Spice Route March 14 by Maxposure Media Group

The inflight magazine

Volume VIII | Issue III | March 2014

www.spiceroutemag.com

Splash of 24 colours Celebrate Holi with SpiceJet Pg

58 72 86

Soumik Sen

Meet the debutant director of Gulaab Gang

WORST TIPS

Know these if weight loss is on your mind

BAD HABITS Look hard, you are sure to have some

Happy Holi from SpiceJet

spicejet team: (Left to right) Shivani Reddy; Jai Marwah;

Priya Singh; Nimisha Jha; Shikha Pancholi; Gaurav Singh

Celebration time Dear SpiceJet customer, I take this opportunity to wish each one of you a very Happy Holi! In this issue, we bring to you an article on the Holi celebrations from across India with the SpiceJet crew. Other articles on destinations like Nasik and Yelagiri, quick meals and skin care during Holi, and the special Inside SpiceJet section will also keep you engaged. SpiceJet believes in spreading joy and as part of its CSR activities, the airline on February 7 th flew 20 children with special needs from V-Excel Educational Trust and Rotary Club of Madras East from Chennai to Madurai for a day of fun and sightseeing and we were privileged to have them fly with us. I am sure you must have started to experience the emerging changes in the all-new SpiceJet. There is a lot more on its way in the coming weeks and months. Do send in your feedback and suggestions to help us serve you better. Thank you for flying SpiceJet!

Kalanithi Maran Chairman

GROUP

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Spiceroute MAGAZINE. Printed AND PUBLISHED BY VIKAS JOHARI ON BEHALF OF MAXPOSURE MEDIA GROUP (INDIA) PVT. LTD. (MMGipl) for spicejet ltd. AND PUBLISHED AT MMGipl, Unit No F2b ( Second Floor), Mira Corporate Suites, Plot No . 1 & 2, Ishwar Nagar, Mathura Road, New Delhi -110065, india. Spiceroute MAGAZINE is published monthly. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THE WRITING, ARTWORK AND/OR PHOTOGRAPHY CONTAINED HEREIN MAY NOT BE USED OR REPRODUCED WITHOUT THE EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION OF MMGipl. MMGipl DOES NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR LOSS OR DAMAGE OF UNSOLICITED PRODUCTS, MANUSCRIPTS, PHOTOGRAPHS, ARTWORK, TRANSPARENCIES OR OTHER MATERIALS. The views expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher or SpiceJet. All efforts have been made while compiling the content of this magazine, but we assume no responsibility for the effects arising there from. MMGipl DOES NOT ASSUME ANY LIABILITY FOR SERVICES OR PRODUCTS ADVERTISED HEREIN. FOR INQUIRIES | MMGipl TEL: +91.11.43011111, www.Spicejet.com, www. maxposure.in

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update 14 16

Hot dates Travel buzz

Tete-a-tete

explore 48 hours in Bengaluru 32 Pleasant Retreat Sacred Serenity Glimpse of Goa

In conversation with Vikas Swarup 52

40 46 110

Soumik Sen on Gulaab Gang

Contents

110

THE INFLIGHT MAGAZINE

Volume VIII | Issue III | March 2014

52 98 104

SOUMIK SEN

Meet the debutant director of Gulab Gang

BAD HABITS

Look hard, you are sure to have some

WORST TIPS Know these if weight loss is on your mind

www.spiceroutemag.com

The SpiceJet’s CSR article in this magazine has been enriched with ARplay and contain digital content that you can view using your smartphone. HOW IT WORKS: 1

SPICEJET INFO

158

KIDS ON A DREAM

Scan FLIGHT

Download D l d ‘AR ‘ARplay’ l ’ on your iPhone/ Android device & scan this page to watch SpiceJet’s Joyride for kids from Chennai

0DUFK _ ZZZ VSLFHURXWHPDJ FRP

SPLASH OF COLOURS Celebrate Holi with SpiceJet

Step 1: Download the free ARplay app for iPhone or Android.

Step 2: Open the ARplay app, hold the phone on the magazine cover and tap to scan it.

Cover Photographs: Anil Chawla Stylist: Sayantani Bhaumik Hair & Makeup: Monsoon Salon

SpiceJet now offers over 150 connections on its existing network For details log on to www.spicejet.com

March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

Step 3: See the SpiceJet crew come alive on your smartphone.

Turn to page 158

Alstone International

E: info@alstoneindia.com • www.alstoneindia.com Toll Free No. 1800-1233123 • SMS ACP TO 56161 Branch Offices: Ahmedabad • Bangalore • Chennai • Delhi • Indore • Kochi • Kolkatta • Lucknow • Mumbai • Noida • Pune • Ranchi

concern

indulge 62 Pot of convenience 66 Worst weight loss tips 72 Rang barse 80 Spruce up 86 Royal Spice

Hollywood dates Bollywood Smart learning

Fighting fear

potpourri 104

104

92 98

Festive flavour Launch pad Gadgets Films Books Predictions

130 134 140 144 148 150

cover story Colour Cauldroun 26

inside spicejet Letter from the management

153 SpiceJet family 154 SpiceJet joyride 158 FSC: Control centre 162 Branding story 170 Tasty treats 176 Tag tales 178 Music mantra 180 SpiceJet fleet 182

SpiceJet now offers over 150 connections on its existing network For details log on to www.spicejet.com

March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

Letters from

SpiceJet customers Warm staff On February 6, 2014, when I stepped into Flight SG 116, a pleasant smile from ‘The Miss Charming’ hinted me that the flight experience would indeed be nice. I found Ms. Uzma to be very courteous and supportive all through the flight. She was very patient when an old customer was pretty confused in selecting the food items from the menu. Ms Uzma was tolerantly sorting the needs of the elderly. She even helped me in the cabin and made sure I was attended promptly and with a homely touch. Hats off to the of the crew members of SpiceJet.

letter month

Dr. Arshad Javed

Smooth check-in I was extremely pleased with your check-in staff member—Ms Nirupama— as she ensured a smooth and hassle free check-in. At the same time, she was very helpful and had clear information about the flight. I wish her and SpiceJet the very best to continue their excellent service. Romji Moremedia

HERE’S THE BUZZ ON SOCIAL MEDIA Great choice of onboard music, soothing and relaxing! Atul Behal My best flight experience on SpiceJet on the Sharjah to Lucknow sector. I just love the way SpiceJet operates. Jatashankar Sharma Travelled on a Q400 on Bangalore-Chennai sector. Was sceptical of travelling in a small flight, but had a superb flight. Neat clean, comfy seats. pujakedia Bruce Springsteen in the morning. #SpiceJet sure has some great taste in #music yashthe1

Security & safety

Child care Dear crew, may God bless you. Thank you for being so nice and helpful to me (8 and half years old). I also thank you for the smiles you gave me. All the best to all of you. Priya Pandey

On February 7, 2014, I was travelling from HYDERABAD to CHENNAI on SG 3016. I accidentally left my purse at the airport. I realised it just before boarding the flight. The ground staff assured me that they would fetch it and put it on the next flight out. I gave up all the hope of the bad reaching me. As soon as I touched down at Chennai and stepped out of the door, I asked the Security Officer, Mary BS, to find out about the bag. She kept in touch with me all evening and personally handed the bag to me the very next day. Nikitha Mannam

Kudos guys for again being number one in on time performance 2014. A fresh start! GandharvSeth SpiceJet's fares are dynamic and keep changing as per seat availability. U may plan your travel in advance to avail lower fares. Anuj_K_Saxena I have only one request— not to compromise your excellent service and continue pampering us whilst we continue patronising u. ajaymirchandani

March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

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HOT DATES Qawwali night

Play time

In Mumbai on March 1 Ashvin Gidwani Productions presents Blame It On Yashraj. It is a hilarious story of a Punjabi/ Bengali family caught up in the whirlwind of a wedding getting bigger and bigger by the day, when their darling daughter decides to marry a Muslim boy. The play will be held at Nehru Auditorium in Mumbai.

Inspirational compositions In Delhi from March 1 - 6 Pallav Chander makes his art debut with an autobiographical show titled ‘Decoding A Dyslexic Mind’ at Visual Arts Gallery in New Delhi. Transcending mediums and genres – he has created textural, semi-abstract figurative works.

Fly high

Melodious night In Ahmedabad on March 2 Javed Ali, a celebrated Indian playback singer, who has been singing in Hindi movies since 2000 will be performing live at Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information and Communication Technology (DAIICT). Come and enjoy his soothing melodies such as Ek Din Teri Raahon Mein' from the movie Naqaab and 'Jashn-e-Bahaaran' from the movie Jodhaa Akbar. March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

In Delhi from March 8-9 SUFI KATHAK FOUNDATION presents 'Understanding Qawwali-2014'. A Symposium exploring the plurality of the unified art-form which is conceived and conceptualised by Manjari Chaturvedi, founder of Sufi Kathak. This will be held at Rose Garden, India International Centre in Delhi.

Sail along In Dubai from March 4 - 8 World premieres, regional launches, leading superyacht builders, Supercar Promenade, family area, awards ceremonies, VIP packages, media opportunities, live entertainment… all set within a stunning backdrop of the Dubai skyline. This is all you need to look out for at the Dubai International boat show.

In Hyderabad from March 12- 16 After the grand success of India Aviation 2012, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India, Jointly with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry is organising the 4th Edition of India Aviation 2014 in Hyderabad. The event will have the following components - exhibition, conference, CEO forum, Chalets, Static Display demonstration flights and media conferences.

Marathon time In Chandigarh on March 13 The second edition of the Chandigarh Marathon will commence from Rock Garden. The event will see three different categories 'the full marathon, the half marathon and a fun run for 5 km. The minimum age eligibility for the half and full marathon is 18 years, while anyone above 14 years can participate for the fun run.

Art festival In Hong Kong till March 22 The Hong Kong Arts Festival (HKAF) showcases Asiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top talents alongside leading artists from around the world. Genres that can be witnessed include classical music, Chinese music, world music, Western opera, Chinese opera, drama and dance. Each festival includes concerts by each of Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra and Hong Kong Sinfonietta.

Wed in style

Royal sojourn In Udaipur from March 13-16 Organised by the Mewar royal family, the World Living Heritage Festival promotes the cultural diversity of the Mewar region. This is the second time the festival has been held. It consists of arts and crafts workshops, photo exhibition, food festival, musical concerts, and technical conferences to discuss issues pertaining to the preservation of Living Heritage.

In Pune from March 22- 23 As the wedding season is approaching exhibitions and fairs are being held all across the country where you can buy wedding paraphernalia. In tune with the same a Dulhan Jewellery and Garment Exhibition will be held at Hyatt Regency in Pune.

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what’s new Heritage Tourism Conclave in taking

The PHD Chambers, in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism, recently organised the 3rd India Heritage Tourism Conclave in Delhi. With an aim to promote the Himalayas as a tourism destination and enabling India to be marketed as a round-the-year travel destination, the day-long conclave deliberated on various challenges and opportunities of tourism in India. Inaugurating the conclave, Mr Parvez Dewan, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism said, “There is an urgent need to preserve our heritage and all stakeholders should actively participate

our heritage forward.” He recommended that tourism and heritage sites all over the country and especially in terrains and landscapes within the Himalayan range should be developed in such a way that original structures are intact and protected. An Extensive Study on Himalayan heritage tourism was also released on the occasion

Kerala’s new initiatives

Kerala has rolled out a series on initiatives like Seaplane Project and Project Muziris to boost tourism in the state. While the former project is aimed towards improving last mile connectivity by air to its destinations across state, the latter is directed to reinstate the historical and cultural significance of the legendary port of Muziris. Kerala Tourism recently organised a roadshow in Delhi where Mr S Harikishore, IAS, Director, Kerala Tourism talked about their recent initiatives and achievements. Kerala Tourism has come out with a unique nature based soft adventure holidays program NATVENTURE. The idea behind this is to use the key tourism products—wildlife, hill stations, beaches, backwaters and engage the possibilities of adventure activities they present. Kerala Natventure activities include trekking, camping, rock climbing, jungle, wildlife safaris, bird watching, cycling, kayaking, canoeing and paragliding.

Jamsetji Tata remembered

The Taj Group of Hotels recently celebrated Jamsetji Tata’s 175th birth anniversary with an art exhibition inaugurated by Mr. Ratan Tata. The exhibition showcased 36 works of art of one of Taj’s oldest employees Newton Thomas D’Souza. His works have been displayed at the Jamshed Bhabha Theatre and the Tata offices in Mumbai and Jamshedpur among other venues. On the occasion, the Tata Group gifted Rs. 350 crore for a non -profit, world-class cancer hospital in Kolkata. March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

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VisitBritain facilitates MoUS

In a one-of-a-kind initiative, VisitBritain, national tourism agency of the UK, has facilitated Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) between leading travel trade associations of the UK and India to improve travel exchanges, including sharing of information on policies and products. The MoUs were signed at SATTE 2014, which was held in New Delhi. James Bevan, British High Commissioner to India said Indian tourists are important for the tourism growth of the UK, and the MoUs will create stronger ties between the two countries on a peopleto-people basis. He said that the two visits to India last year by David Cameron, Prime Minister of the UK, signify ‘deeper relationships’ between the two countries.

city roadshow By TAT 18

Tourism Authority of Thailand’s (TAT) Mumbai Office organised its annual road show and witnessed participation of more than 30 key travel partners from Thailand. The road show was conducted in Bengaluru, Chennai and Ahmedabad. Pichai Raktasinha, Director of ASEAN, South Asia and South Pacific Market Division, TAT addressed the participants at the three road shows. “We have brought together a sizeable contingent of the most relevant hotels, DMCs and attractions to bolster the relationship of Indian travel trade with their counter parts from Thailand and also equip them to sell Thailand through the year,” stated Sethaphan Buddhani, Director, TAT-Mumbai Office.

Dubai to introduce room tax

OPPO Mobile enters India

OPPO Mobile, a globally registered technology brand, announced its entry into the India market at an event held at The Grand in New Delhi. The handset major launched its flagship product, OPPO N1, the first device from its N-Lens series, in the presence of OPPO’s India brand ambassadors, Hrithik Roshan and Sonam Kapoor. The handset, which redefines smartphone photography, has been priced at `39,999. Speaking at the launch, Tom Lu, Director and CEO, OPPO Mobiles India Pvt. Ltd. said, “We intend to replicate our excellent product and service experience in India through our new and innovative Smartphones and give Indian consumers a delightful experience. The underlying product philosophy behind OPPO’s international success and reputation is our emphasis on something very simple i.e. ‘experience’. I see a wonderful future for both OPPO India and our partners and the formation of a healthy and long-term association focused on progress and growth.”

Dubai is introducing room tax to help pay for Expo 2020 projects. Labelled as the Tourism Dirham, the hospitality fee on hotel stays will be introduced by end of March. It will be applied to guests staying at all hotels, hotel apartments, guesthouses and holiday homes, and will range from Dh7 (USD1.9) to Dh20 (USD 5.4). The amount of the fee, which will be applied per room, per night, depends on the type of hotel. Funds raised will support international promotion of the emirate and help to drive growth of tourism and trade. Dubai estimates Expo 2020 will cost more than USD 8.7 billion to promote and stage. March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

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Art Festival in Delhi

The gala opening of the 7th DELHI INTERNATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL (DIAF) at the Purana Qila witnessed ethereal and colourful performances by Manipuri dancers, Egyptian National Dance Troupe, Sri Lankan National Dance Troupe, Kashmiri dancers, vibrant music by the Langas & the Manganiars from Rajasthan who performed in fusion with the ‘Kings of Creole’- Hety & Zambo from Columbia. The two-week festival included several rare traditional music and dance groups drawn from remote parts of India, like Singari Melam & Chavinattakam from Kerala, Ankhiya Bhawna and Borgeet from Assam, Karma & Sarfa Dance from Jharkhand, Hirni Birni Ki Katha from Bihar, Fakiri Songs & Mamore Puja & Rampa Dance from West Bengal and several others. Martial Art forms of Kalari from Kerala and Chhau from Odisha was also showcased at the Festival. Iranian illumination artistes and craftsmen demonstrated their work at the National Museum & the Crafts Museum.

Dumas Art Project 2014

Virtuous Retail, India's largest institutionally owned developer-operator of lifestyle shopping centres, recently announced the opening of the 2nd edition of Dumas Art Project 2014 at VR Surat with over 15 artists and curated art works across key themes such as environment, urbanisation and pop culture. In keeping with Virtuous Retail’s commitment to championing public art their VR branded Flagship Centers, the festival provides a platform to emerging artists with art installations that will be on display till March 23. Dumas Art Project also marks the Phase III launch of VR Surat, which will celebrate the tourism potential of the city through a campaign titled “Chalo Surat!” Promoted, hosted and organised by VR Surat, the inaugural Flagship Retail Center from the Virtuous Retail portfolio, the Dumas Art Project follows a series of festivals such as Khoobsurat and Glam Garba that have succeeded in establishing Brand Surat across the nation. This unique street art festival brings together art lovers and connoisseurs, with the aim to engage with local communities and provide a platform to artists.

Banga Utsav at Dilli Haat

Bineeta and Sujata Rai, small farmers and part-time woollen garment makers from Dawai-Pani village in Darjeeling, participated in 'Banga Utsav' at Dilli Haat, with handmade goods and other products from the hilly region Apart from handmade woollen garments, bags, wooden buttons, home-made spices and Tibetan Buddhist 'thangkas' or religious scroll-paintings, their stall at the Bengal handloom and handicrafts fair at Dilli Haat, INA, displayed and sold tea and dried and processed organic food items like “gundruk” (fermented leafy green vegetables) and “kinema” (fermented soyabean). A model of the heritage steam locomotive of Darjeeling Toy Train also garnered a lot of attention from visitors.

March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

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Adding laurels

Jaypee Palace Hotel and International Convention Centre, Agra has been awarded under the Category ‘Best Hotel Based Meeting Venue’ at the National Tourism Award 2012-2013 by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. The Hotel, a glorious structural blend of red sandstone and marble, is spread over 25 acres of elegantly landscaped luxuriant greenery. The Convention Centre with its combination of various well planned and well laid out rooms and a business center, can accommodate up to 1,500 delegates. The hotel is the preferred venue for MICE by corporates, national and international associations and world bodies. Speaking on the occasion Ms. Manju Sharma, Director, Jaypee Hotels said, “We are delighted to see that the industry is recognizing our Convention Centre. It is an honour for us at Jaypee Hotels to receive the recognition. It is the result of consistent effort of the management and the team to maintain the state of the art hotel cum convention centre and continuous delivery of services at the hotel. "

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Holiday with Taj

This holiday season, the Taj Group of Hotels presents an array of unique experiences especially for you. The Royal Retreats package is inclusive of accommodation, airport transfers, traditional welcome, historic walk of the palace, and discounts on food, alcoholic/nonalcoholic beverages, laundry services and Jiva Spa treatments. Romantic Rendezvous packages are perfect to whisk your loved one by private jet, luxury liner or in a vintage car to rekindle the romance and fall in love all over again. For the good old family re-unions, guests can treat themselves to Family Vacations packages which offer a variety of activities ranging from cooking demonstrations and pottery workshops to desert safaris, ensuring your entire family returns with cherished memories to last a lifetime.

Delhi’s new hot spot

There has been so much hullabaloo since Monkey Bar launched in Delhi that a visit to the place could not be missed. The popular Bangalore Gastropub opened in Delhi early this year in the dimly lit Vasant Kunj Market. Spacious and large, this place has a pool table and an extensive menu of drinks and haute bar food. What is worth appreciating is that the staff is friendly, efficient and patient. Talking about the delectable food, the Butterfly chicken is a must try for a quick snack. If you are a vegetarian you could go for Flutterfly instead. When here you must try the refreshing and innovative cocktails such as Manga and Copper Monkey which are unremarkably unique in taste. As suggested by the staff Galouti Killer and Jerk chicken on buttered rice was perfect for the main course. There are plenty of other small plates to choose from such as burgers and wraps. Meal for two without alcohol excluding taxes: `1,200 Meal for two with alcohol excluding taxes: `1,800 March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

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cover: Behind the scenes Captain Gaurav Singh Delhi Base Holi, we all know, is one of the the most vibrant festivals of the country. Holi, I must say, is my favourite festival. The fun and frolic that I share with my loved ones on Holi is unmatched with any other festival. The cover shoot for Spiceroute was an exuberating experience. The team was very cooperative and creative. Thank you for giving me such a memorable time.

