresh all day. “Invest in products that’s great at multitasking. Something that can be used for the eyes, cheeks and lips and still look soft.” Not only would you have a lighter make up pouch, but it’s a smart investment too. So, here goes…


BEAUTY

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Lotion or Primer: Pick one for your concerned areas. Be it oiliness, dryness, fine lines or large pores. A great primer will help your make up last all day. Pick up one with mattifying properties but use it sparingly. However, a better option is to use a water-based lotion if you’re too oily.

Concealer: It’s more important than foundation, especially when all you want is to cancel out any unevenness, shadows, redness and spots. Gravitate towards salmony (orange) undertones to get maximum coverage. It instantly lifts undereye circles, pigmentation around the nose, mouth, cheeks and lower lip. Use your favorite tool for

maximum efficacy or a light tap of finger pads.

Translucent powder: Pick up a product that’s colorless or without pigment and lightly dust on areas that get oily through the day. It’ll help keep your base intact without cracking or slipping through making you look flawless. Avoid reapplying for fear of looking cakey. A blotting paper is an excellent product to keep oiliness at bay.

Blush: One product that screams happy like no other but is often neglected. Choose a formula depending upon your natural flush. One tip is to pinch your cheeks and choose the color closest to

that. Peachy pinks and Corals never fail on South-Asian skin tones. You can even use it on your eyes and lips for a monochromatic look. Powder blushes are longer lasting in summer and are better able to withstand humidity and sweat.

Brow sculptors: Besides eyebrow hair removal, you must invest in a good grooming product with either pomades, pencils, powders or

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BEAUTY wax. Try to match their shape as closely possible. These products are excellent to correct patchiness, achieve fullness and that perfect arch. Buy a shade or two lighter if you have dark hair and darker shades for lighter hair.

Lips: One of the products we can never have enough of. Stick to sheer or natural looking shades for summer. You may even try a deep berry to take your look from desk to club or invest in a great lip kit and make your own customized lip cocktail.

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Kohl: A super versatile eye make-up product. It’s brilliant because of the dual functionality since it can be applied on both upper and lower lashes. You can even use it for a smoky eye by smudging it and setting with shadow after. Choose from an array of brilliant colors that compliments your eyes.

Mascara: Another product that’s often overlooked. Try a clear mascara for the hot months. To maximize the effects of mascara, use a lash curler.

It’s a great tool if you struggle with down turned lashes. Use it before you use a mascara for a noticeable lift and then wiggle the mascara from the roots to the tip. Apply a couple of coats for great length and volume.

Eyeshadow:

Bronzer:

Must be pleasant with refreshing zesty notes rather than something heavy duty. Look for fragrant florals or citrusy notes depending upon your mood and spritz away.

Try one with natural pigments that nourish skin for a sun kissed look and make you look like a Greek goddess. Mineral formulas are ideal for sensitive skin and look natural and dewy.

Keep it matte and natural with nudes. Invest in a good quality palette that has minimal fallout and great color payoff.

Fragrance:

Meet Pearly, our Internationally Certified Pro Make Up and Hair artist. She’s also the founder of glamfacesbypearly. Pearly traded her corporate monotony for brushes and palettes to get her creativity flowing. When she isn’t making people look like the epitome of beauty, you can catch her keeping abreast of new developments in the world of makeup and attending workshops by the leaders in the industry. Don’t forget to follow her page for more insights.


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THE STYLIST

The Power of Fashion in Our Lives ’ts Do’s and Don in Fashion

Fashion has a huge effect on people’s lives along with the society as a whole by defining style and culture. Fashion also plays a part in how people see themselves, and it’s just one part of what defines a culture. Each area of the world has a different style of dress, and it often portrays the customs of values of the religion, culture or country. Fashion also contributes to a person's confidence and self-esteem on a daily basis. It is the armor to survive the reality of everyday life.