March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

Shivani Reddy, First Officer, Chennai Base Holi, the festival of colours, not only celebrates good over evil, but is also a great way to welcome the spring. I particularly enjoy the unity of vibrant colours applied on one another and all the delicious sweets and snacks associated with Holi. I am glad that SpiceJet chose me to be featured on the cover of our inflight magazine. The team did an amazing job at making us comfortable.

Shikha Pancholi, Base Officer Delhi, Inflight Services The cover shoot for Spiceroute added colours to our lives, just the way Holi adds colours to our lives. There was so much energy flowing on the floor, we applied gulaal on each other as Holi songs were being played. The mood was lively, apt for a Holi themed shoot. Everybody associated with the shoot—crew members and photographers—made sure we are comfortable.

Nimisha Jha, Assistant Maintenance Engineer, Bengaluru Shooting for the Spiceroute cover was a great experience. Just as Holi is a mix of colours and we need the presence of all colours to make this festival colourful, similarly we need the contribution from people from all departments to keep the SpiceJet colours flying high. It was wonderful to get to see the other side of each of my colleagues.

Priya Singh, Cabin Crew, Hyderabad Base I would like to extend my whole hearted thanks to the SpiceJet family for providing me the opportunity to participate in the photo shoot. The energy was electrifying at the shoot with everyoneÂ trying to make us laugh. We were a lucky few who played Holi well in advance. The shoot gave us those fun filled moments and I realised how Holi brings joy and happiness to our lives.

Amidst Holi songs and splashes of colour, we celebrated the cover shoot Jai Marwah, Customer Service Executive â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Delhi Airport I would like to thank the team at Spiceroute, who made our day special by conducting the cover shoot with us. It will always remain a good memory. To see myself along with my colleagues on the cover of our inflight magazine is a delightful experience. I had a ball of a time during the shoot and this initiative came as a great motivational exercise from the airline.

Holi special

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However diverse we might be, Holi is one festival that is popular in all corners of the country and brings us together. W O R D S | florina soren

hile in some places it is about flowers in all colours, in others it is about black and blue; Women ‘beating’ their menfolk, all in the spirit of togetherness and fun. The saying "Holi hai bhai Holi hai, bura na mano Holi hai" reiterates the fact that all of us should embrace the Holi spirit. We bring you Holi traditions in all its hues.

One day of the year that starts cold, but rapidly warms up, fuelled by festivity, laughter and togetherness. It is also the ushering in of spring, a time that spells novelty and joy of life

In Krishna land

In Barsana near Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krishna, the build up to the festival starts much ahead of Holi. Womenfolk start collecting lathis (thick sticks) as that is their prime weapon for the day. As legend goes, when Lord Krishna along with other gopis (his consorts) went to Radha’s village to play Holi, the boys were chased away with long sticks. The tradition is till date maintained and men from neighbouring villages still come to Barsana even as the women chase them and playfully beat them with lathis. The air is thick with colour and the fragrance of flowers which are flung in the air playfully by the village folk. Women also sing special Holi songs even as sweets and thandai (a delicious and refreshing sweet drink

SpiceJet wishes all its passengers Happy Holi and if you are flying with us on March 17, be prepared for colourful celebrations with the SpiceJet crew

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Quick facts a unique tradition is followed in Bikaner where men play football in fancy dress. Characters are from history and politics, gods and animals and demons—it is a panorama of India at its colourful best

Flowers of different colours play an important role in Holi as Phoolon ki Holi is played in many cities. this is surely a safe and colourful way of enjoying this festival of colours

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made with dry fruits, rose petals and milk) are served to all. Lathmar Holi as it is popularly known is one of the greatest tourist attractions during this season. Singing and dancing continues for days while people come to visit the temple from across countries, especially during this time of the year. Lathmar Holi is also among the favourite subjects of photographers from across the globe. Excess in colour and high spirits gives them a wide canvas to explore. SpiceJet connect: You can fly to Delhi and travel to Mathura by road.

Eastern flavours

In the eastern part of the country, this festival of colours is referred to as Dol or Dol jatra. In Kolkata, children are seen setting up scenes from the lives of Radha and Krishna using miniature idols. Radha and Krishna statuettes are decorated mostly in small palquins and songs are sung around them. Children recreate the landscape around Radha-Krishna and other gopis are also seen playing alongside. The day starts with a puja, followed by people playing with gulal. In Santiniketan, Holi is celebrated as Basant Utsav—a tradition started

by Tagore himself. A procession is taken out by the students of Visva Bharati University with the youth singing Rabindra sangeet. This is then followed by people playing with flowers and gulal. Spending time here during Basant Utsav is a must for everyone — rich in tradition, it is sure to leave you culturally satiated.

In Santiniketan, Holi is celebrated as Basant Utsav- a tradition started by Rabindranath Tagore In Manipur, Holi is celebrated with equal gaiety. With a strong Hindu population, Holi here begins with the Yaoshang puja in most households. The high point of celebration here is the sabalchonga dance performed with great enthusiasm by the locals here. SpiceJet connect: For Santiniketan, fly to Kolkata and then travel by train or road. Approx 200km. Manipur: The nearest SpiceJet destination is Guwahati.

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People enjoy gujiya and malpua, savoury papdis and kanji in north Indian homes Victory of the good 30

Even though colours and merrymaking overpower Holi celebrations across the nation, Holi is a festival which celebrates the victory of good over evil. Hence, even today, in most parts of the country, Holika dahan heralds the coming of Holi. Usually a day before the festival of colours, Holika - a symbol of evil is burnt to ashes. According to legend, King Hinranyakashipu had earned a boon that made him indestructible. His son Prahlad used to protest against his arrogant and evil ways. The king decided to get rid of Prahlad and asked his sister Holika, who had a fireproof shawl, to take young Prahlad on her lap and sit on a pyre. But a gust of divine wind blew

Safe colours

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the shawl away from Holika and it landed around Prahlad protecting him while his aunt was burnt to death. Lord Vishnu appeared and killed Hinranyakashipu. In remembrance, the Holika dahan (burning) is re-enacted the day before Holi in the form of a large bonfire around which people sing and dance. As a child it was always fun collecting twigs, dry stems and many such knick-knacks to create a tall Holika. Among children of the locality, the competition was whose Holika would be the tallest. Shift to modern times—people buy huge logs straight from the market and miss the simple joys of a decade back when collecting raw materials for making Holika would bring

It’s a given to apply oil on body and hair for protection from any chemical-based dyes before venturing out of the house. In earlier times, there were smarter ways of celebrating Holi—water into which flowers and other herbal options were added for

utmost satisfaction. But yes the essence remains the same - burning down evil.

Tradition trail

Holi is special and unique, more so because of the traditions which accompany the main festival. Special songs and dedicated delicacies add a charm to the festival. You can find sweet gujiya and malpua, savoury papdis and namak paare and kanji (a fermented drink) in north-Indian households. Non-vegetarian dishes like bhuna kaleji and mutton curry also feature high on the must-have list after a tiring round of play with pichkaris (water guns) and water balloons. No celebration is complete without these special delicacies. Holi falls on March 17 this year.

colour and fragrance was used for play. Popular ones included tesu flowers or turmeric for a unique yellow tinge, kumkum for red, and rose petals for that special fragrance. Nowadays, herbal gulal and dyes are fast gaining popularity.

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48 hours in

bengaluru

Extremely cosmopolitan, this fastest growing city in Asia, it is not known as the Silicon Valley for nothing. W O R D S | RUPA LI DE A N

T 32

he traffic can be crushing, but the people are very friendly and helpful. The city is also home to some of India’s premier scientific establishments. Blessed with a salubrious climate, lush green gardens, architectural landmarks, shopping malls,

the best restaurants, business opportunities, Bengaluru makes the ideal gateway to India and beyond. Started as a small Brahmin’s Café,

Mavalli tiffin room has always been the city’s icon of delicious food and high standards of hygiene and cleanliness for over 85 years.

One needs to stand in a serpentine queue for mouthwatering delicious idlis, dosas, uppittu, kesari bhaath and hot piping filter coffee

days in a city

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Bengaluru is connected to various destinations. log on to www.spicejet.com for details

fast facts The airport is beautiful and clean. As a matter of fact it is the only city in the world to have commercial and Defence airport operating from the same strip

8.45 AM: LALBAGH BOTANICAL

DAY GARDEN ONE If you enjoy nature and gardens in

particular, this place is for you. Most trees are over 100 years old. A must see is the 200-million old fossil tree. Ensure to look for the smaller gardens inside as they are quite interesting, the ‘Japanese’ and ‘rose’ in particular. Interestingly, the name ‘Lal Bagh’ has been given to it for the wonderfully bloomed red roses that remain blooming all through the year. The garden also has a large, clean lake with its fair share of resident ducks. One end of the lake is covered in exquisitely delicate looking wild pink lotus. Kingfishers and other pretty birds can be spotted here. Remember to carry your camera. 11.45 AM: CUBBON PARK Cubbon Park has been a leisure spot for locals and tourists alike for many

years. With over 300 acre of land is completely wooded and ideal for any time stroll. The park houses a museum, statues, an art gallery as well as a public library. The statue of Queen Victoria was installed in 1906 and the statue of King Edward VII was installed in 1919 out here. The Ulsoor Lake, which begins at the end of the park, is a strikingly beautiful lake with little shaded islands.

The lake is full of delicate looking wild pink lotus 1.00 PM: DIMSUM AND TEA BREAK AT YAUATCHA

A modern interpretation of the traditional Chinese teahouse, Yauatcha is a lavish retreat. Marrying high quality cuisine with cutting edge design, it offers an all-day dining

The climate is warm from March to May, cold in December and January and rainy from June to December. The best time to visit the city is October to February

Dress as lightly as possible, pack some cool cotton. shorts and sandals are the usual daytime wear. In fact, simply buy locally made casual clothes, as they are quite cheap there The best way to go around in Bengaluru is either by auto rickshaw or taxi

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RETREAT If you have spare time plan a day trip to the Innovative Film City, just 40 kms from Bengaluru, it makes for a perfect weekend retreat for good entertainment.

Dine and wine at Alba in JW Marriott

experience. Keeping one satisfied with traditional Dimsum, a variety of wok items including stir-fried vegetables and an exceptional offering of Chinese and Indian loose leaf teas, adds more exciting options to its large selection owing to its popularity.

34 Spread over 50 acres, it houses facilities such as an Amphitheatre, Cartoon City with the country’s biggest roller coaster, Aqua Kingdom, Haunted Mansion, Fossil Museum etc.

Photo: Rupali Dean

And if you would rather not go for adrenalin rush, but a quick getaway location to let off some steam and relax then simply drive to Nandi Hills, a very popular tourist destination just 60 kms from Bengaluru.

2.30 PM: SHOPPING Mahatma Gandhi Road, famed as MG Road, is one of the arterial roads of Bengaluru. Along with Brigade Road and Residency Road, it forms the most happening ‘H’. A shopper’s paradise, worth checking out is the range of Cottage and Silk Emporiums, Leather Houses and Antique Shops on MG Road and Commercial Street. On offer are also several Lifestyle stores, garment arcades as well as bookstores. In other words, this area oozes the essence of modern

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Bengaluru, serves as a favourite meeting point, and a splendid example of a place where you’d like to spend your day and evening. 8.00 pM: DINE & WINE IN STYLE Alba, the exclusive specialty restaurant at JW Marriott offers the best of Italian hospitality and is an absolute must visit if you are in this city. So, just like you would expect in Italy, you can choose to enjoy your meal indoors or out on the open deck with a backdrop of Italian marble interiors from Carrara, and pearl chandeliers. On offer is a fine selection of signature dishes by specialty Italian chef Bruno Ferrari from Italy. The restaurant boasts of the freshest produce, thin crust pizzas, curated section of Prosecco and spirits offering elegant pairing choices with every

Worth checking out is the Cottage and Silk Emporiums, Leather Houses on MG Road and Commercial Street

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This typical Dravidian temple has a mammoth, monolithic bull, 15ft high and 20ft long

The majestic Bangalore Palace

selection. Remember to order the fresh peach Bellini, which is considered as the best in town.

DAY TWO

9.00 aM: BULL TEMPLE This typical Dravidian style temple has a mammoth, monolithic bull, 15ft high and 20ft long and has been at this place long before the present temple was built. It is made of gray granite polished with

a mixture of charcoal and groundnut oil, in 1786. The devotees believe that the feet of the Nandi are the sources of the river Vishwa Bharati. In the premises of this Temple, is a Lord Ganesh Temple. The deity in this temple is created from 110 kilograms of butter, every four years; this butter is distributed amongst the devotees as prasad. In November and December every year a groundnut fair is held near the temple.

lines built this palace in Tudor style. The palace is famous for its elegantly carved woodwork. The inner walls of the Bengaluru Palace are also festooned with paintings belonging to the mid-19th century. One of the walls of the Durbar Hall has a set of windows that are decorated with stained glass. The main attraction is an art gallery that displays several historical photosand exquisite paintings and carvings.

11.30 AM: BANGALAORE

1.30 PM: ISKCON TEMPLE and a hearty LUNCH

PALACE

During a visit to England, Chamaraja Wodeyar, the Maharaja of Mysore was inspired by the Windsor Castle in London, and along similar

MUST SEE Collection UB City Mall St. Mary’s Basilica Garuda Mall

As devotees from all over the world know ISKCON’s premises offers complete seclusion, away from the city’s bustle and crowds and are yet just about 20

National Gallery of Modern Art Bangalore walking tour Russell Street

Moonlit cinema A coffee break at Bengaluru Baking Traditional south Indian food at Nagarjuna Company patisserie at the JW Marriot, it redefines a classic pastry shop Mysore Saree Udyog March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

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ISKCON temple in Bengaluru

minutes’ drive from its centre. After a round of the temple, a good idea is to eat at Higher Taste a culinary journey definitely worth taking. I would say, it sure is a restaurant with a lot to savour and has it all serenity of surroundings, a delicious extensive sattvic vegetarian menu that uses only traditional recipes, elegant decor and service that’s unobtrusively attentive. 5.00 PM: ST. MARY’S BASILICA The only basilica in the state of Karnataka and the sixth in the country, the church is like an oasis amidst the chaos of Shivaji Nagar and the bustling Russell Market, it is a stunning immaculate structure, a true expression of peace and harmony. The dipping sun forms a nice golden glow in the sky as a backdrop to the church at twilight. Built in Gothic style with stained glass windows, arches and ornamental motifs, it is the oldest church in the city, and was elevated to the status of a minor basilica in 1973. Dedicated to Mother Mary, it is famed for St. Mary’s feast held every year in the month of September and is attended by many devotees across religions. March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

Eating at Higher Taste a culinary journey worth taking 7.30 PM: GASTROPUB Monkey Bar is the Indian avatar of the Gastropub and showcases its own unique spin on the idea with the essence of a pub, backed by excellent food and service at accessible prices. The food is eclectic and has distinct dishes like ‘Mee Goreng’, ‘Pumpkin and Tofu Curry’, ‘Shrimp Newburg with Brown Rice’, ‘Berry Pulao’ and ‘Sticky Date Pudding’ . Desserts like the ‘Flourless XS Cake’ are potent doses of sinfully delicious comfort. Refreshing fruit cocktails are surely a hit here.

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Pleasant

Retreat

A popular trekking destination, the hill station of Yelagiri is surrounded by green valleys, orchards and rose gardens. W ords | J enc y S amuel P hotographs | R S amuel

ieck…twee… whitch, whitch…” Bird calls are bound to wake you up in Yelagiri to a cold and lethargic morning; more so, if you stay in one of the peripheral villages, away from central Athanavur that wears a slight commercial touch. Though calls of robins, flowerpeckers, sunbirds and others abound, the ‘pleased-to-meet-you’ call of red-whiskered bulbuls is distinct.

In the distance, smoke curls up above a roof and you hear the clang of bells as cattle are herded from their pens for grazing Short haul

Yelagiri is a popular weekend destination, being an easy four-hour drive from Chennai and three-hour drive from Bengaluru (a little longer depending on traffic and including stop-overs). The Yelagiri Hills, with its 14 tribal villages, sit at an

altitude of 1050m. The winding ghat road has fourteen hairpin bends, each named after classical Tamil poets and philanthropic kings of the Sangam period. In a few places, the tourism department has built small observation platforms that offer a good view of the plains below,

Yelagiri is a popular weekend destination, being an easy fourhour drive from Chennai and three-hour drive from Bengaluru

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especially at night, when the towns come alive with lights. Yelagiri is an ideal place to unwind. Known popularly as ‘the poor man’s Ooty’ given its smaller spread and lesser altitude, it is still untouched by commercialisation and retains its rustic charm. It still has a couple of must-see tourist attractions.

Yelagiri is famous for different kinds of adventure sports

You can see birds like oriental white-eyes and small minivets Boating in the artificial Punganur Lake is a major attraction among visitors. Interestingly, the boating and tuck shops are being operated by Semmagalir women’s self help group that won a threeyear contract in auction. It was heartening that they have made wearing of life jackets mandatory during boat rides. During the ride, one can enjoy the green hillocks in the distance. One can also saunter along the 2km long promenade

Major attractions Boat ride in Punganur Lake Children’s park near the lake Nature Park A trek to Swami Malai Murugan Temple

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around the lake. One stretch of the promenade is a nature-lover’s happy ground as its tall trees attract countless birds such as oriental white-eyes and small minivets and butterflies such as immigrants, jays and jezebels. One can also relax in the seaters that dot the walkway all through out. For the religiously-inclined, a short trek from Kattur Road leads to the small Malai Nachiyamman Temple. The temple has existed as a mud-lime structure for generations, informed Chinnamalayan, whose family members inherit the temple priest post. A small road branching off the Nilavoor Road, leads to the Murugan Temple. The temple has small Vinayaka and navagraha

shrines. Wide steps with small rise make the climb easy. One could sit on the parapet walls along the steps and enjoy the verdant view of the hills and the quiet. Yelagiri is known for its jackfruit. Be it the arterial Athanavur Road or the Swami Malai trail, one sees jackfruit trees in public places and hillocks. While jackfruit is sold in many places, honey from the hills, home-grown and wild produce such as star fruits, chikoo and cherimoya or ram-sitaphal are sold along the road that leads to the Punganur Lake.

Local flavour

The government fruit farm, spread over ten acres has a variety of fruit trees. Though the fruits will be

Getting there Nearest airport: Bengaluru and Chennai Travel time: 3 hours from Bengaluru and 4 hours from Chennai Nearest railway station: Jolarpet Travel time from Jolarpet: 30 minutes (24 km)

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Boating in the artificial Punganur Lake is a major attraction among visitors

Boating at Punganur Lake

44 available for sale only in the fruiting season, ie summer, the farm’s caretakers let visitors take a walk around. Though the afternoons were a bit hot in February when we visited, the climate remains pleasant throughout the year. However, the adventure lovers have to wait till summer for adrenaline sports such as paragliding and rock climbing. There are a few trekking trails, some of which require permission from the forest department. But the one to Swami Malai is the most favoured by tourists. One has to walk through the clean streets of

Venturing out

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Mangalam village and then through the fields of broad beans and red grams. Broad steps provided at some places and the gentle gravel make it an ideal choice for first-time trekkers. Hard shoes, sufficient supply of water and munchies are essential since it would take about an hour to reach the top. An early morning trek lets you enjoy the climb as well as the climate. At about a kilometer from the village, there are a few houses and banana plantations; beyond which only rocky outcrops, wild lantanas and tall trees, not to mention the bird calls, keep you company during

Jalagamparai Falls: If you visit after monsoon, one could go to Jalagamparai as it will be in full spate only after the rains. It is about half-an-hour drive from Yelagiri. Observatory: The Vainu Bappu

the climb. We paused at places to admire the panoramic views. The villagers celebrate a grand temple festival once in five years, besides the summer festival organised by the tourism department, when their traditional dances and theatre are staged. In the few years since we visited last, the place has gone through a sea change. Many of the typical tribal huts of the local malaivasi or hilldwellers with wild-grass roofs have all, but disappeared. As we stopped at Thayalur to buy honey, we again heard the bulbul calling. I guess it was a bidding ‘good-bye’.

Observatory in Kavalur, housing the largest telescope in Asia. At about 25 km distance from Yelagiri, one requires permission to visit, except on Saturdays between 4pm and 6pm when it is open to all.

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Group Of Shree Meena

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Sacred

serenity

With enough for both the spiritually and culturally-minded, Nasik boasts of unique spots that make it a traveller’s delight. W ords | M egha S harma

city immersed in spirituality and spots of religious significance, a city which is also developing rapidly and fast succumbing to a younger generation ready to transform its façade – Nasik represents two variant halves juxtaposed together. Religion is a way of existence here.