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THE STYLIST

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There are lots of do's and don'ts in fashion that needs to be rectified such as: • Wearing the Wrong Size - One of the most important things to consider when it comes to shopping, is ensuring you are wearing the right size. Fitted garments do nothing to flatter the figure – whether they be too small or too baggy. • Not Evolving - Although fashion has a tendency of repeating themselves, one mistake that many women make is not evolving their fashion sense. Do not get caught up in one era for the rest of your life. You can still maintain your sense of style by approaching it with a more modern twist. • Trying Too Hard - Do not wear all the seasons trends at one time. Layering up on trends or bling can actually be distracting from the outfit. Mix and match clothes to give a new look and style.

• Dress for your Body Type - Please know your body. There are a lot of things we all want to wear, but it’s most important to find the right piece that accentuates your body and it is extremely important to be comfortable in what you’re wearing. • Dress for Yourself - It’s crucial to understand that women only dress for themselves. We should not focus our mindset on trying to get the attention of another person, impressing someone, or pretending to be someone we are not. And worst of all, do not feel the need to compete with another woman. We dress to feel confident, love ourselves and enjoy the art of fashion. The best accessory is truly confidence and the strength to hold your head high.

Style is something each of us already has, all we need to do is find it – Diane Von Furstenberg. To conclude, fashion is everywhere around us existing in different figure and size. It is impossible to keep yourself away from the ever-changing fashion trends and to experiment with them. Remember fashion is for the convenience of the human being, do not let it make you it’s slave.

• Dress for the Occasion - Always know the environment and dress accordingly. The worst thing is to be under or over dressed for a situation. When in doubt, always inquire about the dress code prior to an event so you can plan ahead.

Mona Shroff http://monashroffjewellery.com

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WE, THE WOMEN

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Lawyer and a FASHION ENTHUSIAST R A J S H R E E A M I T WA KA D E

I

n conversation with a person who strongly believes in hardwork, dedication and having a good self confidence. I don’t believe in destiny, it's us who chooses our own life. Every time I’m asked, what made you participate in the beauty pageant? I always say that if you trust yourself

enough and work hard towards something, ‘you get what you want’. Since from the very beginning, I was interested and passionate towards two things which are, to become a lawyer and a fashion enthusiast. And, that’s exactly what I got from life. “I am a registered lawyer from Hyderabad,


WE, THE WOMEN

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India and a qualified solicitor from England. I’m holding a Master’s degree in Law from United Kingdom; International Diploma in Compliance from International Compliance Association in Hong Kong and I am an AML certified member of Hong Kong Institute of Banking”. Due to my interest towards fashion, I started going for professional photo shoots which helped me get an opportunity into beauty pageant. Thus, I participated in Mrs. India Worldwide 2019 and got a chance to go to Greece for the finale and won the title of Brand Ambassador from Hong Kong. I was later then invited as a guest of honor by Milestone Miss and Mrs. India International pageant and received an award for my achievements. Let’s move on to my experience in the beauty pageant:

Rajshree with husband, Amit & son

Being the finalist and the sub-title winner of Mrs India Worldwide, always made me feel more responsible as a human being and taught me that nothing is easy in this world. When we watch the beauty pageants shows on television, it looks so glamorous that sometimes, we forget all the hard work that each contestants and member of the pageant team puts in and it’s just priceless. It was a very difficult and a tough competition for all 170 finalist from the worldwide. Each one of us gave our best. It's very fortunate to have people in life who push you harder and recognises your strength and give your dreams wings to fly. I consider myself lucky to have family and friends who supports me and I am very thankful to them as they are the ones who helped me get to where I am today.

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WELLNESS

Your Thoughts The body’s Best

Antivirus Program

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WELLNESS

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W

ith the recent pandemic hitting our planet, our daily lives have been impacted, and our collective focus is moving more towards wellness than before. However, are we being precautious because we are feeling fearful of getting sick, or are we feeling inspired to be well? It may sound subtle, although our intentions are to make a big difference to our well-being. While it is imperative to take action towards our health and safety, it’s even more crucial to maintain a healthy state of mind during this time. “Science has begun to prove that what we choose to think and how we choose to feel has an impact on our energy level and our DNA”. Hence if we are feeling fear, that’s the energy we are feeding our body, as a result our DNA structure coils up, and unconsciously we are weakening our immune system.

Please take a moment to reflect on your current state of mind and observe your thoughts towards the virus; are you fearful and negative, or are you feeling in-charge of your body? I’m not suggesting to be in denial about the gravity of the situation, rather to acknowledge the situation and focus on moving towards health than away from sickness. You may even do the same actions as you are now, however just changing the focus to thinking about being strong and healthy will feel very different. “Your thoughts are the primary food that you are feeding your body and are more powerful than any action you take.” This means that any person who has ever got sick or even gotten into an accident has only been susceptible to it because their thoughts would have been stressful at the time. So even if you think you are unwell because you ate something

wrong or fell down the stairs, if you play your thoughts in slow-motion just before the accident you would most likely see that you were feeling stressed at the time, which made you less present and more vulnerable to falling sick. In light of all this, I invite you all to move towards greater well-being by focusing on getting what you want, rather than focusing on avoiding what you don’t want. Take actions towards your health from a place of inspiration while feeling strong and incharge of your body. Trust in your body’s natural ability to keep you healthy and know that you have the resources to handle what comes your way. We don’t have 100% control over what’s going to happen in this situation, but we do have 100% control over the choices we make and how we interpret things. Let’s not forget that wellness starts with the mind!

Sonia Samtani Founder & Wellness Director All About You Wellness Centre www.allaboutyoucentre.com | 29920828 info@allaboutyoucentre.com

Sonia Samtani Sonia holds the esteemed distinction of being an AICI accredited Image Consultant, an IMDHA licensed hypnotherapist, a Heal Your Life licensed seminar leader, and a qualified instructor for Hypnotherapy. As the founder and managing director of Sonia Samtani Limited, she has developed her centre, All About You, into one of Hong Kong’s leading wellness hubs dedicated towards physical, mental, emotional and spiritual growth.

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To advertise with us, Please call +852 64166777 Or email us on agm@aplomhk.com


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TAROT

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What’s

Tarot Cards? on the

Tarot card readings for March & April 2020 by renowned reader Munisha Khatwani

March 2020 Aries: Looking for something new is going to be your priority this month, says your planet Mars. You will be quite energetic and forthcoming about so many other avenues in your life. Your planet sun is pretty strong this month which will help you out professionally. You will try and connect with an ex flame and looks like you may have to try a bit harder to get a positive response. For business wise, you need to wait a bit.

Taurus: You need to confide in a friend and trust that the universe does support you in whatever you are trying to achieve, says your planet Moon. You need to learn to trust in people

who matter to you and who have got a space in your life, says your planet Mars. On the professional front life will be a bit of a struggle as you plan to make some changes which will not be as easy as you hope. The following months will be more helpful and favourable to you, says your planet Moon.

Gemini: What is planned according to divine timing cannot be altered and it’s best that you land up accepting that. You will be feeling a little upset about certain aspects in your life and it is time for you to make those changes as required. You will also be feeling a little dejected as far as some health matters are concerned as your planet Saturn says, you needs to give it time and try to heal yourself in other ways which might be useful to you. If you are single, you’ll be in the mood to be romantic and flirty. You also want to invest in some property but it’s best you wait

Cancer: Maybe you need to focus on what’s working in your life rather than what is not working. There will be some difficult times coming up your way over the next few weeks but patience is key and you need to have faith, says your planet Mercury. Also, there is a miscommunication going on with someone and you are trying to figure out what’s the best approach to the situation. It’s now time to find out different avenues for your work and look for new opportunities.

Leo: You are looking for a way out in a certain situation but you need to try a bit harder for that change to happen. Your planet Venus is in a strong position this month which will help you with money and some blocked finance. If you have any burden or debt in you, your cards indicate that you will be working hard to clear that debt and make the changes that are required. You will also be concentrating on

your health and fitness goals as this will be a priority.

Virgo: You seem to be spoilt for yours choices when it comes to your personal and professional life as things do land up taking a u-turn shortly in your life. You will have many options as far as making some decisions is concerned. Many of you will be investing in some luxurious item, says your planet Venus. For those who are pregnant or looking to get pregnant, this is a good month to try. Also, health issues will slowly resolve.