It is what provides the bread and butter to innumerable vendors, who set up shops in and around the temple compounds and river banks Gargoti Museum

A treasure trove indeed! Inaugurated in 2001 in Sinnar, Nasik – geological connoisseur Mr K.C. Pandey’s lovechild, Gargoti is truly amazing

to behold. A fascinating collection of Zeolites in myriad shapes and colours greets your eye as soon as one steps foot inside Asia’s first privately-owned mineralogical

One of the oldest temples in Nasik, Kapileshwara Temple is located in Panchvati near river Godavari. Triambakeshwar is one of the holiest sites for Hindus and is particularly significant for shraadh ceremonies March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

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Sula vineyards Sunset, a green oasis surrounded by a lake and hills, and a sparkling glass of wine! This is the stuff dreams are made of. A Stanford-trained engineer, Rajeev Samant, did a real good turn to the wine afficionados of India when in the year 1997 he laid the foundation of a winery in Nasik.

Today, Sula is not only India’s leading premium wine producers, but also boasts of an idyllic space that is fast turning into one of the most popular getaways for the younger generation. Armed with a couple of top-notch eateries, a tasting room, a bar, an amphitheatre which hosts the incredible Sulafest annually, and a brand new resort christened Beyond – Sula Vineyards qualifies as an absolute must-visit during your foray into Nasik March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

People selling local artifacts at the ghat

museum. The fact that these beautiful stones have been retrieved as it is from the bowels of Mother Earth is hard to digest. Intricate idols carved out of various precious and semi-precious stones like Ruby, Jade and Rose Quartz also comprise an important part of the display. Add to it a dinosaur’s fossilised egg and rock samples from Mars and the Moon, and you have in front of you a perfect natural history experience.

jain temple

A huge newly built temple complex dedicated to Jain saints, Jain Mandir is located at Vilhouli, Nasik. This pretty three-storied shrine presents a different architectural grandeur than that of the other temples. Shree Dharmachakra Prabhav Tirth, which is popularly called as Jain Mandir is constructed with white marble and pink sand. The ground floor of these eloquent building houses a Pravachan Hall, where sermons and meditations take place "Choumukhji" is placed in the first floor and the third floor is reserved for "Ashtapadji". One among the deities of this Mandir is the 24th thirthankara of the Jains. This deity weighs a whopping 12 tons and it is made up of Panchdhatu.

Triambakeshwar Temple

A place beyond holy for worshippers of Lord Shiva, Triambakeshwar is one of the twelve sacred jyotirlingas in India. Located approximately 30 kms from Nasik at the source of River Godavari and amid the hills of Brahmagiri, Triambakeshwar is one of the holiest sites for Hindus in India and is particularly significant for shraadh ceremonies (prayers for departed souls). Considered to be the most intricate and beautiful of the jyotirlinga trio of Maharashtra – the sprawling temple complex is mostly carved out of black stone and was rebuilt during the 18th century under the reign of the Peshwas. Legend has it that this was also the spot where Lord Ganesha was born.

Intricate idols carved out of various precious and semi-precious stones are on display in the museum Mukti Dham

An enormous temple complex carved out of white Makrana marble by Rajasthani sculptors, Mukti Dham is one of the most famous tourist

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Sita Guffa is accessible through a narrow entrance which is 4 ft high attractions in Nasik. The pristine structure is situated on Nasik Road, and is run by a private trust. Mukti Dham is famous for replicas of all 12 jyotirlingas, which have been built to size and duly sanctified at their respective pilgrimage spots. The sprawling temple’s spotless walls also have 18 chapters of Geeta inscribed on them.

Kalaram Temple

An air of old world charm reigns heavily over this holy structure which is carved entirely out of black stone. Kalaram Temple, the biggest in the city, was built by Sardar Rangarao Odhekar around the year 1790. Legend has it that Odhekar had a dream that a black statue of Lord Ram, Sita and Laxman were lying in the river Godavari. Odhekar extracted the statues from the river and built the temple where he enshrined them. Located in the Panchvati area of Nasik, Kalaram Temple also has a place of significance in the Dalit movement.

Sita was staying when kidnapped by the demon lord Ravan. The cave is accessible through a narrow entrance which is hardly 4 ft high, and holds idols of Lord Ram, Sita and Laxman. The shivalinga present inside the cave is believed to be the one originally worshipped by Sita.

Kapileshwar Temple

One of the oldest temples in Nasik, Kapileshwar Temple is located in

Panchvati near the banks of river Godavari. Steeped in tranquility and architectural elegance, this temple is considered a peculiar one. The mystery arises from the absence of a Nandi statue from the temple’s sanctum sanctorum. All temples dedicated to Lord Shiva are traditionally said to have a statue deifying the Lord's pet bull.

Pandavleni Caves

A group of about 29 caves dating back almost 2000 years, Pandavleni is situated amidst the peaks of Anjinagiri mountain range. The beautifully carved caves served as home to Jain saints and also a place where disciples congregated for sermons. Idols of Lord Buddha, Jain Teerthankara Vrishabhdeo, Ambikadevi and Bodhisattva can be found in some of the caves.

Sita Guffa

Situated near the Kalaram Temple in Panchvati is the Sita Guffa. The word Guffa literately translates to a cave. It is believed that this is where

Where to eat

How to reach

For the global traveller Little Italy Soma Mainland China For some local delights Kokni Darbar Mangalam Shyam Sundar (Satpur MIDC)

By air: The nearest airport is Mumbai (175 kms) By train: Nasik is situated on the central line of the Indian Railways and is well connected by several trains from all the major cities of India. By road: There are several private luxury bus service providers, as well as state buses, which connect Nashik to Pune, Shirdi, Aurangabad and Mumbai. Daily taxi service is also available between Nasik and Mumbai.

March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

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Maverick

Unplugged

Diplomat turned author, Vikas Swarup shares the story behind his book that changed all for him. W ords | V iresh V erma

A 52

multi-faceted writer, popular columnist and an articulate globetrotter, Vikas Swarup has an impressive story to tell on how a modest fellow from a family of lawyers becomes a back-office diplomat in the Indian Foreign Service, writes his first novel in a feverish two months, finds a clientless agent over the Internet and has a British director turn his mid-list book into a movie that wins the bestpicture Academy award and seven other Oscars. Swarup’s latest title The Accidental Apprentice published by Simon & Schuster is up for the grabs among Hollywood filmmakers.

First of all, congrats on the overwhelming response of The Accidental Apprentice (TAA); did you expect this? I am very happy with the response that TAA has received from readers. It is a universal story of life, played out against the backdrop of the daily struggles of the middle class. Some have described it as a 21st century take on the old Cinderella story, except Cinderella is now being

India is about observation and inspiration, and perhaps when I am posted abroad again I can use all that inspiration to produce another novel

March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

Photo: Rohit Suri

In a freewheeling interview, Swarup speaks about his zeal for writing, his latest novel, Indian literature, mushrooming lit fests and his idea of holidaying

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Rapid fire Indian influence: I have been greatly influenced by the earthy writings of Premchand Holiday time: Everyone needs a break. I also try to take holidays with my family, but because of my job I cannot get away as often as I would like to Last vacation: I went to Kashmir with my wife last October. And yes, I flew Spicejet on the Delhi-Srinagar sector!

Favourite destination: Every place has its own charm, but we had a truly great family vacation at Victoria Falls Joy of reading: The last book I read that I really enjoyed was Ian McEwan’s Sweet Tooth

offered the CEO-ship of a ten billion dollar company rather than Prince Charming. I would characterise it as a fable wrapped up in a thriller. Can you tell us about the Bollywood tie-up of The Accidental Apprentice. Matchbox Pictures have acquired the Indian language rights of TAA and Sriram Raghavan (of Johnny Gaddar and Agent Vinod fame) will direct the film version. He is someone I have enormous respect for and I am confident he will do justice. I guess producers from Hollywood have also approached you… Yes, there has been strong interest from Western production houses for the English film rights but nothing has been finalised as yet. What were the initial thoughts when you started writing TAA? After having done a polyphonic narrative in Six Suspects, I wanted to revert to a strong first person voice. I thought it would be interesting to frame a narrative with a female protagonist who has to literally go through a test of fire, to prove herself worthy of becoming a CEO, for CEO’s are the modern day equivalents of knights. It is also a take on our materialistic culture where acquisition of wealth is seen as an end in itself. Eventually it is a novel about discovering oneself.

So, can we say that TAA is the next Slumdog Millionaire? Slumdog Millionaire will be a very hard act to repeat because it was the right book at the right time. TAA has also come out at a time when women’s issues have taken centre stage in our country and I hope Sapna Sinha, my protagonist, can inspire our youth. But whether it becomes the next Slumdog, I don’t know. It has all the elements of a commercial film. Was it a conscious effort while writing ? I do write in a ‘visual’ way but that does not make my novels screenplays. In fact, I’m gratified that simply by reading the words I’ve written on the page, a reader is able to conjure up the entire scene in his or her head. I

Lit festivals: In India vs abroad Litfests in India have been mushrooming like never before. Someone told me that the country had over 60 literary festivals at last count! I believe the well established festivals like Jaipur and even some of the newer ones like the Times Carnival can compare with the best in the

March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

world in terms of the quality of the debates, the organisation, logistics and the attendance by book lovers. One big plus point in favour of Indian litfests is that most of them are completely free and they have their own unique Indian flavour.

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The Accidental Apprentice harks back to the ancient theme of a rite of passage to adulthood also like creating characters that are slightly larger than life and I infuse my narrative with plenty of dramatic incidents to move the story forward in an engaging way. But that does not mean that my plots become completely unrealistic or bereft of real world logic. How and from where did you get the inspiration of your protagonist? I was inspired by the women of India. Sapna could be any young woman who travels by Metro to work every day, cares for her family and dreams of a better life. She is someone who fights injustice, has a heart for the poor and is courageous. Are you content with the current state of Indian writing in English? It's a mixed bag. On the positive side we are hearing a lot of new voices and seeing new genres being explored. On the downside, quality is becoming an issue and almost anything is getting published nowadays. Have you already started working on your next book? As you know, I am a member of the Indian Foreign Service. I have returned to India after seven years abroad. So I March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

am taking a much needed break from writing. India is about observation and inspiration, and perhaps when I am posted abroad again I can use all that inspiration to produce yet another novel. You have described TAA as the modern day coming of age novel, please explain. The Accidental Apprentice harks back to the ancient theme of a rite of passage to adulthood. Sapna is made an incredible offer by billionaire Vinay Mohan Acharya that he will make her the CEO of his ten billion dollar company provided she passes seven tests from ‘the text book of life’. As Sapna undergoes the challenges of the seven tests she reaches a new understanding of herself and what she really wants from life. You have a demanding job, how do you schedule yourself for writing? For me my job comes first and writing comes second. I can only write when I have a clear horizon in front of me, meaning several hours without any interruptions. So I usually write on weekends and holidays. I try to strike a balance between my life as a writer and my role as a civil servant.

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Daring

Debutant

Debutant director, Soumik Sen in a candid chat shares about Gulaab Gang and how thrilled he is to bring out the two divas of Bollywood in an entirely different avatar. W ords | G uneet O beroi

he film has been made the way it was meant to be, why should I stress?” Point noted. The very cool and casual looking filmmaker Soumik Sen promptly responds when asked about whether he is apprehensive about the movie’s release. A masters in Economics from Delhi University, Soumik hated his tenure in college. He returned to his hometown Kolkata and worked on a World Bank project. He quit that for journalism studies in Delhi. Post that he came to Mumbai and started working with a news agency. Finally, he got his break as a film-writer when he met filmmaker Raj Kaushal,

who gave Soumik an opportunity to write Anthony Kaun Hai (2006). Soumik quit his job the day the film released. His struggle continued though. Ru-Ba-Ru (2008), Meerabai Not Out (2008) and Hum Tum Aur Ghost (2010) failed to make a mark leaving behind a certain sense of dejection.

But the sun is finally shining on him and he speaks his heart out about his much awaited endeavour Gulaab Gang

What made you choose Gulab Gang as your debut film? I have always been a great fan of the Western and the classical good vs bad story. I felt it would be nice and novel to explore the mile with largely an all female cast within the existing Bollywood framework. As a debut director working with two leading female actresses of the 90s. How does it feel? I don't think Madhuri is any way a lesser leading light today. She is a legend and so is Juhi. The roles demanded women who are achievers in their own right. They carry that gravitas in their presence.

Soumik Sen has also written the Kishore Kumar biopic which will be directed by Anurag Basu with ranbir kapoor playing the lead role

March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

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How challenging was it to project both Madhuri and Juhi in such a different avatar? Madhuri has done films like Lajja, Mrityudand so getting her on to play a veritable superhero was necessary. In my film, Juhi is pure evil. The things she does, the stuff she says might probably leave a lot of people thunderstruck since we're just so used to seeing her epitomise wonderfullness all the time.

Would you call the film a biopic or is it a mere inspiration from the original Gulabi Gang leader? I have repeatedly said it is not a biopic. It is a complete work of fiction and have drawn inspiration from various striving women from various walks of life. It is not a biopic of Sampat Pal of Gulaabi Gang. Her basic struggle was against an alcoholic husband. My film doesn’t deal with that. Mine is a political drama, which deals with two people - one good and the other evil. And, both happen to be women. You have also composed the music for the film? Do you plan to do this for all your movies? It's too early to say whether all, but certainly in genres and miles that led itself to my sensibilities and areas of strength, yes. You are a fan of Satyajit Ray and have only enjoyed seeing his films. Is this true? I am not a Ray fan. I am a Ray

Favourite

of P.C Sorcar jr. He was India’s greatest magician ever. We heard you are a complete foodie is that true? Absolutely. I love food above everything else.

My film is a political drama, which deals with two people; one good and the other evil student, worshipper, fanatic. I believed only Ray made films which were worth watching.

Do you enjoy traveling alone or with family? Depends on the destination. If it is a fun foodie trip then with friends and if it's a quiet place then with family.

You will also be directing a biopic on the life of magician P.C Sorcar? Yes, I have rights to direct the biopic

What is your favourite past time apart from directing movies? Hunting restaurants and reading.

Shopping destination Calcutta for sure Cuisine Japanese Author Terry Pratchett Sport Football Dialogue "Upar waali jab deti hai, chappad phaad ke deti hai, aur neeche wali jab leti hai to patloon phaad ke leti hai."

March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

Which is that one destination you would want to go back to for a holiday? Bhutan for sure. I think its beauty is beyond words.

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royal spice

Saffron’s medicinal and beauty virtues have put this golden spice as one of the modern-day medicinal weaponry. W ords | M adhulika D ash

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ts scent is haunting, its unmistakable flavour, earthy yet aristocratic. It plays sweet and savoury effortlessly, and bestows a striking golden hue on every dish it graces. And, it takes only a few strands to add an X-factor to a whole list of dishes —everything from risottos and milk puddings to rich curries and fish gravies. But are such distinctions enough to make saffron worth the premium price it demands? The novelty of the golden spice stems also from the cultivation process. Handpicked mostly, it takes 2,50,000 stigma from the purple crocuses, the flower from which saffron threads are harvested, to yield a kilo of saffron.

Each crocus flower only produces three threads of saffron, and thus the high price. What adds to the novelty is that only a handful of countries produce saffron, including India In ancient times, saffron was valued more than gold. This may have been the reason why saffron remains that only spice that has a well documented history, which dates back 3,500 years ago. It is said that Cleopatra and other Pharaohs used this yellow-tinged spice as both an aromatic and seductive essence. The Arabs used saffron in medicine for its anaesthetic properties and

were the first to introduce saffron to Spain, which today produces the best quality saffron in the world. In India, it was as much a part of the royal cuisine as it was for beauty and as an aroma.

JUST A PINCH

Considering the premium good quality saffron demands today, it’s fortunate that only a little of

saffron is the only spice that has a well documented history

Each SpiceJet aircraft has been named after a particular spice. In this section, we bring you the history and usage of each of these spices

March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

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THE HUE OF HEALTH Saffron has many non-volatile active components like carotenoids, including zeaxanthin, lycopene and carotenes. These are important antioxidants that help protect the human body from oxidant-induced stress, cancers, infections and acts as immune modulators. The active components in saffron have many therapeutic applications, and have been used as antiseptic, antidepressant, anti-oxidant, digestive, anticonvulsant.

It is a novel source of minerals like copper, potassium, calcium, manganese, iron, selenium, zinc and magnesium. Additionally, it is also rich in many vital vitamins, including vitamin A, folic acid, riboflavin, niacin and vitamin-C.

Saffron also contains the compound 'crocin', which scientists believe to be the primary compound responsible for promoting learning, memory retention, and recall capacity.

this costly spice goes a long way in cooking, and healing. However, it is also a spice that is most susceptible to adulteration. So, when shopping for saffron, look for a set that is evenly coloured - vivid red or deep orange threads. Lighter coloured threads or a lot of pale streaks indicate lesser quality. Powdered saffron more often are inferior and adulterated with other flavourings, best avoided. Crush and soak saffron to release its flavour. Saffron threads are quite frail, so for a uniform powder, use a mortar and pestle. Interestingly, a ‘pinch’ of saffron is about 20 medium threads. Saffron needs moisture to release its flavours, and the best way to do so is soak in warm liquid for five to 20 minutes. Saffron can be soaked

Pancetta and Saffron Rice 2 tbsp Unsalted butter Ingredients 1 tbsp Olive oil (or any neutral oil) 220gm Pancetta, chopped

1 medium onion, finely chopped 2 1/4 cups Basmati rice 4 cups low-sodium chicken stock 2 tsp Kosher salt A pinch of saffron threads Method In a medium saucepan, heat the olive oil. Toss in the pancetta and cook until brown and crispy. Remove

March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

in stock, citrus, wine or any other alcohol. When adding saffron to soups, stews, salad dressings, and other recipes with a lot of liquid, you can simply toss the crushed threads in with the rest of the ingredients. For Indian dishes, saffron is best soaked in milk, and for recipes like paella, saffron is also toasted on a skillet on low heat.

KEEP IT FRESH, STORE WELL

Since saffron is sensitive to sunlight, humidity and has a shorter shelf life than most spices, it is always better to store the spice in a small container with a foil around and in a dark, cool corner. This ensures less air circulation. Also abstain from storing in the refrigerator as it saps saffron off its aroma.

on a paper towel to drain oil. In the same pan, add the butter and onion and cook till soft. Add in the rice and stir until the rice is lightly toasted and coated with the butter. Stir in the stock, salt and soaked saffron. Bring the mixture to a simmer and, cover and cook till rice is tender. Using a fork, fluff the rice and transfer to a serving bowl. Top with the cooked pancetta and serve hot.

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A Pot of

Convenience

Convenient and a nutritionally well-balanced meal, what more can busy people ask for? One-dish meals are the answer. W ords | M ini R ibeiro

hen time is premium and people are not in the mood for an elaborate meal, one dish meals come handy. And it is not as if these are a compromise. A winning combination of taste plus health, these meals can be varied, as well as packed with essential nutrients.

What’s more, these can be prepared in a jiffy, and also save the bother of clearing a mess and washing endless dishes. Naturally then, more and more people are veering towards these

Executive Chef Sunit Sharma, Cidade de Goa, feels that modern day families and single people are hard-pressed for time and look for time-saving, convenient, value for money, as well as healthy meals. One dish meals, he thinks, cater well to all these requirements and thus are a boon. People today are willing to try and experiment with new flavours and cuisines and make one-dish meals of international cuisines, a part of their regular repertoire at home or office and while eating out. Eating habits are also changing drastically today and gen 'Y' prefers easy to cook, hasslefree food. More so, as they live away from

One dish meals March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

Khow suey

Pot Noodles

Chicken Stew

Chicken Biryani

Lasagna

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These are definitely healthier, as the food is cooked from beginning to end in one single pot and no blanching, draining and re-shuffling of ingredients are done 68

their families and are working professionals. As eating out daily is not a feasible option, many prefer to cook, albeit, a one-dish meal. Chef Prem Kumar Pogakula, Executive Sous Chef, The Imperial, New Delhi opines that the large part of the one dish meal appeal, is that they are far easier to prepare and are full of nutrients. Such is the growing popularity of these dishes, that not only single people, but also, housewives or working mothers too opt for such a meal to give themselves a break.