Libra: Making some life changes will be of utmost important to you at the moment and you will be trying to adjust to those changes, you will be willing to make efforts for the same, says your planet Rahu. For those who are looking for a job change or looking to travel, then this is a good time to execute that accordingly. You will be feeling a little low on the professional front but


TAROT

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now is the time to expect this as your certain transits are a little weak and the power of prayer and positive thoughts will be beneficial to you.

You will enjoy quiet time alone in nature this month

Aquarius:

Now is the time for the family issues to get a bit better than before, it’s advisable for you to look at things from a better perspective. Mentally, you are looking to make some changes to your personality and would want to grow spiritually which is good for you, says your planet Jupiter. For those who are looking to get fitter or lose some weight, you will be taking the action now for the same .

What will be will be and there is no point in trying to change that situation or making the changes that one looks for. For those who are shifting or are busy making some changes in your house, then your time will mostly be consumed in that. If you feel that your health is not upto the mark then you need to start making those changes in yourself and focus on your mind and body. It is a slightly tough time regarding the finances so you need to be patient and hang in there.

Sagittarius:

Pisces:

Scorpio:

It is not such a good month for you mentally as you decide to withdraw from people and situations that bug you. Maybe you will be feeling better about your health and fitness as that will be your prime focus this month, says your planet Mars. You need to be cautious of hidden enemies as that may hinder you and come in your way. You will also be quite supportive towards a certain family member and that will be appreciated.

Capricorn: Maybe you shouldn’t be feeling bad about a certain relationship or situation which didn’t work out. Your cards suggest that you did try your best and will continue to do so this month. You will be preparing yourself for a better situation in the next coming weeks so there is something to smile about and look forward to. It is now time for you to look for some spiritual guidance as that will be giving you some peace.

of change as your Mars is changing for the better. The change will settle marriage issues and will help even in love life problems. You will be focussing on your professional life as well and there will be some new opportunites on the horizon. On the health front, fitness and diet will be important to you. Your social calender will be quite busy and you will hardly have any time for your self. For those who are single, you will be getting alot of attention from the opposite gender this quarter and might even decide to get into a relationship.

Taurus:

There are certain changes that will happen if you allow it to happen. You will try to practise the law of attraction in a positive way and will try and change those situations in your life which are not completely working for you. Your planet Sun is well placed this month so it is a good month for students and it is a good month for those who are going for certain job interviews or job opportunities. For those who are looking to travel for work or pleasure, you will have a good trip and will see yourself having a good time. You could have some stomach related issues suggests your planet Mars which should not be ignored this month.

Being stubborn is a good thing but being over stubborn could get you into some kind of trouble. Your sun planet is shining this month so that will help you on the professional front especially for those who are just starting out. In these few months you’ll need to learn to go with the flow and believe in the power of the universe. What you give out is what you will get so try and keep your energies positive. Health needs a bit of attention as you have drawn the card of the tower which means health issues could be there especially stomach related or back related. For those wanting to settle down, you have got the card of the Heirophant which means you are ready to give a commitment.

April 2020

Gemini:

Aries: This month seems to be a good one for you. On the personal front, it will be a time

Travel is surely indicated in your cards and there could be some good news as well if you go abroad. For students, a good time will occur as far as studies are concered and

you will be looking at even studying furthur. For those wanting to change jobs right now, your Saturn planet is a bit weak which means some delays could be coming your way but don’t worry as God’s delays are not God’s denials. For those who work in a creative field, this is a good quarter to out your plans into action. On the marriage front, if you are single and are looking at arranged marriage, this would be a good time to start seeing proposals.

Cancer: Money flow will be good this month as you will spend and earn money, says your card Empress. Also, women will be in the mood to pamper themselves. You will be connecting with certain family members this month. An old flame will try and get in touch with you this month, it is upto you how you want to handle the situation. This quarter, your Jupiter planet is quite strong which will give you a spiritual growth as well, you will be inclined towards yoga and meditation. For those who are single and are in search of true love, you will have to wait for a little while. Do remember that good things happen to those who wait.

Leo: You have got the card of the world which means this a good month on the work front, maybe even a deep desire. Life seems to be getting better for you and you seem to have a good control over your life in general. You have been working very hard on a particular project and this month sees that coming through. You have got the card of 2 of cups so you will

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TAROT try and find harmony and peace in most situations. A friendship could develop furthur and you need to be open to that. For those engaged, it is a good period as you plan your wedding. Also, your planet Moon is well placed this quarter helping you with your finances.

Virgo: It’s now or never as far as many decisions are concerned, especially on the professional front. You will see a rise and good fame as your Jupiter shifts into a positive position. In case, you want to clear old debts this is a good period as you might have some excess funds. There could be some legal issues that you need to sort out and it will take a while. As far as shifting to a new home, you have drawn the card of the Sun and it will be glowing. Also, there could suddenly be some relationship coming your way.

Libra: You are quite happy with certain changes that are taking place in your life. Your Uranus planet does help you as far as certain professional decisions are concerned, on the personal front, there could be some differences with your partner but overall, you will stick with your commitment. For some, a move to a new country is indicated. There could also be some good news in the family and certain couples might be blessed with a child. Where money is concerned, it will be good and you will decide to spend more money on your self then others.

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Scorpio: A penny saved is a penny earned and you need to think about saving some money this month. Yes, money flow is there but expenses are also sky high. For those looking to get married this month, it seems to be a good period to make this decision. For singles, a friendship could turn into love as you have drawn the card of the two of cups. Your stars indicate that your Mars will be strong which will help you to be emotionally strong but, it will also get you certain hidden enemies. You need to be careful in all your professional dealings.

Sagittaruius: When in doubt, never make a major decision. It is always better to think things through before you decide what is the final verdict. This month, the advice from the cards says that in love, be patient as things will fall into place. Your stars also are changing gradually that’s why you need to be patient. Remember patience is a virtue and few live by it. The good news is that some pending payment comes in this month, so have

something to look forward to. There could also be some travel involving your work and you might just get some good news from a foreign country.

Capricorn: You finally have realised that you have strong feelings for someone but you are not sure how to go about the entire process. You need to be upfront and admit what is truly in your heart. Your cards indicate that there could be some family pressure and there could also be some delays at work, don’t worry as this is a passing phase and you will be seeing some good results. There is some inner growth for the better as you grow emotinally stronger. Your planet Sun is a bit weak so there could be some health issues that you need to take care of. For those wanting to study abroad or work in new country, you just might get the opportunity.

Aquarius: Look before you leap, is the advice given to you this month. You need to carefully weigh the pros and cons and need to make sure you

are confident about certain decisions. For some, there is a new business or business opportunity on the horizon. You have got the card of five of cups which means that you will be thinking about the past and will be thinking about the mistakes you have made. Also, some of you might be busy preparing your marriage this month. This quarter, you will feel that God is with you only, you need to have the faith in him.

Pisces: Nothing lasts forever and no one better than you would understand this. You will be a little disappointed with certain things ending, but remember that only when certain things end, do new things begin. Work will be busy and your cards says that you might use that as a distraction. Your planet Venus is a well placed which will give you the support of your life partner and if there were some issues on the love front, it is likey to get sorted out this month. Also, health will be good as many of you will be concentrating on your fitness and lifestyle changes.

Munisha Khatwani Munisha Khatwani has been a famous and popular professional tarot card reader for the last 18 years. Throughout her career, she has appeared on several TV shows. She hosted an astrology show called Teen Deviyaan, which was aired on Star News for 7 years. Her journey continued as she appeared on a few episdoes of Simi Garewal’s India’s Most Desirable TV show, wherein she conducted televised readings for Bollywood celebrities such as Ranbir Kapoor, Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra. Subsequently, she featured on a show called India Poochega: Sabse Shaana Kaun? with Shah Rukh khan on &TV. Besides, she has written many columns for various magazines, newspapers, and websites including Telly Chakkar, The Gulf Indian, Showtime, Star Week, and Filmfare. She will soon be seen on her own tarot show called Karmic Shots with Munisha, which will be aired on all the DTH set top boxes on a new channel called Astrovaani. The impressive list of her accurate and prolific predictions include the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, Cricket World Cup victors, winners of reality TV shows - like Nach Baliye, Big Boss and Jhalak Dikhlajaa – as well as many celebrities’ marriages and break ups. Over the past 18 years of giving tarot and astrology readings, she has guided innumerable Indian TV and film celebrities. Her contact details are as follows Number: +91 9820047209.