Healthy is In

For many, the health quotient is what prompts them to opt for these. Eating a wholesome, one-dish meal, enables many people to avoid overeating and enjoy a healthy meal. It is tasty, as well as satisfying and yet, prevents them for eating too many calories in a course by course elaborate meal. The portions, many chefs say can be controlled. Echoing this sentiment of these one dish meals being healthier, Chef Prem opines that these are definitely healthier, as the food is cooked from beginning to end in one single pot and no blanching, draining and re-shuffling of ingredients is done. This way, not only, are the

nutrients retained, but also, the dish becomes much more exotic with use of several ingredients. French style casserole is a perfect example of such a meal. Less is more, when it comes to such meals. Chef Saransh Goila quips, “One can get everything one wants in a single bowl. Also, with the health buck catching on, having a meal in one bowl keeps your portion size calculated. The ease of carrying such a meal and eating on the run, whether in a meeting or between breaks, is also an additional advantage.” So clearly, the advantages are multiple, convenience being the driving force. Apart from being easy to prepare and time-saving, these one-dish

5 must-haves in your kitchen One must always have the following things to prepare quick meals Frozen chicken breasts Vegetable or chicken

March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

stock. Whole-grain pasta Pre-cut, trimmed meat Ready-to-eat fresh vegetables

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Khow Suey Ingredients 1 packet of rice noodles, 2 onions, 2 tsp chopped garlic, 1 tsp chopped ginger, 1 large sized lemongrass root, chopped, 1 tsp coriander powder, 1 tsp cumin powder, 1/2 tsp turmeric powder, 2 tbsp roasted chana dal powdered/Besan, 2 cups coconut milk, 1 1/2 cups mixed vegetables (baby corn, broccoli, carrot, French beans and cauliflower), 1 tsp sugar, 1/2 tbsp lemon juice, salt to taste, 2 tbsp oil, 1/4 cup salted and roasted peanuts, 1/4 cup sliced spring onions, 1 lemon wedge, 1/4 cup fried onions, 1/4 cup fried garlic cloves, 2 sliced fresh red chillies

meals can be made ahead of time and heated for an easy dinner.

Masala khichdi and pongal from North and South India are also exciting options Method Immerse the rice noodles in plenty of hot water for 10 minutes. Heat 1 teaspoon of oil and sauté the onions, garlic, ginger, lemon grass, turmeric, coriander and cumin powder.Cool, add the besan and blend it to make a paste. Sauté the paste in the remaining 1 teaspoon of oil and season with salt and sugar. Add the coconut milk and vegetables and simmer till the vegetables are tender, adding a little water if required. Take it off the heat and add lemon juice. Pour it over cooked rice noodles and serve with the toppings. Recipe by Chef Prem Kumar PogakulaExecutive Sous Chef, The Imperial Delhi

March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

Variety is the spice of life

What is interesting is that, these one-dish meals or pot food, do not get monotonous. Chef Saransh feels these meals give one a leeway to do fusion and experiment with food. Wholesome salads with meat or chicken and grains, beans, bread croutons and stews, Mexican fajita or enchiladas, Indian kathi kebab rolls, Indonesian Mee Goreng (noodles), Burmese Khow Suey are some of the recommendations from Chef Sunit. At times when eating out too, one-dish meals are preferred. Also, with paucity of time during lunch hours, busy corporate executives, prefer these.

Choices across cuisines

Khow Suey, a one dish meal originally from Burma, is thus topping popularity charts. Comprising

noodles in a soup of and curried vegetables in coconut milk, served with a variety of accompaniments like fried garlic, coriander, lemon juice, peanuts and chillies, it is a complete meal, delicious and satisfying. Chef Saransh also suggests Frittata, which is an interesting and easy to prepare dish. It is an egg-based Italian dish similar to an omelette or crustless quiche with additional ingredients. Indian cuisine abounds in these choices. Biryani is yet another dish which can be a complete meal in itself and is thus the first choice of many. Masala khichdi and pongal from North and South India are also exciting options. Lasagna is an all time favourite and can be made in a vegetarian version too. Pot noodles or rice, stew, casseroles are other typical preferences. So, you may want to spend less time in the kitchen, but that does not mean you cannot eat healthy and tasty food. What you want to put in that one dish is entirely your decision, but clearly, there is a lot to choose from. Khow suey, chicken stew, sabu sabu, Vietnamese Pho soup. The list is surely endless.

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worst weight loss Tips

There’s plenty of misleading advice out there when it comes to ways to lose weight. Here are tips to avoid.

etting and keeping your weight under control can help you reach your target goals for blood glucose, blood lipids, and blood pressure. Plus, maintaining these targets over time is what will keep you healthy. Scientific evidence suggests that even a modest amount of weight loss can make a big difference in managing diabetes.

Weight loss can yield sweet successes, including Lowering your blood glucose; Improving your blood fats (cholesterol); Lightening the load on your joints 1. Don’t: Ignore exercise

When you’re trying to lose weight, it’s easy to focus only on counting calories. But it’s important to put down the calculator -- at least long enough to exercise. Exercise should

be a major part of every weight loss and health maintenance plan. When you exercise regularly, you build muscle that burns more calories throughout the day. For the best health and weight loss benefits,

You can enjoy carbs in moderation as long as you focus on nutrient-rich sources that are minimally processed. Think fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products.

March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

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Stepping on the scale every day can be discouraging, especially if the result doesn’t match your expectation 74

including improved blood sugar control and A1C levels, experts recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week plus muscle-strengthening resistance training activities three times per week.

2. Don’t: Restrict certain food groups

Sure, weight loss is all about calculations - if you take in fewer calories than your body needs for fuel, you end up with an energy shortfall and weight loss. But studies show that a winning weight loss strategy includes enjoying

all food groups. A 2009 study published in the British Journal of Nutrition found that when you add protein to breakfast while carefully counting calories, it results in increased feelings of fullness.

capture an accurate picture of your true weight. But that doesn’t mean you should stop weighing yourself altogether. So what’s the right frequency for weighing yourself? Weekly is the answer.

3. Don’t: Weigh yourself every day

4. Don’t: Rely on frozen diet meals

When trying to lose weight, the number on the scale may weigh heavy on your mind. Although it’s not true for every one, many people find that stepping on the scale every day can be discouraging, especially if the result doesn’t match your expectation. Daily weigh-ins don’t

Break the fast People who eat breakfast regularly tend to have a lower risk of weight gain compared with people who skip it. “Breakfast skippers tend to make up for those saved calories by eating more later in the day. The net result isn’t weight loss. In March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

Frozen diet dinners seem like the perfect weight loss prescription - a pre-portioned, low-calorie meal ready to pop in the microwave. However, diet dinners frequently are too skimpy on important nutrients to keep you satisfied until the next meal. Many diet dinners contain

fact, it’s frequently weight gain. When you eat breakfast, you can resist those midmorning vendingmachine raids because your blood glucose levels stay more stable and your metabolism responds better. —Says Jill Weisenberger, a Virginia-based dietitian

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good to know

Portion control is a powerful tool on the road to weight loss and keeping it off. If you’re doubling up on portions, you’re doubling up on calories. In fact, researchers have identified that the increase in portion sizes for some of our favourite foods, such as salty snacks, french fries, burgers, soft drinks, and Mexican dishes, is directly responsible for an increase in calories consumed and weight gain. Here’s a simple rule of thumb: Fill half of your plate with fruits and nonstarchy vegetables, onefourth of your plate with whole grains, and onefourth of your plate with lean meat or other protein

March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

around 300 calories and as little as 7 grams of protein (about one ounce of meat) per serving. Eating low-calorie, high-water foods—such as fruits, vegetables, broth-base soups, and salads - helps you feel more satisfied. If you’re going to dine on a diet dinner, add one serving of very lean protein and a side salad to round out the meal.

If you’re a woman trying to lose weight, shoot for 30-55 grams of carb per meal 5. Don’t: Pop weight loss supplements

If weight loss were as easy as popping pills, we’d all be slim. Unfortunately, it takes a lot of hard work - conscientious food choices and old-fashioned exercise - to lose weight and keep it off. While many dietary supplements claim miraculous weight loss benefits, the science doesn’t seem to support these claims. They are usually just diuretics, and many of them are all hype. A recent review of popular weight loss dietary supplements shows little evidence that they work.

6. Don’t: Cut out carbs

Carbs have been getting a bad rap for years. And perhaps with good reason, as many people load up on far too many refined carbohydrate sources, such as breads, snacks, and treats made with white flour and refined sugars. These foods offer low-nutrient carbs, which do little more than provide unwanted calories to your diet. You not only get to eat delicious foods that help you feel satisfied, but your body will benefit from an array of important nutrients such as fibre, vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients.

7. Don’t: Forget about fluids Drinking adequate fluids is important for body functions such as transporting nutrients, maintaining blood volume, and removing waste products - but that’s not all. Fluids help the belly stretch so the fullness signal can reach the brain, which takes 20 minutes, so it helps get a jump start. Fluid-containing foods such as fruits, vegetables, and brothbase soups can help you feel fuller so you eat less at a meal. How much fluid is enough? A little more than 11 cups a day for women and 15 cups a day for men, including the fluids you get in foods and beverages.

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proclaiming benefits like ridding the body of toxins and weight loss. Many detox diets are inadequate in important nutrients that your body needs to function normally.

9. Don’t: Make room for low-nutrient snacks

8. Don’t: Try a detox diet

Your favourite celebrities swear by them as a fast, “cleansing” way to shed pounds. But how much evidence exists for this weight loss strategy? Dozens of detox diets that promote fasting, juicing, restrictive diets, or herbal supplements are making the fad-diet circuit, usually

There are so many low-calorie snacks awaiting your selection on supermarket shelves, poised to help your weight loss campaign. But some snacks may not be as helpful as they appear. If you chomp down on a 100-calorie pack of cookies, what are you getting back for that 100-calorie investment? Not much! When you’re cutting back calories, it’s even more important to make every calorie count by choosing nutrient-rich foods. Filling up on low-nutrient snacks instead of nutritious foods can rob your body

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of nutrients and vitamins that act as catalysts for the metabolic reactions in your body.

10. Don’t: Deny yourself treats

Every successful weight loss program offers the opportunity to enjoy some of your favourite foods. After all, a healthful eating plan should be for life, not something you go “on” or “off.” But if you splurge on special treats every day, you can sabotage your best intentions for weight loss. This is where individually portioned servings of treats such as cookies, chocolate, ice cream bars, and chips can come in handy so you don’t overdo it. This article is taken from Diabetic Living Magazine India edition

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Rang barse

The festival of colours creates havoc on your skin and hair, but all it takes to keep them safe is a little care. W ords | G uneet O beroi

day in the sun, with family, friends and a whole lot of colour is a lot of fun. So, don't let it end on a sour note with skin and hair woes. However, with all this exposure to gulal comes the danger of exposing your skin and mane to harmful chemicals that can have a detrimental effect. Traditionally, Holi was played with naturally made

colours from flowers which were beneficial for our skin. But with time, dyes have replaced these natural ingredients.

If you can get natural colours to play with nothing can be better but it is hardly possible

Run through our checklist of things you must do before and after Holi, to keep your skin and hair looking their best despite the chemicals, colour and everything in between.

Keeping skin safe

Holi, the most colourful festival of our country, marks the onset of spring and is a time of festivity and

To remove colour easily make a paste of besan by mixing it with milk or malai and rub it on your skin. Leave it for 5-7mins and then wash it off with soap

March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

Pre-holi regimen nails Paint your nails bright as this will help you keep your nails and the cuticles safe from the harsh colours and the chemicals. Lips For protecting your lips while playing Holi, use a lipbalm or a lipstick so that it keeps the lips protected and moisturised at the same time.

colours. But today, synthetic colours have replaced natural colours to the extent that most Holi colours sold in the market are oxidized metals or industrial dyes (like those used for dyeing clothes). All these are toxic and can result in anything from skin allergies to rashes, eye irritation to blindness and much more. Yet, despite knowing all this we just can't stop ourselves from playing Holi. I remember, as a kid every year just before going to play Holi my mother used to apply coconut oil all over my body and hair and all I would do is get irritated with the sticky feeling. It was much later that I realised how important this was for my skin and hair both. On the same note celebrated beauty expert Dr. Blossom Kocchar expressed her views on how the the best way to play Holi was to play it with flowers. The aroma of different flowers makes a wonderful ambience and it is the safest way as well. She further adds, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Before going to play Holi, I would recommend you immerse your fingers in a mixture comprising of 1 tablespoon each

of coconut oil and olive oil and 1 teaspoon of castor oil. This will help in keeping the colours from penetrating the cuticles of your fingers. This should be done for both fingers and toes.â&#x20AC;?

Holi colours today have oxidised metals or industrial dyes It is also important to keep in mind that before you go to play Holi you should wear clothes which cover the most of the body as this will avoid direct contact of the colour with the skin. Dr Navin Taneja, Dermatologist and Director at The National Skin Centre asserts,

Hair Oil your hair from the scalp to tip of the hair the night before. Give your scalp a gentle massage before you sleep and repeat the process in the morning. Skin Make a mixture of 1 tablespoon each of coconut oil and olive oil and add to it a teaspoon of castor oil. Apply this mixture all over your skin before playing Holi. By: Dr. Blossom Kocchar

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tips for kids Make them bathe with a cream/glycerin based soap. Now apply oil (coconut or olive oil) to the areas with stubborn colour and rewash. Apply a good body lotion lavishly to hydrate their skin. You could make your own concoction of 3 tablespoon glycerin, 6 tablespoon cucumber juice and 4tsp of curd. After a bath rub this solution all over the body. Rinse well and apply a bodylotion or moisturiser all over the body.

As far as the face, wash with a non detergent soap and lavishly apply a moisturizer all over the face and neck. In case there is irritation you could apply lactocalamine or a thick layer of aloe vera gel. Wash their hair with a mild shampoo 2- 3 times over. In case the colours are stubborn massage warm milk into their scalp and re-shampoo.

By Dr. Chiranjiv Chhabra, Dermatologist, Skin Alive Clinics, New Delhi

“Combination of colours and sunlight may cause phototoxic reaction, so one should use sunscreen of SPF 30+ to SPF 50+. Also, for acne prone skin, apply oil free sun block on face and all over the body and it should be fluid based rather than greasy.” He further informs us about some of the post Holi skin regimen that you could follow to help you get rid of the colours on your skin. Firstly, use lukewarm water to wash of the colours because hot water will rip off the moisture from your skin and secondly, use PH balance soaps, body wash and a good face wash instead of scrubbing your skin in excess and cause damage to it.

that you can enjoy this vibrant and colourful festival without worrying about damaging your hair.

Keeping hair healthy

Age old traditions suggest that oiling your hair a night before could be the best way to protect your hair from damaging effects of synthetic colours. With changing times today you could also replace the oil with hair serums that moisturise your hair and help the colours to rinse off with more ease later. Dr. Blossom Kocchar shares some of her tried and tested tips for post Holi haircare regimen, “Since

Holi colours, both dry and liquid, strip your hair off its natural sheen and lustrous quality, making it dry and frizzy. This causes permanent damage to your scalp resulting in hair loss and dandruff. The best you can do is to tie your hair and cover it with a bandana or a cap to avoid direct contact of the colours with your hair. Nevertheless, there are many more integral things to keep in mind so March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

Both dry and liquid colours, strip your hair off its natural sheen

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your hair turns dry after the festival of colours is over, you need to put it through deep conditioning. I recommend the following recipe for post Holi hair care," she says. Take 1 tablespoon each of olive oil and coconut oil, to it mix 1 teaspoon each of castor oil, glycerine, vinegar, conditioner and your shampoo respectively. Apply the mixture on your hair and the scalp and leave it on for an hour and then rinse it off.

Kids care

Holi is a festival of colours, fun and frolic. Children of age groups

Keep normal saline or Tears Naturals drops handy for the safety of your child

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enjoy this day. Since children have very delicate skin special pre and post care is required. Dr. Chiranjiv Chhabra, Dermatologist, Skin Alive Clinics advises us on what parents need to do apart from the regular safety measures they take before their child goes to play holi. Firstly, if your child is asthmatic or prone to allergic reactions consult your doctor and he may suggest some anti histamine an hour before your child goes to play. Secondly, keep some normal saline or tears naturals drops handy (these are easily available at your neighborhood chemist). If some colour goes into the eyes you can wash with water followed by these drops repeatedly. Lastly, if you are contemplating a long day of fun and frolic,make sure they have a good breakfast and plenty of fluids like fresh lime juices, lemon water and coconut water. It will help to keep their skin hydrated. Apart from these tips you should also apply cold cream or Vaseline on your child's face, neck and arms, before they go to play with colours. Also protect their scalp and hair by applying either coconut, olive or mustard oil.

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Spruce

Up! 86

You might wear the best of perfume and don the most exquisite watches, but a few habits can let you down. Follow these simple steps to look good and feel great, in every way. W ords | A nubhooti sharma

ou are enjoying a contented meal with your friends at the fanciest restaurant in town. While coffee and conversations flow smoothly, suddenly a loud burp attracts your attention and not in a pleasant way. It might not have been anyone from your own group, but it surely acts like a dampener on the celebrations.

Top 5 irritating

March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

Habits, as we all know die hard and the particularly bad ones, stick with you for a lifetime, much to the embarrassment of your loved ones. Here’s help on how to tackle the bad and disgusting habits Recognise Your Habit

Whether it is chewing your nails in public or making growling noises when you eat, recognising

that you have an irritating habit is remarkable it itself. Also, accept the fact that you won’t stop chewing your nails or digging your nose

Chewing nails, Texting while talking to someone, Burping, Making noises while eating, Scratching hair or Picking nose

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magically as soon as you wake up one morning! Take your time, but do not give up in the process. Confront a trusted friend that you would like to get rid of it and get working on it. You might find it difficult at first, but keep at it. It is surely worth the effort in the long run.

Excuse yourself

Whether you feel like burping in the middle of a meal or scratching your hair in public, always excuse yourself. Say something such as ‘excuse me, I really have to rush out for two minutes.’ You don’t always have to give a reason for excusing yourself, just leaving that place that time will suffice. Return when you have spruced yourself up.

Apologise

Delhi based etiquette expert Nina Kochhar, who conducts workshops and heads her own company following a 20 year long career with Oberoi hotels, says that sometimes close friends and family can help you kick the habit. "If you are always checking your phone while talking to someone, ask your friend (form a circle of 3-4 people) to give you a coded indicator such as coughing loudly to show that you are being rude. This will immediately signal you to keep

the phone away and focus on the conversation instead." Alternatively, set multiple reminders on your phone about regarding your bad habits before you step out in a social gathering. Try these steps as they will help you not to repeat your “doings” again and again.

Blowing a bubble while you chew a gum can completely let you down

Confront the offender

If someone else you know closely is addicted to a bad habit, try a more direct approach, making sure not to hurt them in the process. Say something like, ‘I can never chew

Caught in an embarrassing situation? Don't feel shy to apologise Excuse yourself and go out for a bit Lighten the mood – crack a few jokes to cover up the situation Ask your family and friends to March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

remind you not to do it again. Get them to poke you (when alone) on not to do it again and again If none of the above work, don’t hesitate from getting help!

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Expert talk No matter how small a habit is, it can be irritating to those around you. Take cognizance of the fact that you have a problem and deal with it. Also, make sure that those

around you don’t catch the same habit. You can achieve this by always saying sorry after a loud burp. Children, especially invariably pick up habits from their parents, so make sure to explain them why it’s not a good idea to watch the TV on full volume when Papa is on the phone or why you shouldn’t burp after a meal. Keep your explanation short and to the point so as not to confuse them. Nina Kochhar, etiquette expert.

March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

my nails, the thought of it being so unhygienic only freaks me out." Make sure of saying this at a point when the person is not actually chewing his/her nails (but is a regular), else he might take it to heart.

A personality training centre works as a good option before joining a new job You can also subtly tell them that chewing nails after a french manicure is such a dampener! They might just get the hint. Nina also advises to get the children of the family to pass on the message since they say everything with a straight face.

Get Help if needed

If it turns out to be a perpetual problem, don’t shy away from

getting help. There are grooming and etiquette centres across the country. With simple tips on everyday living, these centres can help you a great deal. Meenakshi Talwar, a freelance makeover image consultant who runs her own firm, Turning Images by Meenakshi Talwar in Delhi says that even if you do not have any bad habit to get rid of, it’s always a good idea to get groomed. "People come to us for all kinds of troubles – bad habits, etiquette issues and personality problems. From image makeover, personality developments and every day etiquette issues we have it all. Depending on the requirement of an individual, the package can start as little as `5,000," she says. Even if you do not have a particularly bad habit, a personality training centre works as a good option before joining a new job, attending social gathering or even getting married!

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Hollywood's date with

Bollywood A quick look at the recent trend of many more Bollywood actors acting in Hollywood films.