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RECIPE

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Spinach Salad & Avoturmeric Smoothie Some quick and healthy options amidst the Corona fear. Speaking o f warmth, it has been rathe r nippy here in Hong Kong and I’ve be en souping lik e there’s n o tomorrow. Today, I’ve opted for a chang e and rathe r than going for winter s o up warmers, I’v e decided to get my heat up with some spicedup salads.

Ingredients ined and f washed dra o t ke ac p 1 y spinach plated up bab ken walnuts - 1/2 cup bro coins cut into thin - 1/2 carrot slices cut into thin - 1 avocado omegranate - Arils of 1 p se ed feta chee - 1/2 -1 cub

Dressing her and all this toget Just whisk nt u o esired am pour over d ar samic vineg - 1/4 cup bal ons honey - 3 tablespo e oil - 1/2 cup oliv inced garlic - 2 cloves m flakes on red chili - 1/2 teaspo

Balsamic Spinach Pomegranate Spiced Salad


RECIPE

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Avocado is so rich in o mega fatty acids and when combined with the an tiinflammato ry benefits of coconut, tu rmeric, card amom and fruits, you will ha ve the perfect filli ng of a gre en smoothie.

Avoturmeric Smoothie

Ingredien ts - 1 cup s

pinach - 1 ripe a vocado - 1/2 cup coc greek yo onut yoghurt or ghurt - 1/2 tea spoon org anic turm eric pow - 1 pinch der black pep p e r increase the bioav (essential to ailability turmeric of the ) - 1/4 tea spoon ca rdam (optional but taste om powder s great!) - 1 small piece gin ger, peele d and gra - 1/4 cup ted chopped banana - 1/4 cup chopped pineapple - Enough coconut milk to b thick sm lend into oothie a

Preparat io

n

So simple .J ingredien ust blitz all the ab ts with e nough co ove milk to g conut et a nice thick sm oothie

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KIDS CONTEST

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D

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CES N E ER

F

DIF

Please send your entries in the form of a photo or scanned pdf to

gp@aplomhk.com and put the subject line as

'Contest Entry Adesiflava Mar-Apr Issue'. The First 3 correct entries will each receive a

Xiaomi Bluetooth Speaker. We will announce 3 winners for the adults' section and 3 winners for Kids section.


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ADULT CONTEST

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AUNTY MVP

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Start small, A piece of advice by Aunty Poonam Mehta

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ntrepreneur means an activity of setting up a business or businesses, taking on financial risks in the hope of profit. The new business opportunities have encouraged entrepreneurship on a grand scale. You have to have the courage to follow your dreams and remember, there will always be obstacles you have to face before you reach your dream. Face challenges and never be discouraged. Believe in yourself, you are unique and no one can take your place. Make your own place with determination and persistence. Work hard and be a learner. Learn from every experiences whether it is big or small, share with your friends so you will multiply listening to others experiences.

Educate yourself no matter what your age is. Take some hobbies of your interest and read autobiographies of famous people.

Attend seminars and workshops as that will motivate you. When taking big decisions, listen to your inner voice and don’t procrastinate. Becoming entrepreneur is not just about making money. The qualities of a successful entrepreneur are: 1. Passion. 2. Self-discipline 3. Risk-taking ability 4. Creative thinking 5. Persistence

A successful entrepreneur is one who has the confidence or over-confidence to create his/ her vision for a world in which his/her idea is establised as a thriving business.

• Ask yourself these questions: 1. What can I do well? How am I doing? 2. What do I know less well? 3. What repels me, and why? 4. What are the main criticisms addressed to me? 5. What qualities does my environment recognize in me? 6. What makes me vulnerable? 7. What made me fail or feel bad about my past jobs?

• Attend motivational seminars • Watch videos of motivational speakers


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