W ords | B hakti B apat M athew

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ollywood stars have never had it better. Not only is the Hindi film industry thriving with many more offbeat and diverse films being produced, but Hollywood has never been more accessible either. Where Shashi Kapoor and Om Puri took on the odd international project decades ago, now there’s a veritable crowd of Bollywood stars on the American movie arena. From Aishwarya Rai, Amitabh Bachchan and Anil Kapoor to Anupam Kher and Irfan Khan, the name of the game seems to be ‘the more (Indians), the merrier!’

Freida Pinto and Anupam Kher are among the latest Indian actors to be welcomed with open arms in Hollywood. While Pinto is now an experienced Hollywood hand, having followed up the success of her debut film Slumdog Millionaire with Rise of the Planet of Apes, Kher starred in the awardwinning movie Silver Linings Playbook But before Freida Pinto, there was ex-Miss World and Bollywood superstar Aishwarya Rai, who played a major role in the Steve Martin-starrer The Pink Panther 2. And then there was Anil Kapoor, a Bollywood thespian whose star seemed to be fading until he was cast as the manipulative anchorman in Slumdog Millionaire (and later also starred in Mission Impossible-Ghost Protocol). Today, Kapoor is back in demand and stars in and produces the Indian version of the popular American TV series 24. Then, of course there are the myriad, smaller roles done by big and small Bollywood actors. Irfan Khan

ex-Miss World and Bollywood superstar Aishwarya Rai played a major role in the Steve Martin starrer The Pink Panther 2

March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

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(The Namesake) starred as Dr Rajit Ratha in The Amazing Spider-man. The trend is continued by Bipasha Basu (Singularity, to be released sometime this year), Mallika Sherawat (Hiss), Om Puri (Charlie Wilson’s War), and Naseeruddin Shah (The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen).

Hollywood Calling

So, what attracts Hollywood filmmakers to Bollywood actors? On the one hand, the roles definitely don't seem to be specially written for Bollywood actors (not counting Slumdog Millionaire, for obvious reasons). On the other hand, the number (if not the quality) of roles being enacted by Bollywood actors is certainly on the rise. Seen in this light, it seems more like a business decision by the money-savvy movie

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behemoth than a sudden love affair with India. After all, India is increasingly an extremely lucrative territory for Hollywood movies (The Amazing Spider-man made around 5 million USD in its opening weekend in India, noted Indian trade analyst

India is increasingly an extremely lucrative territory for Hollywood movies Taran Adarsh has been quoted saying. The opening is among the highest for any Hollywood movie in India, even beating blockbusters like Avatar.). So, why not sweeten the deal for Indian audiences by casting some of the popular local actors? Says noted Indian actor Arif

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Zakaria, who has toured the globe for the ‘Merchants of Bollywood’ production, “Film distribution patterns have evolved and changed since the decades. The Asian sub- continent along with China and Japan are the new cinema hubs, as revenue generated here is substantial. Hence, it pays to have a 'local flavour' added to the potpourri. It creates a local interest and there’s an instant connect.” For the Bollywood actor, even the established ones like Amitabh Bachchan (who has a bit-part in The Great Gatsby, although he has been quoted as saying that he did it as a favour for his friend and the movie’s director Baz Luhrmann), a Hollywood role not only looks good on the acting resume, it also means good pay for a relatively shorter time investment.

Hollywood Highest Grossers in India Avatar Titanic The Avengers Life of Pie Iron Man 3 March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

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Fast & Furious 6 Gravity Man of Steel The Wolverine The Amazing Spider-man

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know more Bollywood Stars in Hollywood Freida Pinto in Trishna Anupam Kher in Silver Linings Playbook Anil Kapoor in Slumdog Millionaire and Mission Impossible-Ghost Protocol Irfan Khan in The Namesake and The Amazing Spider-man Aishwarya Rai in The Pink Panther 2

Bipasha Basu in Singularity Mallika Sherawat in Hiss International Stars in Bollywood Sylvester Stallone in Kambakkht Ishq Denise Richards in Kambakkht Ishq Tania Zaetta in Salaam Namaste Kylie Minogue in Blue

Kambakkht Ishq had not one but four international actors Zakaria is cautious as he adds, “Modern cultural homogeneity has made cinema a universal phenomenon for us actors and we can work in the same business in any cultural sphere. And, actors can and should look for platforms all over. Hollywood has been accepting different skin and accent actors, such as Antonio Banderas, Javier Bardem and Jackie Chan. So I see no reason why an Indian shouldn’t be a part of the mainstream there. The problem lies in seeking blind validation of anything Western.”

Hollywood to Bollywood The reverse trend, of Hollywood actors gracing Indian productions, March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

seems to be still at a nascent stage. While every self-respecting mediasavvy international actor interviewed here claims to be well-aware of Bollywood movies and really eager to star in one, the actual presence of Hollywood actors in Bollywood productions is too low to count. Akshay Kumar has been among the more successful ones to pave in the way for a Western star through cameos in Hindi films. The action (now comedy) star brought in Australian singer Kylie Minogue for a teeny-tiny cameo and an ‘itemnumber’ in the treasure-hunt movie Blue. Another Akshay Kumar starrer, Kambakkht Ishq, had not one but four international actors: ageing action star Sylvester Stallone, Denise Richards (of Wild Things fame, and the ex-Mrs. Charlie Sheen), Brandon Routh (Superman in Superman Returns) and Holly Valance (part of the hit Australian series Neighbours). Tania Zaetta, former ESPN anchor and an Australian, was seen in a couple of ditzy cameos in Salaam Namaste and Bunty aur Babli. Whatever the reasons for bringing in more Indian actors in Hollywood, the trend shows no signs of abating yet. Something that is sure to be welcomed by Indian fans.

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smarter

learning 98

Forget the days of chalks and blackboards! Get ready to welcome the new way of life in schools in the form of the Smart classrooms.

W ords | P allavi S ingh

itting beside me as I watch the daily dose of entertainment from Cartoon Network, Taruwar Singh jumps up to the PC and shows me how exactly an animation gets made. All this at the age of 11; I was impressed by the little boy only to know that he was taught animation at school by a visiting faculty during his winter vacations.

Amazing considering when I went to school, things were different

I can vouch for the fact that the kids of today are way more mature, thanks to the new age classrooms the smart classrooms.

Of course we did have a finer (if we may call it so) and a harsher approach to studies and rank system was in vogue unlike the grading system prevalent now. But as a mother of two school going boys,

Learning edge

New schools are no more a place that you go with a bagful of books for attending classes on variety of subjects, and come back to loads of homework, or to learn

Subjects like Mathematics are taught in an interactive way and supposedly more methodical way by a new system termed Jodo Gyan

March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

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fast facts Lessons in Geography are made easier by way of practical lessons in astronomy or an occasional visit to the Nehru Planetarium where one gets acquainted with the concept of the solar system. Making a 3D model of the solar system, parts of the human body, the life cycle system in plants/ animals for a better understanding of the subject is in vogue.

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For EVS, an interactive manner could be tried by making the child aware about the growth of a plant or showcasing how rain happens, or how rainbows are formed. A child learns in a more comprehensive and illustrative way the nuances of daily science. Class notes are now emailed to students, there are graphic calculators and Microsoft Excel spreadsheets. Homework assignments are posted online. All of this is designed to make teaching more interactive with videoconferencing and live broadcasting.

March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

a particular subject by rote for an exam to follow. Kids go to school that have air-conditioned rooms, buses, classrooms with audio-visual methods of teaching. Computers in schools now are a part and parcel of the day-to-day teaching. Add to it the facilities of a dedicated website for daily updates, classroom activities, making announcements, posting pictures related to school activities, attendance of the ward, or even addressing issues related to every child with the help of individual login name and password. The advantage lies in the fact that it helps me as a mother to trace the child’s activities at school and even know what he has for homework or a pending exam, much to the chagrin of the child of course. Classrooms have moved on from a chalk and blackboard story to a more interactive session where technology plays a major role. My son tells me that his science class includes not just what’s there in books but the teacher explains the concept through powerpoint presentations and through an audio visual medium making the concept downright clear. When I struggle making a presentation, its my 4th grader

Ishaan Singh who can make one faster than I can imagine. Subjects like Mathematics are taught in an interactive way and supposedly more methodical way by a new system termed Jodo Gyan and apart from teaching students by this method, the school also arranges for special classes for parents so that they too

Schools have airconditioned, rooms with audio-visual methods of teaching

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The day is not far when children would come to the classrooms with their personal laptops like they do in the West

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are aware of the new methodology. English classes are made interesting by having show-n-tell sessions where children narrate poems written by them with the help of a prop even as the best narrator gets rewarded. It certainly helps shy children speak up and communicate better. My son tells me how they would be watching Tom & Jerry during break as a way to unwind in between classes.

Carving a niche

History lessons are no more filled of sighs and yawns. Children at the Heritage School are taken out on

historical tours which could be in the form of heritage walks or by way of taking students on a sightseeing tour to places of historical importance. They are taken on a round of the many baolis in and around Delhi, which were built as part of the Mughal rule-indeed a good way to tell the kids the significance of the past. Such visits help to etch the facts and figures related to that particular monument in a much better fashion and for a longer duration. The applications and technology that teachers have at their disbursal is immense. However, a vital part of

Expert speak At The Heritage School our pedagogy is to reinforce education with learning. It is vital for students to know what everything that they learn about, looks like, feels like in real life. Hence we at the March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

any smart classroom is the educator. The classroom can be made very intelligent but the dialogue, the conversation and the learning that happens through that is the essence of imparting education. Exchange of thoughts is imperative for sound learning. And so is extending that by hands-on experience for any subject matter. Change as they say is the only constant. The day is not far when children would come to the classrooms with their personal laptops like they do in the West. The aim of smart classrooms is to make kids smarter and today’s kids are no doubt very smart.

school, have a balance between use of technology and real life. We, during our regular classes, expose our children to knowledge through boards, cards, books, projectors and computer labs. The teachers use technology extensively.

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Fighting

Harmala Gupta, a cancer survivor, talks about setting up CanSupport and helping many victims to cope with a difficult time in their lives.

What struck me most was my appalling ignorance about cancer. All I knew was that it killed. And I certainly never thought that it could ever happen to me!

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hen I was told I had Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system, in the summer of 1986, I never could have imagined how quickly my life would change. One minute I was enrolled in a Ph.D. programme at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, and the next I was fighting for my life from a hospital bed. Who said life isn’t stranger than fiction?

I was fortunate to receive treatment at a world class facility, the Princess Margaret Cancer Hospital in Toronto, Canada, where the staff were trained to answer questions as honestly, patiently and compassionately as possible. I was also impressed by the effort to involve local volunteer groups in a multitude of tasks. Volunteers drove patients in for treatment, helped them with household tasks, fitted wigs on those about to lose their hair, facilitated peer-based support group meetings and offered hospitality services such as tea and coffee in the hospital. They were people you could bond with and who instilled a sense of normalcy and brought warmth to an otherwise busy and sterile setting. I was determined that when I recovered and returned to New Delhi where I lived I would strive to do the same.

A Rude Awakening

Returning home was a real eye opener; I felt like Alice in Wonderland. I had entered a different world where people whispered when they mentioned the word cancer, if at all, and did not say what they meant. The real challenge therefore at the outset was to get cancer survivors out of the closet and to convince doctors that the

CanSupport is a woman dominated organization. This is as true of our home care teams as it is of our volunteer force. They have qualities eminently suited for these roles – empathy, sensitivity and an ability to communicate March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

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intention to offer information and support and the benefit of a shared experience was neither to interfere with treatments nor to frighten off their patients.

In 1996, CanSupport was registered as a charitable society and the home care project became operational in April 1997

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Within a span of ten years, members of ‘Cancer Sahyog’, the support group that I founded under the auspices of the Delhi branch of the Indian Cancer Society, were visiting every major cancer hospital in Delhi.

Young children enjoying with one of the volunteers

Starting up

The need to provide meaningful ongoing care to these patients and their families began to form in my mind. This is known as palliative care. It received a thrust from the encounter I had with a young woman who had just been told by her doctors that her cancer had spread all over her body. She was in terrible pain and had to travel all the way to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences to access oral morphine, the only drug that brought her relief. Around the same time, I met a nurse from the

U.K., Ruth Wooldridge, who had experience in running a hospice or palliative care programme in Kenya. The pieces were falling into place; it was time to move on. In November 1996, CanSupport was registered as a charitable society and soon after we approached the then director of AIIMS, Dr. P.K. Dave, with a proposal to start a pilot project which would care for six patients with terminal

PREVENT CANCER Go for regular screening. Women should do self breast examination after 20 years of age Stop smoking and chewing tobacco, alcohol consumption should be in limit Eat fresh fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin A & C, abstain from oily spicy March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

cancer in their homes. Fortunately, he was open to the idea as was the chief of the Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital (IRCH), Dr. V. Kochupillai. This laid the seeds of the CanSupport home care project which became operational in April1997. While in the beginning it was just Ruth and I who made the weekly visits to patients homes, covering those living within a radius of 25kms from AIIMS, in a

food, cut down on barbecued food Vaccination against Hepatitis B and HPV Avoid late marriage, encourage lactation and breast feed your baby, avoid unnecessary harmones. Dr. Jai Gopal Sharma Head Preventive Oncology Department, Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute And Research Centre

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patients speak Young Vineet (13 years old with 3 siblings, abandoned by father): “Thank you for supporting us. Since you started giving us rations I don’t feel so guilty. Earlier I ate while my mother and siblings went to bed hungry”.

Lakshman (38 years old with wife and 4 children): “I had to pull my older children out of school because I could not afford their fees. Thanks to CanSupport they are back at school and once again I see a future for them.

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Sita (married; 42 years old): “I am impatiently counting the minutes before the CanSupport team arrives. With their help, the painful question ‘Why me?’ has been replaced with “It can happen to anybody.” Deepak (28 years old, manual labourer): “I can no longer do physical labour. CanSupport gave me a cart and I began to sell vegetables. They have restored my self esteem.” “Our father was in so much pain that he would threaten to jump off the roof of our house. Today, thanks to the CanSupport team he is back to discussing the day’s news with his friends in the neighbouring park.”

March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

Art & Craft at the day care for children with cancer

few months we were able to hire a counselor and a nurse, and later a doctor. This was the first official CanSupport home care team.

CanSupport also holds training courses for doctors, nurses and counselors in palliative care Taking the next step

Presently CanSupport has 19 home care teams, each with a well trained doctor, nurse and counselor, covering Delhi and the entire National Capital Region. At any one time, these teams are looking after more than 1,100 cancer patients. CanSupport’s pioneering home care service is today the largest in India and is recognised in India and abroad for the quality of care it delivers and for the positive impact it has had on the lives of thousands of cancer patients and their families. This owes a great deal to the professional competence, personal maturity and commitment of the home care teams who are willing to work together to ensure the best

possible outcome for those under their care. They are fortunate to have excellent back up and support from dedicated members of staff and from a group of selfless volunteers. Last year, CanSupport started an out-patient clinic near a major cancer hospital in East Delhi. Patients under treatment are free to walk in for a medical consultation, for nursing care or just for a chat with the counselor. CanSupport also holds training courses for doctors, nurses and counselors in palliative care. It is poised to enter Punjab with the purpose of bringing palliative care into medical colleges and hospitals in the state. As the need grows beyond Delhi, we also see ourselves playing a pivotal role in lending a helping hand to emerging palliative care ventures around the country. Since CanSupport raises its funds through voluntary donations, it is our hope that the funds will continue to come in so that we can go out and do what for us has become a mission– “to add life to days rather than just days to life”. Harmala Gupta is the Founder-President of CanSupport.

Wishing you a Happy New Year

My miracles of advance Numerology Sandhiya Mehhta the ACE Numerologist and vastu consultant has unmatched knowledge and profound experience . In her own words “to the most unsuccessful people my system of numerological calculations will bring success, happiness and prosperity. Once successful, this helps to augment the success and higher conception of lifestyle. It aims at providing overall well being and content”.

Sandhiya Mehhta Numerologist and Vastu Consultant She is been titled as “INDIAN NOSTRADAMUS with solution “ and rewarded with precious INDIRA GANDHI PRIYADARSHINI and NARI RATAN AWARDS.

Activated Third eye and spiritual prowess to see all about your life Sandhiya Mehhta posseses spiritual powers that have been bestowed by lord Shiva. Using this blessing she is able to fill the graph. She is known to have created a huge difference in the lives of many. Her findings show that nearly 70% people in this world are born with number 4 & 8 and it is now understood that these numbers can give you a lot of sorrows, disappointments, hurdle, postponements, and make your life imbalanced as compared to other numbers. She is followed and revered not only for her tremendous talent but the aura that she has around her and is ever so ready to spread it amongst others. Her seekers range from hardworking commoners to the royal families. She has been able to help people from all walks of life from business to media and entertainment. “I don’t ask you to change your life. I ask you to live it with all that you want.” According to her research, numerology is fully linked with business and career. As per your d-o-b, your ruling and destiny number, your missing number (in d-o-b) and your career line play a role in your business and career. How to calculate your d-o-b for e.g. 13-3-1982 (ruling no is 4 and 4+3+2=9 controlling no is 9 ) both the ruling and controlling is connected with planet and energy.Most of the time your ruling number and controlling number do not agree with each other, and also some numbers are missing in your numeric chart. This creates a lot of problem and imbalance in your life concerning finance, success, Health etc. Eg : Your d-o-b is 13-3-1982. In this you are missing 4, 9, 7, 6 that creates Imbalance and obstructing you from availing the full power of these numbers. This numeric graph and its findings are wholly researched and developed by Sandhiya Mehta Due to Your past birth karma this Birth Graph

3 1 7 2 8

Your Character / Yourself Your Field / Career How much you get ?

Your birth graph is created on the basis of your past birth karma •Your Character / Yourself missing ultimate power •Your Field / Career Creating instability in career •How much you get? Low returns on hard-work According to this, imbalance exists, disabling you from attaining the full power of these numbers despite the fact that you are hardworking and intelligent. Sandhiya Mehta recognizes the problems first and then balances the charts using the power that has been bestowed upon her and the findings of her research. This helps to create balance in one’s life and optimizes the person to his/her full potential, allowing the person to reap the benefits they deserve.

IMP-only stone, name spelling, mantra, or fasting cannot change your destiny; you have to follow the scientific and proven method to lead a successful and content life. Your missing number that is connected with planet and energy, instead of giving you a raise, tends to pull you back and all your efforts and knowledge can go in a vain. She says, on studying the DOB, a particular year can be found that is crucial in deciding about your career change, promotion, new ventures, alone or in partnership. Further, your name and the name of your organization is very important to generate

good energy. As per my experience and calculation no. 4and 8 and 8 usually make the best partners in marriage life, as they understand each other very well, particularly in life’s ups and downs, No. 2 and 2 again experience a disturbed marriage life, either they go for breakage or have each other free to live and adjust well with each other when no. 3 or 9 or 1, 2 appear. Numerology calculation proves to be a good guide in helping two individuals to understand each other in a better way and each other’s approach towards life and abilities, like and dislikes. If the compatibility is not understood and optimized, the couple may not be able to stay completely happy with each other.

Q) How successful have you been with the numerological advice and remedies that you give? Ans: An overwhelming number of people from my clientele list have found the success they were looking for and more. The rest is dependent on the universal energy, but no one ever has been disappointed. It’s only gains, no loss. All kinds of people coming from all walks of life, be it a know- politician or a doctor, have come in and found a better way of life. Q) People belonging to what age bracket can use your knowledge and remedies ? Ans: People of all age, infant to adult. I personally think the remedy is the best given to a child as it helps them to select and stay on a right career path from the very start and boosts confidence. Q) How long does it take for the remedies to start showing results ? Ans: ideally the effects are begin to take place within a few days and then continue for the entire life span. The universe is always listening to you. There is nothing wrong to know about yourself in a scientific way, as this is has no connection to any myths and blind faith or religion. Open your mind to universal energy. Your success is one call away.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT YOU HAVE SHOWN INTEREST TO READ THIS ARTICLE. PLEASE DO NOT TEAR IT OFF LET OTHER PEOPLE TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TOO. YOU CAN NOTE AN EMAIL ID & CONTACT NO For any further personalized detail about yourself and to solve your problems you can get in touch with For Appointment contact between 10 am to 8 pm SANDHIYA MEHHTA Mumbai: +91 9819921673 / 9769071673 Delhi: + 91 9654483695 Mumbai: 505, 5th floor Morya Landmark I, Near Infiniti Mall, Above grillopolis, Nissan showroom lane Off New Link Road, Andheri (W), Mumbai - 400053. Email: sandhiya.mehta@live.in, www.sandhiyamehta.org

sandhya mehta [HB].indd 1

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goa

Rugged beaches, Portuguese-inspired architecture, and impeccable hideaways, Goa surely is a favourite amongst tourists.

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Palolem beach in south goa is famous for beach huts

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2 In this particular photo shoot, I have used a Canon EOS 550 and Canon EOS 600 WHICH IS EASY TO USE AND HANDY too GM Srinath

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4 1. Architectural remains of St. Augustine 2. Woman in a yoga pose on the beach 3. stilt houses on baga beach 4. local food stalls at miramar beach 5. Safa masjid in central goa 6. A tourist relaxing by the beach

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click it right The best time to capture all kinds of subjects is during the golden hours i.e . two hours after the sunrise (6 AM to 8 AM) and two hours before the sunset (3.30 PM to 6 PM). A little bit research about the place you are travelling to, will help in documenting the place better.

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Choosing the right place to stay/lodge will create a lot of great photo opportunities. Feel the place, Mix with the locals, Taste the local cuisine Hear to the local music and This will help in documenting the place with better insights. Try and Showcase a fresh perspective of the place

1. St. andrews church at tiracol 2. The serene shant durga temple 3. Sun, sand and more at goa March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

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Healthcare

boom in Karnataka

The Healthcare landscape in Karnataka is changing rapidly with world class hospitals setting up centres, offering high quality facilities and state-of-the-art technologies.

ndia is writing a new chapter of growth in healthcare services. Today, every city in India has hospitals with state-ofthe-art medical diagnostics facilities and high tech patient treatment systems. Even in smaller towns, new hospitals are mushrooming and improving the quality of life of people in the country. Many factors have contributed to this growth story, which includes various initiatives from both government and private sector. Apart from these initiatives, one another factor that has helped the growth is the new-agepatient, who looks for the best treatment money can

buy. Today, people from middle class and upper class families are willing to spend good amount of money on healthcare and wellness, if provided with best treatment and facilities. For Indians, lifestyle is becoming more and more sedentary. Everything that people need today is just a phone call away, keeping them away from the physical exercise. The sedentary life and unhealthy eating habits along with stress contribute towards numerous disorders and diseases. Some of the most common and serious non communicable diseases faced by the world today include diseases like obesity,

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Laser dentistry Dental procedures gets comfortable with modern technology.

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diabetes, high cholesterol levels, hypertension, heart diseases and stroke. In the last three decades, there has been a huge rise in the incidence of prevalence of these chronic, non-communicable diseases all over the world.

Scenario in South

The private healthcare industry in India holds the credit of bringing international standard treatments in state-of-art-

hospitals which has not just improved the quality of life of people, but has also given India a footprint in the globalhealth care tourism map. Today, India has placed itself as a medical tourism destination which offers best treatments at affordable prices. Healthcare Tourism, India is a growing sector expected to experience an annual growth rate of 30 percent, making it a `9,500 crore industry by 2015. Cardiovascular diseases is one of the leading cause of death among lifestyle related disorders. At present, India bears around 60 per cent of the world’s heart disease burden. Nearly 95 per cent of the people who develop a fatal cardiovascular disease have at least one of the major lifestyle

t’s true as old as the human race. We fear the unknown. It’s also one of the main reasons many people are still afraid of going to the dentist. They simply don’t know how comfortable an experience it can be having their teeth fixed. Yes, we said comfortable! New laser dental technology is now allowing dentists like Dr Sushmitha Rajesh to treat her patients with greater comfort. Docters are always looking for new ways to improve the comfort and clinical care of their patients, hence have come out with an advanced technology.

“Most people don’t even know that laser dentistry exists,” – Dr Sushmitha Rajesh, Dr Rajesh dental hospital The laser system at Dr Rajesh dental hospital is a revolutionary dental tool that uses a combination of laser energy and water to perform a variety of dental procedures with few sittings and no anaesthesia. It can be used in many kinds of dental work: from fixing cavities to preparing teeth for crowns, root canals and even putting in implants. This laser dentistry can be less traumatic than the drill. The combination of laser and water provides a quick and a unique cutting action that is precise and gentle, so it preserves healthy tooth or gums around a cavity or diseased gums. For anyone who needs dental work and has been putting it off because they are afraid of the discomfort, visiting Dr Sushmita Rajesh’s office at Dr Rajesh dental hospital could mean an end to their fears of dentists. Soft tissue applications • Soft tissue surgeries like frenectomy, gingivectomy, operculectomy, incision and excision of various lesions • De pigmentation procedures • Endodontic canal sterlisation • Periodontal pocket sterlisation • Incision snd drainage of abscess • Soft tissue crown lengthening With the coming in of modern technology like laser dentistry the whole procedure has become needleless with no drill and no pain. This also avoids the stress of shots and the risk of drug interaction for children and adults. With quick treatment, now the person can return to daily routine faster and also have multi quadrant procedures in one visit. The technology also eliminates risk of infection from cross contamination.

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disorders such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity. All these disorders are interlinked and lead to developing nasty complications involving almost all parts of body. A person suffers from diabetes (defined as fasting blood sugar > 126mg/dl or random blood sugar > 200mg/dl) when the person’s body fails to control the glucose (sugar) content in the body. Around 80 per cent of diabetes is attributable to excess weight. Around 26 per cent of obese people experience high blood pressure levels. High blood pressure or hypertension (defined as a blood pressure = 140/90 mmHg or more) is an extremely common co-morbid condition in diabetes, affecting 20–60 per cent of people with diabetes, depending on obesity, ethnicity, and age.

Around 80 per cent of diabetes is attributable to excess weight

The rate of growth of the health care industry in India is moving ahead with the pharmaceutical industry and the software industry of the country. The Indian healthcare industry is seen to be growing at a rapid pace and is expected to become a US$280 billion industry by 2020. Worth over $17 billion Health care industry in India is worth $17 billion and is anticipated to grow by 13% every year. Much has been said and done in the health care sector for bringing about improvement. The health care industry in India is reckoned to be the engine of the economy in the years to come. The health care sector encompasses health care instruments, health care in the retail market, hospitals enrolled to the hospital networks etc. Rising income levels and a growing elderly population are all factors that are driving this growth. In addition, changing demographics, disease profiles and the shift from chronic to lifestyle diseases in the country

Pamper your feet Anodyne therapy is your answer to Diabetic foot disease

oot problems caused by diabetes are the leading cause of hospitalisations for diabetic patients today. So it is important to treat your feet well and not take them for granted. Vulnerable feet People with long-standing or poorly controlled diabetes can cause nerve damage to their feet, a condition called Peripheral Neuropathy (PN). PN sufferers may be unable to sense if their shoes are rubbing on the feet. PN can also disrupt normal sweat secretion and oil production that lubricates the skin Jennifer Turtzo R.N, B.A of the foot. These factors together can lead to skin breakdown, sores and infections on the feet. When blood sugar frequently goes above 250 mg/dL, your white blood cells, become sluggish, making infections more difficult to control. Plus, poor blood flow means that antibiotics cannot get to the site of the infection easily. Don’t Ignore Foot Problems Contact your doctor promptly for any of these symptoms. • Persistent mildtomoderate pain in the feet or legs • Any new blister, wound, callus or ulcer • Any new areas of warmth, redness, or swelling on the feet or legs • Constant itching on the feet or legs • Loss of sensation • Pain in the legs or buttocks that increases with walking but improves with rest • Hair no longer growing on the lower legs and feet • Hard shiny skin on the legs

Treatment with Anodyne® Therapy If you experience any of the symptoms listed above, you may be a candidate for a new treatment offered in India called, Anodyne® Therapy. An infrared therapy system, this device has been clinically proven to reduce symptoms of diabetic foot disease. Over 18 published clinical studies support the efficacy and safety of this product. If you are interested in learning more about Anodyne® Infrared Light Therapy products, visit www.anodynetherapy.in or call +91 80 23494345. March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

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The population at risk shifts from age group of 40+ to maybe the age group of 30+

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has led to increased spending on healthcare delivery With latest amenities and infrastructure, the healthcare sector in India is one of prominent contributors to the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s medical scene. Highly qualified doctors and scientists, state-of-the-art technology and low costs have helped India, especially India is an attractive destination for medical tourism, clinical studies, and research and development (R&D) programs. A growing elderly population paired with a rise in income levels also emphasise the need for better facilities in the

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country. The sector comprises the hospitals and allied sectors such as diagnostics and pathology, medical equipment and supplies, and medical tourism The World Health Organization (WHO) identified India as one of the few nations that will boast of maximum number of lifestyle related disorders in the near future. The situation in India is quite alarming. Lifestyle disorders are becoming more and more common and affecting the younger population as compared to the people in other developed nations. Hence, the population at risk shifts from age group of 40+ to maybe the age group of 30+ or even younger. This leads to worse outcomes in terms of complications and losses in both life as well as finances. Already considered as the diabetes capital of

Inflight ÂEmergencies

Health emergencies can occur anywhere. Know how a fellow passenger can be your life saver.

or a frequent air traveller it may not be uncommon to witness dire incidents, from minor incidents such as air sickness, sugars getting low in diabetics on medications to the more serious ones like seizures, heart attacks, heart failure with breathing problems, low BP with shock.

Save a life today I was woken up by the public address system requesting for emergency service to a patient who had collapsed with stomach upset and low BP. On rushing there I found a well-built middle aged American gentleman who was travelling back to the USA after a short Dr. H. Sudarshan Ballal MD, FRCP (UK) stint in India and had Medical Director & Chairman - Medical developed gastroenteritis Advisory Board, Manipal Health Enterprises Pvt Ltd during his stay here. He had not eaten or taken enough fluids and collapsed when he got up to go to the toilet. A quick exam revealed that he was anxious, had low BP , thready pulse and was dehydrated. A random blood sugar done using a glucometer in the plane showed that his sugar was fine. I hooked him on to a monitor in the aircraft which showed that the heart was in regular rhythm and pulse oximeter revealed normal oxygenation. We gave him a combination of orange juice with salt and sugar immediately and he felt a little better but very shortly felt very weak again when he tried to stand up as he had to go the toilet. In view of the situation I started a large bore IV line immediately and rushed about a liter of IV Normal saline (salt solution) with a dramatic improvement in his condition. We re-hooked him to the monitor and kept a close watch on his vital signs throughout the rest of the journey. We were also fortunate that one of the flight stewardess had a nursing background and assisted me in the treatment. We sat next to him through the rest of the journey and alerted the emergency services on the ground and by the time we landed in Frankfurt the ambulance and the emergency personnel were ready. I handed over his care to the emergency personnel on ground and he was whisked away for further care. Much to the relief of all of us concerned we moved on to the USA feeling satisfied of having saved a precious life on our journey.

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Specialised healthcare

With state of the art facilities and quality healthcare, Yashomati hospitals is a notch above the others.

ashomati Hospitals is a modern multi-specialty health care provider with high-end diagnostic and specialized treatment facilities. Founded in October 2010, Yashomati Hospital is dedicated in providing quality health care. So far Yashomati Hospital has treated more than 3,00,000 patients and almost 10,000 surgeries. The hospital with 240 beds offers advanced multi-disciplinary medical services in more than 30 different specialties.

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It is easy to attain healthy body, provided you stick to the regime the world, India now appears to be heading towards gaining another dubious distinction of becoming the lifestyle-related disease capital as well. Exercising regularly for about 30 to 45 minutes each day will reduce considerable risk for obesity, diabetes, blood pressure, heart diseases and almost all life style disorders. Even with hectic schedules one can increase physical activity by; taking stairs instead of elevators, taking pets for walk, doing some house hold work, playing with kids and so on. But even if one has one of these disorders one can live a fairly normal life by taking proper treatment along with lifestyle changes. And if one has any of the other disorders like diabetes, blood pressure, heart diseases, this small weight

March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

loss can reduce the amount of medications one needs. It becomes obvious we need to shield our bodies from the health monsters like diabetes, cholesterol, skin eruptions, blood pressure etc. It is easy to attain healthy body, provided you stick to the regime. We are not saying assault your hunger pangs. We are only saying adopt healthy habits like cutting on sugar, replace coffee and tea with green tea, add fruits and raw vegetables in your diet and go low on fat. All the fat that you eat is processed by the liver, fat takes away all the energy from liver to process regular detoxification the organ performs. The Karnataka government is on a mission to increase accessibility, affordablity and availability of quality healthcare in the state and plans to secure the hospitals with National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers’s (NABH’s) accreditation.

World class facilities Equipped with 7 specialized Operation Theaters with laminar flows ensuring zero infection, the hospital has diagnostic services featuring fully equipped laboratory and radiology with advanced 1.5 Tesla MRI and high speed 64 slice Cardiac CT scan for non-invasive diagnostic procedure to detect coronary artery blocks. Among the various equipments for the flat panel digital cathlab with IVUS has put the department of cardiology and diagnostics to world standards. Yashomati Hospitals brings cuttingedge technology to compliment the skills of consultants and surgeons to perform minimally invasive procedures. Customer satisfaction Flexible health-check packages are specially designed to carry out an early diagnosis of lifestyle diseases for varied sections of people from different age groups. Yashomati Hospitals takes a holistic approach, keeping patients psychological, physical, social and spiritual needs.The Hospital is administered by qualified professionals to ensure smooth functioning with the objective of ensuring complete customer satisfaction.

For more: 080- 4322 1000 or 9980073644

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matters close to life

The option of surrogacy is fast catching up with urban couples as the method safeguards their hope of conception.

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r. Padmaja Divakar is a gynaecologist with 16 yrs stand in Obstetrics, Gynec & Fertility – a proven track record with Dr. Padmaja Divakar flawless service Dr. Padmaja Fertility Centre all along without (IUI-IVF-CSI- SURROGACY) a single mishap whatsoever on or off the operation table on surgical side, with good rate of success in IUI, IVF, ICSI & Surrogacy like A.R.T. Procedures for all last one decade and our evidence info given our website www.drpadmajaivf.com is poised to serve the less fortunate infertile couple worldwide, in distress to have a baby to make up a family. All test tube baby procedures like Intra Uterine Insemination (IUI), In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF), Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection(ICSI) and the Surrogacy are dealt with in a well equipped and ultra modern A.R.T. lab at Dr. Padmaja Fertility Centre, St. No.#7, Habsiguda, Hyderabad. Now, surrogacy, the concept gaining importance day by day

worldwide, has become a popular A.R.T. Procedure in our country too. P.F.C. Hyderabad is poised to help out the women with “Uterus absent by birth”, “Uterus removed for various

The stimulation protocols are well scheduled and supervised by the experienced doctors

reasons”, “Abnormal in size and shape”, “any other problems with uterus”, “women with cardiac or renal problems advised not to carry the baby” or any “single male want to have a baby without marriage” may opt for this procedure, where the IVF-ICSI Embryo will be transferred directly to the uterus of a fit and well prepared young woman to carry the baby to term. This cost around 10 lakh as wholesome package till delivery and we have already given some 100 successful pregnancies in first just 2 years to the couples/singles from across the world like India, USA, UK, Australia, Israel. PFC Hyderabad has already delivered about 40 babies weighing about 2.5 kg out of 20 twin pregnancies and 40 singleton babies with 3 kg weight on average and all are healthy without any kind of abnormalities either congenital or otherwise. Their surrogacy package, both for intending parents and surrogates, is a reasonable and rationalised compared to other similar centres with High quality food, accommodation and antenatal care for the Surrogates appreciated by one and all.

SBI Life: Setting new benchmarks

Today, life insurance is as important as maintaining good health. Here, leaders are suggesting some points.

BI Life has remained true to its mission to emerge as a leading private life insurer offering a comprehensive range of products at competitive prices, ensuring high standards of customer service and world class operating efficiency. This achievement has been possible through its unique multi-distribution model. Extensively leveraging upon the State Bank Group relationship as

March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

a platform for cross-selling, SBI Life insurance products, with access to over 100 million accounts across the country provides for an extensive base for insurance penetration across every region and economic strata. To cater to the protection needs of younger audience, whose internet usage is increasing, the company forayed into online distribution besides its vast range of products

which is designed to Mr Atanu Sen fulfill diverse Managing Director insurance and investment needs of its customers. The bouquet of products includes Protection Plans, Insurance cum Wealth Creation Plans, Insurance cum Savings Plans, Child Plans and Pension Plans. SBI Life corporate ethos is about giving back to the society.

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Luxe Living

a loving goodbye

urrounded by tranquility and scenic greenery of Aravali hills, Paras Quartier is nestled in Gwal Pahari at the posh location of Gurgaon-Faridabad Highway. Built by a hand selected team of international Architect WOW and Landscape designers Cracknell, Paras Quartier is a perfect blend of modern monument of sustainability and style. This beautiful 3-dimensional spiral-shaped architecture is wrapped across with spacious balcony, offering residents a view of 270 degrees of natural biosphere with a true flavor of outdoor living. Each unit consist of a 4 Bedroom + family lounge (Iconic tower), A modular kitchen Personalized, contemporary bedroom paint-colours, Separate Service Entrance. Beside concierge services, unique private club house invites residents to indulge in unlimited array of activities. Paras Quartier is indeed a luxury living in the lap of the nature.

Leading on

Travel Smart

Paras Buildtech goes a step further in the real estate industry.

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New management at The Institute of Company Secretaries of India.

he Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) is a premier national professional body (imparting education primarily through distance learning) established by an Act of Parliament (Company Secretaries Act, 1980) to develop and regulate the profession CS R Sridharan President; Institute of of Company Secretaries. With 35,000 Company Secretaries of members and Over 4 lakh students, India (ICSI) the Institute is in constant endeavor towards the transitioning of Company Secretaries as Governance Professionals. CS R. Sridharan, a Fellow Member of the Institute has been elected uncontested as President of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) w.e.f February 7, 2014. CS Vikas Y. Khare also a Fellow Member of the Institute has been elected uncontested as the Vice President the Institute of Company Secretaries of India w.e.f February 7, 2014. The ICSI is the largest CS Professional organisation which is globally recognised for guiding Industry and academia on highest standards of Corporate Governance. March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

The Sagar School bids a loving farewell to Class 12 students.

arewell was organised for Class 12 of 2014 at The Sagar School campus. The occasion was graced by the Chief Guest, Mr. Ranjan Chatterjee, Expert Member of the National Green Tribunal, Principal Bench, New Delhi. All the outgoing students participated in the candle lighting ceremony after being welcomed in the auditorium, with a recounting of their achievements and aspirations. The Chief Guest, Mr. Chatterjee felicitated the students with mementos, badges and magazines expressing their reminiscences over the years. He spoke on the importance of following the truth in one’s life. The Director, Mrs. Sharmishta Julka stressed on the three H’s - Honesty, Hard work and Humility. The Principal Mrs. Jayshree Balasaria, urged the students to believe in themselves and to confront situations as they came.

Uniglobe explores the top trends of Business travel in 2014.

ill 2014 be the year when travel companies will revolutionise ways to advance travel cost containment? How will the evolution of smart tools provide better efficiency for travel research, booking and even personalised services? Read further to know some of the trends for bussiness travellers in 2014. Firstly, expect ongoing and sustainable savings and better control on travel spends using a pre-trip authorisation tool which comes complete with online flight schedule ‘look-up’, booking capability and booking history tracking. Secondly, experienced travellers and travel coordinators will lean even more towards travel experts for vital purchasing advice- especially with more complex itineraries. Thirdly, look forward to effective travel research and faster response times. Knowledge Partner Fourthly, fewer but more meaningful travel spend reports” are what CFOs want for 2014. Lastly, look forward to a richer research experience for your vacations in 2014.

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India adorns a festive look this season with the festival of colours and with elephants parading in all their glory. W ords | P allavi S ingh

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Hola Mohalla

An annual Sikh festival, Hola Mohalla is celebrated elaborately over a three day period at the Anandpur Sahib Gurudwara in Punjab. It is a martial fair that was introduced by Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, to fortify the Sikh community by carrying out martial training and mock-drills, along with religious discussions. The festivities begin by visiting the Gurudwara for early morning prayers. Durbars

are held and the Guru Granth Sahib is read. Kirtans are carried out and after the religious ceremonies are over, the prasad is distributed among the people. The evening is filled with a lot of anticipation and thrill, as martial members of the Sikh community, Nihang Sikhs display their physical strength through daring acts like mockbattles or Gatka, sword-fighting displays, archery and exercising on speeding horses. This is followed by

cultural activities including music, dance and poetry programmes. A procession is set out on the last day, and the Panj Pyaras walk in front crossing all the major Gurudwaras. Langars are organised, and local people come forward to help by arranging the raw materials for the langar, cleaning the Gurudwaras, and washing the dishes. When: March 17 Where: Punjab

the sport of horse polo WILL BE INTRODUCED to the Holla Mohalla Festival in collaboration with the Delhi Polo & Riding Club. THIS TOURNAMENT WILL BE HELD FROM MARCH 14-17

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Elephant Festival

Come March, and the Pink City transforms itself into an exultant celebration of life, a pre-Holi bash which attracts people from far and wide. Elephants have always been a carrier of royalty in Indian culture and so the Elephant Festival was initiated keeping in mind the

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Gangaur Gangaur commences on the day following Holi and continues for 18 days. It is celebrated by womenfolk with great enthusiasm and devotion for Gauri, Lord Shiva's consort. While married women worship Gauri, the embodiment of perfection and conjugal love for the success of their married life, unmarried women worship the Goddess for being blessed with a good husband. The festival also celebrates monsoon, harvest and marital fidelity. The first important ritual of this colourful festival is the collection of ashes from the Holi fire and burying of wheat and barley seeds in it. These seeds are religiously watered every day until

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tourists coming to the city. Marked by a range of interesting activities, Jaipur's day-long festival is an event not to be missed. Organised every year by the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation, the Elephant Festival is held at its official venue, Rambagh Polo Ground in Jaipur. The event starts with a traditional procession; while musicians play folk tunes and dancers whirl in a flurry of colours, richly caparisoned elephants march along in a parade. This is followed by a 'best decorated elephant' competition, games of elephant polo, elephant races,

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a special 'elephant decoration' exhibition, and a tug-of-war between humans and an elephant. Elephants, all in elegant attire, loaded with glitter and gold, fascinate the audience with their grand processions and decorated trunks and tusks. Elephant polo is the most noticeable feature where, the players wear saffron and red turbans, sit on the elephants, and try to score goals with long sticks and a plastic football. Interestingly, only female elephants take part. When: March 16 Where: Jaipur, Rajasthan

germination. The ritual is performed with songs of Isar and Gauri or Shiva and Parvati and the varying of pots of water on the head. A week after Holi, women make clay images of Gauri and Isar. On the evening of the seventh day after Holi, unmarried girls take out a parade with ghudlia. The ritual continues for ten days, upto the conclusion of the Gangaur festival. On the last day girls break their pots and throw the remains into a well or a tank and enjoy a fest with their little collections. A procession with the images of Isar and Gauri, placed on the heads of married women marks the end. When: March 18 onwards Where: Across Rajasthan

Thirunakkara Arattu One of the famous temple festivals, Thirunakkara arattu is celebrated at Thirunakkara Mahaeva Temple located in the heart of Kottayam district of Kerala. The passionate celebration continues for 10 days and concludes with the bathing ceremony of lord

March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

Mahadeva called Arattu. A string of nine majestically ornamented and decorated elephants accompany the idol of the Lord Mahadeva for bathing in the noon. They are accompanied by drummers and dancing flock of people. Folk arts like Mayilattom or peacock dance, Velakali, etc., are presented in the temple compound

in the evening. A major attraction is the all-night Kathakali performances on the third and fourth days of the festival. The mystic traditional dance of Kerala, Kathakali forms an important part of the celebrations. When: March 15-24 Where: Kerala

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HOT Picks

Splurge on these lifestyle essentials Perfect eyewear

If sunglasses are your favourite accessories and you think they really make heads turn, then you must try Maui Jim’s latest range named ‘Maile’. Wear them to office, or to a brunch party or just carry them along for a beachy holiday – Maile frames will only keep you yearning for more. Price: `12,920 Availability: All leading optical stores across India

Glowing skin

Organic Harvest Exfoliating Face Scrub is enriched with natural plant derived moisturising factors that help revitalise dry and dull skin. Created with a PH balanced formula, it contains Olive Oil derivative and NATRUE certified natural plant derived active with Natural Moisturizing Factors. Price: `445 onwards Availability: Major retail outlets in Delhi-NCR, Punjab

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Stylishly smart

Style your wardrobe with a perfect pair of jeans that is not only life changing but also makes you street smart. IML Jeans Co.offers a variety of different styles to cater to the needs of people of all sizes. From skinny fits to flares to mid rise straight jeans - all are available in myriad colours. Price: `5,900 Availability: All leading stores

Like a star

Italian Linen, blended fabrics and sharp cuts define Charagh’s din’s red carpet collection. Funky prints and solid colours both are available. Don these shirts and you are sure to grab the much deserved attention. Price: On request Availability: 64, Wodehouse Road, Colaba, Mumbai March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

The time machine

Oris releases new Limited Edition timepiece in tribute to Darryl O'Young's tenth Macau Grand Prix race. It features a Black dial with applied numerals filled with SuperLumiNova®, Sapphire crystal doned on both sides and is water resistant upto 10 bar/100m. Price: On request Availability: All leading stores

Comfy footwear

A blend of sophistication, class and oomph, the SS collection by Vanilla Moon picks up trends of bright colours added in patent leather. Vanilla Moon has introduced new wedges which are high on style and comfort. Price: `1,500 onwards Availability: Emporio Mall, New Delhi

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Exquisite & Elegant

The unique OMEGA Constellation Sedna is the first watch to be crafted in 18K Sedna™ gold. The two-zone silvery ‘pie-pan’ dial features 18K Sedna™ gold indexes and hands. The brushed bezel, with its engraved Roman numerals, is mounted on a 38 mm polished 18K Sedna™ gold case and is presented on a brown leather strap. The OMEGA Co-Axial calibre 8501 at the heart of this wristwatch is visible through a transparent caseback. Price: On request Availability: All leading stores across the country

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Smooth skin

Oriflame India launches Oriflame North for Men After Shave Lotion. With its unique blend of light and cooling ingredients, the aftershave calms the skin and gives it the post-shave hydration. The intense lotion shields the skin against the environmental stress. Price: `379 onwards Availability: Contact your nearest Oriflame consultant

Bejeweled you

A limited edition line comprising of distinct products, an exotic rose with champagne and white diamond petals, rubies and diamond earrings inspired by the breathtaking architecture of Spain and sensual movements of the flamenco dancers. Price: `50,000/- onwards Availability: All leading stores across the country March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

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Bejewelled you

Wedding jewellery specialist TBZ-The Original has unveiled a new direction for the ‘Brides of Today’ with its refreshingly new ‘New Age Brides’ wedding collection that complements every wardrobe. The overall impact is an awe-inspiring Bridal Collection for fulfilling the innate needs of Indian brides. Price: On request Availability: All leading stores across the country

Chic eyewear

The Spring/Summer 2014 Tom Ford Eyewear Collection presents bold and provocative designs alongside a range of refined, classic looks. It introduces new colours, including newly developed acetates for women such as iridescent chalk stripe blue/violet and chalk stripe ivory/ rose, while polarised lenses are offered in new men's sunglass designs. Price: On request Availability: All leading stores across the country

Shield your skin

The Biologic range of sun protection products from Skeyndor allows you to enjoy your daily dose of Vitamin D. Products like Vanish Sports Sun Cream DNA Protection SPF 20 and Age Preventing Sun Lotion SPF 30 have been designed to offer long-lasting protection day in and day out. Price: `1,225 onwards Availability: At all leading salon and parlours

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Legendary pens

As a tribute to the legendary icon Nelson Mandela, Montegrappa has created a collection of 500 sets including pen, cufflinks and watch. The collection comprises of customised NeroUno pens with a motif of triangles in a tribal pattern in rose gold plated trim on the pen cap’s band. The top of the pen’s cap has the map of South Africa, while the side of the cap features a metal plaque engraved with Mandela signature and the clip boasts a diamond, mined in South Africa. Price: On Request Availability: All leading stores across the country

Sleek & sophisticated

From the house of Parmigiani, The Tonda Métropolitaine watch for women features a modern, urban design.The calibre 3000 movement and its housing have been designed with extreme precision to produce a slim, refined case middle. The numerals and index are inlaid, standing out in rounded relief from a two—imensional background characterised by straight lines. The straps and bracelets are available in leather and steel. Price: On request Availability: Johnson Watch Company Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi

Funky furniture

Sajavat Group brings a collection of Armless Lounge Chairs, Round Swivel Chairs, Accent Chairs, Slipper Chairs, Arm Chairs and much more. These come in gorgeous floral concepts meant to add a dash of colour and fresh perspective to your house. Price: `30, 000 onwards Availability: Studio @ 8, N Block, GK 1, New Delhi

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Child’s

play

Pick your favourite from the lot and gift your child happiness. W ords | A shish bhatia

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1 Vtech Kidizoom

If you’re scared that your kiddo will spoil your camera, here’s the perfect solution. Targetted at kids under 8 years of age, Kidizoom is easy to use, boasts dual grips and is built for knocks. The camera comes with 16 megs of internal memory-which means that it is capable of storing over 200 photos or up to 5 minutes of video. Since it has two viewfinders and a 4X zoom, children will enjoy using it like a pair of binoculars too. An auto-shutdown feature helps conserve battery. Specs: 2MP resolution, 1.8-in LCD screen, 1600x1200 pixel image

resolution, three preschool games for added fun, four AA batteries, 500gm weight; Price: `4,000

Metis Eddy

Eddy, a learning tablet, is specially devised for children aged 2-10 years. Eddy carries over 100 uniquely designed games that have been subtly linked to school curriculum and span key learning areas like math, science, language, and creativity. Kids learn how to can read, count, discover the universe, tinker with a piano—all interactively via ingeniously crafted audio-video learning methods.

Specs: 7-in (1024x600) IPS capacitive touchscreen, 2MP rear camera, Wi-Fi, 3200mAh battery, Price: `9,999

Fisher Price Kid Tough

Another perfect digital camera for kids from the age of 3 to 7 years. This one costs a couple of grand more so it can store over 2,000 images and and 15 minutes of video in its 256MB of memory. It has a 4X digital zoom, a 1.4-inch display for viewing and twin-eye viewing system for shooting images. Specs: 1.4-inch colour LCD display, 256MB internal memory; Price: `5,900

gadgets are the new toys for kids, but spending too much time on them may act as a dampener in kids' intelligence skills and studies

March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

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2 1 Animating-Projecting Camera 142

This one goes beyond being a durable kiddie cam. As the name suggests, it is also projector--albeit one for children between the ages of 3 to 7 years. A flip of a lever converts the toy digital camera into a proper projector capable of throwing 24-inch images on to a wall or just about any blank white surface. Of course, you have to dim the lights and ensure that the room is dark. And it’s not just that; the device also lets kids choose and add one of the 50 zany, colourful animated effects provided by the camera's built-in editing software to each photo. These include overlays like a flying superhero, a gyrating dancer, or a goal-scoring soccer star etc.

Specs: 1.75-in LCD display, 24-in projection, memory for 1,000 JPEG images, 50 built-in animations and effects, 5½x7x10-in dimensions, four AA batteries, 680gms. Price: `7,000

Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 Elite Edition

If your brat is fond of aeroplanes let him try your paws on the best that money can buy in the realm of toy planes. Ge him this Android smartphone or iPhone-controlled Parrot AR Drone quadricopter watch him gurgle with glee. Flaunting four rotors that allow it to wing out in any direction, the Drone toy chopper is controlled by the motion of the phone's built-in accelerometer (or motion sensor

which senses whether the phone is being tilted up, down, left, right, etc.) to steer the its flight. Fitted with two cameras, this amazing chopper even stream, record and share real-time 720p HD video back to the iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch or Android device that controls it. So you can fly it sitting in the next room via the video feed you are receiving on the phone. Specs: Quadricoper, available in orange/blue/camoflague, streams 720p 720p - 30FPS - H264 video, low latency streaming, video storage on the fly with remote device or with USB flash drive, JPEG photo capture, WiFi remote controlled, GPS. Price: `30,000

Techno Source Rubik's Revolution This intriguing and challenging techno-game is an interactive electronic spin on the classic Rubik's Cube. In fact it is much more as it includes not one game but six different addictive ones--ranging from Light Speed, Rapid Recharge, Pattern Panic, Cube Catcher, Code Cracker to Multiplayer Madness. These multi-sensory games that are replete with lights, action and sound involve pressing the lights on each side of the cube by turning and spinning it to challenge your memory and help concentration. The faster you move the cube, the faster you'll advance to each level. During play, your score and/or time will be announced. Price: `3,500

March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

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Films releasing in MARCH

Bollywood Other Releases

Total Siyapaa Release Date: March 7 Cast: Ali Zafar, Yaami Gautam Director: E Niwas Ragini MMS 2 Release Date: March 21 Cast: Sunny Leone Director : Bhushan Patel Happy Endings Release Date: March 28 Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Ileana Director: Raj Nidimoru

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Release Date: March 7 Cast: Madhuri Dixit Nene, Juhi Chawla, Tannishtha Chatterjee, Priyanka Bose, Divya Jagdale Director: Soumik Sen Gulaab Gang After so much violence against women being reported, here comes a movie that plans to fight against social injustice, especially in central India. As far as the story line of Gulaab Gang is concerned, it is based on women empowerment with Madhuri Dixit

Nene spearheading the noble initiative as the vivacious leader. In fact, one can almost draw a parallel to the real life story of the women vigilante group run by Sampat Pal. This movie in fact gets the yester year divas Madhuri Dixit Nene and Juhi Chawla come face to face in their powerful avatars.

by Sayanti Banerjee

top 10 movie ticket booking websites 1. BookMyShow 2. Inox Movies 3. Ticketnew 4. TicketPlease 5. PVR Cinemas

March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

6. Big Cinemas 7. Cinemax 8. EasyMovies 9. Ticket4U 10. Kyazoonga

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Films releasing in MARCH

Hollywood Other Releases

300 : Rise Of An Empire Release Date: March 07 Cast: Jamie Blackley, Sullivan Stapleton Director: Noam Murro Mr. Peabody & Sherman Release Date: March 7 Cast: Leslie Mann, Ariel Winter, Stanley Tucci, Patrick Warburton, Allison Janney, Mel Brooks, Ty Burrell Director: Rob Minkoff

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Release Date: March 8 Cast: Emma Watson, Russell Crowe, Logan Lerman, Jennifer Connelly,Anthony Hopkins Director: Darren Aronofsky Noah This is a Biblical epic film that is based on the story of Noah's Ark. The script is written by Aronofsky and Ari Handel focussing on the divine visions of foretelling the end of the world. In a prophetic way the central character of Noah tries to motivate his followers to

give up on their wicked ways and turn to God before it is too late. Though no one pays heed to him, they learn it the hard way. Noah and his family have an ark built in order to save the world from the Great Flood on the earth. What finally turns out to be God’s will, follows as the story unfolds.

Me And My Shadow Release Date: March 14 Cast: Josh Gad , Bill Hader, Director: Alessandro Carloni

by Sayanti Banerjee

top 10 websites to watch movies 1. YouTube movies 2. IMDb 3. Crackle 4. Los Movies 5. Topmovies

March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

6. FreeFullMovies 7. Film.FM 8. B Movies 9. JustClickToWatch 10. Hulu Tv

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Interesting reads Sorting Out Sid

The Aryavarta Chronicles Book 2: Kaurava

Story of a young and successful corporate with a great personal life on the surface and the one slowly falling apart underneath. Soon the verge of becoming the youngest VP at the age of 36, Siddharth still finds himself alone, till Neha, a lovely single mother comes into his life. The book is a mirror of today’s society. Author: Yashodhara Lal Publication: HarperCollins Price: `250

Royal Palaces of India

With an intricate plot, the author weaves an unputdownable political thriller. The novel approaches politics in a different light; a third front supremacy and a fight for the Constitution. It borders on the precipice of Author: Krishna Udayasankar Publication: Hachette India Price: `350

A rich collection of pictures detailing the rich architecture, opulent lifestyle, and portraits of the timeless maharajas and their royal families. Palaces like Udai Bilas Palace, Umaid Bhawan Palace, the Falaknuma Palace and Lalitha Mahalare some of the palaces featured in the book.

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Author: Tarun Chopra Publication: Prakash Books Price: `2,995

Hul Cry rebel

Moving through a whirlwind of passion, greed, betrayal and sacrifice, this narrative of the first mass rebellion against the John’s Company brings back the first step of India’s independence. Author: Sanjay Bahadur Publication: Roli Books Price: `395

by Florina Soren

wEBSITES TO BUY BOOKS Some websites from which you could buy books from are: Amazon, Ebay, Flipkart, Books at half.com, AbeBooks

March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

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Forecast for march 2014 B y D r . P rem K umar S harma

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Good Luck Tip: Frame a paper money bill in a golden frame and hang it in your work space.

Good Luck Tip: If you feel you can’t hold on to money in your wallet; try a white or gray wallet/purse.

Good Luck Tip: If you have a habit of carrying a briefcase to work; keep a small crystal in it.

Good Luck Tip: Hang a picture of a landscape with a distant view in your dining room.

Leo

Virgo

Libra

Scorpio

Good Luck Tip: If a bathroom is next to your kitchen, hang a wind chime from the ceiling outside of the bathroom door.

Good Luck Tip: Close the toilet lids; it keeps money from ‘going down the drain’.

Good Luck Tip: Tie a red ribbon around a piggy bank or cash box for money inflow.

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Good Luck Tip: Place a small fountain in your work area.

Good Luck Tip: Hang a wooden wind chime in the window of your office or work space.

Good Luck Tip: If your finances have been stagnant; try hanging an active mobile in your kitchen.

Good Luck Tip: Move your desk if it shares with the toilet as it hampers growth prospects.

Your attempts to achieve perfect health will show positive signs. Diplomacy, tact and patience is required at the workplace. Transfer to a new place can make some apprehensive. It is best to go along with lover’s plans on the romantic front. Be open to realms of fantasy, your emotions can open new vistas.

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Don’t be intimidated if you are unsure about certain aspects of work. Ask questions, be open to learning and you will make progress. You may feel the need to express your emotions to loved ones but may be unable to find the right words. Those travelling on a business trip will find things working out well.

Planning and implementing something new will be on the mind of people at the helm of affairs on the professional front. On the home front, you are likely to get back in the same coin what you give out. Those in the marriageable age will be in the spotlight at social events and could meet someone.

March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

Making yourself understood, concerning your personal limitations could be crucial to your peace of mind. Last week of the month is a good time to start a health routine and give yourself may be a new image makeover. Don’t sign any property papers without studying them carefully.

Your longing for love is likely to be answered soon. Travelling to a place you have never visited before is possible. You can expect positive developments in matters related to property. Financially, you will be in a much stronger position than before. Work commitments will leave you with little time for domestic obligations.

You may find it hard to concentrate on your tasks as constant interruptions seem to be the order of the month. You are likely to improve a personal situation by reviewing things. Your advice on a business matter will be highly valued. Singles are likely to find love.

You are likely to find your rhythm at work. Those in the creative field are set to make their mark. Some of you can resolve to achieve perfect fitness by joining a gym or starting an exercise regimen. You may not find lover too responsive. Finances will be good and you may want to make some expensive purchases for your home.

Emotional satisfaction comes through good relationships. Intense yearning for love can nudge you towards the one you desire. There is a distinct possibility of travelling overseas. You may be given a free hand on the professional front. Reacting to outward conditions too quickly is not good for you.

This is a good time to bring about the long pending changes on the home front. Changes in the work schedule can be expected on the professional front. New projects will be successful. Adopting some healthy alternatives will work wonders for you.

Original and creative solutions will be the best way to deal with complex issues. Someone’s glib talk may make you part with your good money. You will need to be careful about your health. Old time friends may drop in at your place. Those looking for work need to be more active. Those travelling on a long journey are likely to find love.

Poor performers are likely to make good progress on the academic front. You will be able to meet a deadline at work without breaking a sweat. This is a good time to bring about some changes on the domestic front. If you are in a mood for romance, you will not be disappointed. Good Luck Tip: Hang a picture of trees, flowers or other plants (except cactus) in your kitchen.

Innovative thinking will enable you to work around obstacles. Sudden changes may seem stressful at first, but if you are innovative but use your creative side to find these situations into opportunities. Eating anything and everything in sight can cause a digestive ailment.

Inside SpiceJet

Inside…

• Routemap • Letter from the management • SpiceJet family • CSR: Joyride for children from Chennai

• FSC: Control centre • SpiceJet spreading colour • Tasty treats • Tag tales • Music mantra • Fleet guide

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Inside SpiceJet

inside SpiceJEt

CHANGING FOR Better

Dear Customer, Happy Holi! As you can see from the cover of this magazine and from the excellent, warm, personal service you would have received today on the ground and in the air, SpiceJet is changing! Little by little, we are putting the pieces in place to build the New SpiceJet and bring humanity, warmth, the personal touch, and a little sense of humour back to air travel. At the same time we are looking into every aspect of the airline, and making changes where necessary to meet your needs better. Our product. Our network. Our pricing. Our on-time performance. Every aspect is changing for the better. Did I mention pricing? Yes indeed! SpiceJet is committed to leading the way in offering the most attractive fares to the most customers, as long as they are able to plan their journeys early. We have received overwhelming positive feedback from customers who booked rock-bottom fares at our periodic “Super Sales”, all of which require 30 days or more advance purchase, for taking the lead in making air travel more affordable, where travelers can now book more spontaneously and more often by air, and also for attracting many first time air travelers who would otherwise endure long train journeys or not travel at all.

These advance purchase offers are a win-win for customers, for airlines, and for the travel industry and the economy overall, as it leads to significant demand stimulation, customers get to enjoy deeply discounted fares, airlines get to reduce wastage of seats that would otherwise fly empty, and others in the travel eco-system get more business. These are not fare wars as is commonly but wrongly reported in the media as there are no losers, only winners. On product, there are several changes afoot. We launched the Corporate Frequent Flyer program recently where passengers travelling on corporate fares will get one free flight for every six paid flights, and two for every ten; the free tickets are assignable to anyone. We launched SpiceMAX last month, where for a nominal fee, you get a premium seat with more legroom, along with priority check-in at dedicated SpiceMAX counters, priority checked baggage handling, and enhanced hand baggage allowance; all you need to do is pre-select a premium seat to become a SpiceMAX customer. We have an all-new menu in the seat pocket in front of you, and will continue to make enhancements to our food and end-to-end on-board service. Cabins on our aircraft are being gradually refreshed. An all-new on-board ambience is being created to make your flight more pleasant and memorable, delivered by our warm, friendly, and caring cabin crew who have been given a simple guideline: use your judgment and do the right thing by the customer. And feel free to let your hair down, no robotic rigidity at SpiceJet. I want to close by quoting this email excerpt from V-Excel (http://www.v-excel. org/), a Chennai-based educational

trust for children of special needs, that we received after we took a group of 20 of the wonderful children in their care on a “Trip to The Skies” , from Chennai to Madurai and back, last month (a report from this trip is in this magazine): “Thanks to Spicejet and Rotary Club of Madras East, 20 children from our school had a wonderfully memorable experience - their first ever trip on a flight! The parents of the children were in tears today - as you can imagine, it was a very emotional and special experience. They were touched by this very sensitive gesture, and moved by seeing their children experience something as normal as travelling on a plane without any adjustment problems, and with so much enjoyment. Children with special needs miss out on thousands of little and big things that typical person takes so much for granted, so today’s trip was a once in a lifetime experience for them. We hope to continue our relationship with SpiceJet in the years to come”. We thank YOU, V-Excel Educational Trust, for giving us the opportunity to do something special for the lovely children, it was a moving and heartwarming experience for all of us as well! As always, please feel free to drop an email to customerfirst@spicejet.com with any feedback or questions, and a member of senior management will respond to you personally.

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Thank you for flying SpiceJet.

Sanjiv Kapoor, Chief Operating Officer

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inside SpiceJEt

Creative Flair Taking the brand a step further, Gaurav Mehta brings innovation and originality in his marketing strategies.

Name: Gaurav Mehta Designation: Senior Marketing Executive Current Role: Marketing & Brand Communications

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In the past year, we launched 10 new destinations and a slew of new products and services like SpiceMax, FlexiFly, Corporate Frequent Flyer program, Holidays, Hotel bookings, Consumer discount promos, SpiceJet Tiger Air Interline launch and thematic brand campaign amongst others

What are your responsibilities in your current role? I am responsible for developing communication for the brand, new products, sector launches and offers/promos and maintaining a consistency in overall brand communications. When did you join SpiceJet and what is it that you love the most? I’ll be completing two years with SpiceJet, this May. The run, so far, has been adventurous in this dynamic industry, where one has to stay on his toes all the time. We, being a customer interface for every communication, have to always be ready to go to the market, even at a very short notice. What is your fitness mantra and how do you ensure to stick to it? With not much time for gymming and exercising, diet is something I handle more sensibly. What is the high point of your job? It is the pace of the industry which keeps the rush going, and quick turn-arounds are expected. The other thing which is exciting

Family time At home, I have my parents, my brother and his family. I love spending time with my nephew. The work schedule in office is hectic, but also flexible and that allows me to devote some March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

about aviation is ‘the need to differentiate from other brands and create a consumer preference for SpiceJet over others’. With the new leadership, we are hopeful of taking the competition heads on and achieving the same soon. What are the challenges that you face in your functioning? Being the custodians of the brand, we as a team need to ensure the right utilisation of the communication channels, be it online, print, radio, outdoor etc. Also, being a part of service brand, we need to ensure we don’t overpromise. Hence, we need to double check the information before it is released in the public domain. Your journey with SpiceJet In this industry, travel is something which is essential. Hence, one gets to travel across the length and breadth of the country. Personally, travel is something I like, and that gives me all the more reason to love my job. Working in aviation industry has professionally made me realise the real potential of managing work, deadlines and pressure.

time to family, and of course weekends are always there. I love driving, so am always game for driving holidays. I like adventure sports, trekking and exploring nature. Udaipur is my favourite holiday destination.

inside SpiceJEt

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KIDS ON A DREAM

FLIGHT

Download ‘ARplay’ on your iPhone/ Android device & scan this page to watch SpiceJet’s Joyride for kids from Chennai

March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

There is no joy greater than bringing smile to other's faces; especially so among children. As a special treat, SpiceJet flew 20 wonderful children from Chennai to Madurai. A first time for most of them, it was great to share their excitement and joy

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inside SpiceJEt

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children wiTh special needs from V-excel educaTional TrusT along with Rotary Club Madras east were flown To madurai for a day Trip. They VisiTed nayakar mahal and meenakshi amman Temple

March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

inside SpiceJEt

control centre

Rohit Pal, GM, Flight Support Centre, tells us about all what it takes to make your flight safe and smooth.

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warmly welcome you onboard this flight and hope your journey is comfortable. As has been the tradition with SpiceJet, safety, on-time performance and comfort of the passengers are of utmost priority and we continuously strive to make our services better with each passing day. Every airline around the globe has a centralised control centre from where it manages its flight activities. These centres are often called FSC (Flight Support Centre) or OCC (Operational Control Centre) or Hub Control. All decisions regarding the airline's daily operation are made at the Flight Support Centre.

This 'nerve centre' is responsible for the daily release and departure of flights and all related operations in close tandem with Flight Dispatch, Airports, Maintenance Control, Reservations, Revenue Management, Crew Scheduling and Catering. FSC works 24 x 7, 365 days a year, meticulously monitoring each and every flight Cross functional decisions

There are many factors which affect the airline's flight operations such as adverse weather conditions, government regulations, equipment failures, airport

capacity restrictions and runway maintenance. These factors are directly associated with flight safety and passenger comfort. In order to efficiently manage these factors, the FSC's main function is to manage and restore irregular flight

Afternoon teleconferences with the airports and impeccable planning with all the operating departments hold the key for a smooth transition

March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

International Assembly for Collegiate Education (IACBE), USA

Just 20 among 4000+ B-Schools in India are internationally accredited as of 2013.

Indus Business Academy, Bangalore is among the Choice-20 in India.

Amidst the Internationally-Best.

IBA, Bangalore is an AICTE Approved management institute which is Internationally Accredited* by IACBE (International Assembly for Collegiate Education, USA). International accreditation sets IBA apart from among 4000+ business schools and also makes it one of the elite 20 B-Schools that have obtained such global endorsement for quality. The group includes who’s who of the business schools of the country including IIM-Ahmedabad, IIM-Bangalore, IIM-Lucknow, IIM-Kozhikode, MDI-Gurgaon, ISB-Hyderabad, TA PAI-Manipal, SP Jain Institute of Management & Research-Mumbai, IMI-New Delhi, PSG-Coimbatore, SCMS-Cochin etc. The International Accreditation makes IBA-PGDM globally accepted for employment and further education. This also brings newer opportunities for collaborations, student & faculty exchanges, stellar academic and placement opportunities.

Apart from IBA being ranked among the Top 1% B-Schools in India, now you have just one more reason to recruit from IBA International Validation.

For more details on Campus Hiring, please contact :

Indus Business Academy - Bangalore

Lakshmipura, Thataguni Post, Kanakapura Road, Bangalore 560 062 • E-mail: placements@iba.ac.in • Mobile: +91 97418 11100, 93435 18946

www.iba.ac.in

* International B-School Accreditation Authorities International Assembly for Collegiate Education (IACBE), USA

The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, USA

European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS) - The European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD), Belgium

Association of MBAs, UK

Accreditation Council for Business School & Programmes, USA

inside SpiceJEt

The entire planning for the next day begins all over again in case there is any irregular operation on the day of operations 164

operations including streamlining of schedule at the earliest, fleet planning, flight following and to ensure that the delayed passengers and cargo are transported to their destination as swiftly as possible, with minimum inconvenience. Since some of these factors are very complex and change without much of a notice, a team of 40 hard core professionals with vast knowledge of the aviation industry on different aspects of the customer services, work round-theclock to ensure a hassle-free travel experience for our passengers. The planning for the next day starts at 1600hrs though at this time only

50 per cent of the operations have completed for the day. A brain storming session starts between the planners and FSC to arrive at a mutual consensus to keep the schedule of X base departures flights across the country on schedule and provide adequate maintenance time as well. The entire planning for the next day begins all over again in case there is any irregular operation on the day of operations. Therefore, alternate plans—Plan B and Plan C—are prepared, mainly to avoid any last minute glitches and for the convenience of the passengers. Weather plays an important role

Technologies FSC is equipped with various cutting edge technologies such as ARMS (Airline Resource Management System). It covers all aspects of flight following and HSD (Horizontal Situation Display) which displays flight progress in

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during winters. We are proud to be the only airline operating daily flights to some of the challenging airfields like Dharamsala, Jabalpur and Kabul, which are quite prone to bad weather conditions during winters. This is the time when the skills of FSC are put to a gruelling test. Should it be a yes or should it be a no? To operate to a station if weather conditions are fluctuating at destination. Our priority has always been to keep the passengers informed of the exact reason for the delay in a layman’s language, since some of the aviation terminologies are difficult to understand. Keeping abreast with the changing times,

both text and directional formats. HF connectivity enables FSC to optimise the decision making process with regards to flight operations and take a timely action to revise the departure on the subsequent legs, if any getting affected.

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time lines

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FSC has set very high standards for the timelines it follows with regards to operations of flights. Every controlable delay is monitored, reasons behind it are taken into account and corrective actions taken promptly. Planning for the day may change as per the situation on ground and backup plans come into action quickly

any last minute changes in the flight schedule beyond the control of the airlines now are being updated on the SpiceJet's official page on Facebook. Passengers now get informed in advance, especially during winters, through an SMS to check the flight status before starting for the airport. Our website now provides more details on the flight status. This is the emergence of a new SpiceJet, where we would be doing things differently to respect the time and real value for money of our customers. In order to maintain operational integrity and management of irregular flight operations, FSC has key decision makers from each operating department to take an optimal decision in a timely manner for airline's valuable customers. With its priority on flight safety, FSC leaves no stone unturned to accomplish comfortable, reliable and efficient flight operations.

Morning Base Departures

Rohit Pal GM, Flight Support Centre

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The early morning flights of any airline determine its operational efficiency and same is the case for SpiceJet. We feel proud to inform that a 100 per cent on-time performance for all our base departure flights across the network. This would not

FSC is the custodian of the OTP of SpiceJet, but without compromising on the safety of aircraft have been possible without the cooperation of our customers. Some of the airports in the country have infrastructural constraints, due to which there is a possibility of the flights getting delayed, but the sheer determination of our ground and Crew Scheduling teams have made it for before time departures without leaving any passenger behind. FSC monitors these departures closely as any delay would have an impact during the day. Immediate action is taken to ensure delays are minimised or eliminated completely and passengers are kept updated with the departure status and onwards connectivity. FSC is the custodian of the OTP of SpiceJet, but without compromising on the safety of aircraft and passengers and treating every passenger on board as a family member. Wish you and your family a very happy and vibrant Holi.â&#x20AC;&#x201A;

Absolutely

alluring attires....

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SpiceJet

spreading colour The last few months have been full of excitement for SpiceJet. From promotional campaigns, bumper sales to charity flights, the colours have been aplenty.

Volume VII Issue XII December 2013

www.spiceroutemag.com

The inflight magazine of SpiceJet

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Celebrate this season

with SpiceJet

Watch the crew in action How: Turn to page 10

WONDROUS VIZAG History, museums, miracles of nature...

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FASHION FLAVOURS Warm up with the right clothes and accessories

THE INFLIGHT MAGAZINE

Volume VIII | Issue I | January 2014

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26 128 180

WELCOME NEW YEAR

Celebrities’ plans to ring in 2014

AT YOUR SERVICE World- class airports & SpiceJet services

REPUBLIC DAY

Parade at Rajpath: A riot of colours & charisma

JOYRIDE FOR CHILDREN SpiceJet’s CSR activity with two orphanages from Kolkata

www.spiceroutemag.com

Indian Airports The new generation

THE INFLIGHT MAGAZINE

Volume VIII | Issue II | February 2014

52 98 104

UNIQUE TRAVEL TRENDS Caravan vacation, cycling tour, yoga holiday and more

INFLIGHT DIET

Tips and tricks to eat right when you fly

OLD IS GOLD Glimpses of Bollywood’s glorious past

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MUMBAI’S PRIDE

Terminal2 welcomes you

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celebration began with the first ever spicejet crew shoot for the cover of spiceroute magazine

emerging New Spicejet December brought in a wave of change for spicejet

or ride f ata y o j t Je lk Spice n from Ko i e a childr nd Chenn a

starting with the crew on the cover of spiceroute magazine, the celebrations continued month long the crew spotted Red santa caps thereby spreading the joy of the christmas season SpiceJet as part of its CSR initiative provided joyride to underprivileged children from Kolkata to Delhi and differently abled children from Chennai to Madurai for fun filled day trips

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we offer exclusive options like empty seat option, multiple booking option and preferred flight option. there are also special offers for frequent spicejet flyers

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SIC NTH HT MU G THIS MOarding & take-off, . INFALTIG ’S PLAYIN ck list.. sic for bo

SPIC EJET

INFO

r tra soft rock murkation. Here's ou ghts play ba SpiceJet fli r landing & disem fo and again ORLEANS Still The One

strong

Louis Arm

110

n’t Found I Still Have ing For What I’m Look band, This Irish rock , has 1976 formed in studio released 12 are albums and all-time among the g music best-sellin g sold artistes, havin million 150 more than dwide. records worl

derful What A Won World jazz This American and trumpeteer known singer was smatic for his chari stage. presence on

STEDT

PETER SAR THIN

Where Do My Love

LIZZY

Still In Love

With You

You Go To

FERTY

GERRY RAF

MR MISTER

Baker Stree

s Broken Wing

LIAMS ANDY WIL Eyes

mo odel pro ich m r e v o C hit wh was a big assengers offered p on their 50% off flight next

My Can’t Take Off Of You

Eric Clapton LS,

CROSBY, STIL H AND NAS

NGSTEEN BRUCE SPRI John

Lennon

Just A Song I Go

I’m On Fire

Imagine This English r singe musician, r rose and songwrite as to world fame er emb founder-m les. of the Beat n for his He’s know nature and rebellious reflected acerbic wit, ions. in his creat

Foreigner

Waiting For Like You

On Knocking Heaven’s Door This English r and singe musician, r is known songwrite most as one of the rists. guita influential

g Now Who’s Cryin

Y DOBIE GRA

To Me

Drift Away

spicejet ushered 2014 with the New Year campaign (crew with Balloon)

GUESS WHO These Eyes

ATLANTA SECTION

A Girl

FOREIGNER RHYTHM

So Into You

routemag.c

| www.spice February 2014

JOURNEY

DOOBIE BROTHERS You Belong

Before

new year with a bang

U2 One

I Want To Know Love Is

What

some of our new offerings are onboard music and revamped meal options a series of new products were launched to add to the passengers convenience and benefits At spicejet we offered super sale twice over. it is good to have you all flying with us Now and always

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the new interline agreement with tigerair helps spicejet connect indian cities to singapore

March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

painting cities with spicejet presence we did outdoor campaigns across many cities

yourr ette b pre-book r o f meal ervices s

spicejet is spreading colours with coach wrap, bus stop advertising, airport branding and hoarding at important city points the gates at the spicejet corporate office is a splash of colour with the all new hoarding please look out for more about spicejet as we promise to come with much more

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Tasty treats SpiceJet's new inflight menu

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Breakfast Masala Uttapam, Medu Vada, Sambhar, Coconut Chutney

Vegetarian

Plethora of choices

Keeping affordability and convenience of the passengers in mind, SpiceJet offers a simple yet delicious onboard food menu with numerous options to choose from. Now you can pick from a range of two delicious vegetarian and two scrumptious non-vegetarian dishes from the hot meals served onboard.

Secret of pre-booking

To experience hassle-free and convenient flying it is recommended you pre-book your meals on SpiceJet and save 20 percent on your meals onboard. March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

Now you can see and select your food choices (in pictures) while pre-booking your meal online. The time of your flight determines the choices that will be available (Breakfast, lunch, snacks or dinner).

snacks non Vegetarian

Chicken in Garlic Sauce, Fried Chicken Noodles, Salad

This way, you can have your preferred choice of the delicious meal options onboard. When you pre-book your meal online, you get to choose from a host of options. All options under breakfast, lunch/dinner, snacks and sandwiches are available for prebooking online. Buying In-flight serves you only with limited options.

snacks Chicken Schezwan, Kathi Roll, Salad

Know the time

Vegetarian

sandwiches Grilled Vegetable Sandwich

Now your routine will not get disrupted as the meal timings are the same onboard as they are at home. Breakfast is served between 5am and 11am, lunch between 11am and 3pm, snacks between 3pm and 7pm and dinner between 7pm and 11pm. In addition, we offer quick-picks from sandwiches to a-la-carte items. It is important to keep in mind that breakfast, lunch/dinner and snacks are served only on Boeing flights with a scheduled flying time of more than 60 minutes. On other flights, sandwiches and quick picks are always available.â&#x20AC;&#x201A;

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Tag Tales

Here's the story behind SpiceJet’s new baggage tags... They showcase special offers tailormade for passengers.

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Vritti Mehra – Delhi Base, SpiceJetter since 2012

Pre-book excess baggage

Now enjoy savings upto 20% on pre-booking your excess baggage until 12 hours before your flight. So, Travel smart. Carry a lot more for a lot less.

Richa Sibal – Delhi Base, SpiceJetter since 2009, Priya Maria Jaydas – Hyderabad Base, SpiceJetter since 2012

Corporate frequent flyer Our frequent registered corporate travellers can now save big. On 6 completed one-way journeys get 1 free one-way ticket while 10 completed one-way journeys give you 2 free one-way tickets.

Nilakhi Nirjary – Delhi Base, SpiceJetter since 2008

More hot meal choices

Now both vegetarians and non-vegetarians can choose from two meal options each on SpiceJet flights. The choices are much more if you pre-book your meal online.

do remember to pick your baggage tags while collecting your boarding pass. each hand baggage must have one tag attached

March 2014 | www.spiceroutemag.com

Bharat Chadha – Delhi Base, SpiceJetter since 2012

International baggage allowance

Passengers travelling on SpiceJet domestic sector to SpiceJet international sector or vice versa will get the Free Baggage Allowance of International sector.

Sandhya Behl – Delhi Base, SpiceJetter since 2008

SpiceMAX

With SpiceMax passengers get benefits including premium seats, priority check-in, priority baggage delivery and 10kg hand baggage allowance.

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Somesh Gohai – Delhi Base, SpiceJetter since 2012

Priya Maria Jaydas – Hyderabad Base, SpiceJetter since 2012

Reena Pathania – Hyderabad Base, SpiceJetter since 2012

Multiple Booking option (MBo)

Empty Seat option (ESo)

Preferred flight option (PFo)

Booked on our flight! Want travel flexibility? Opt for SpiceJet FlexiFly - Multiple Booking Option (MBo), which allows you to book 1 more flight and you can decide (up to 1 day before departure), which of the two flights to fly on.

Get your 'virtual private zone' with SpiceJet FlexiFly - Empty Seat Option (ESo); a popular offer for travellers to get a chance to secure empty seats next to their seat at a nominal price, elevating your comfort and travel experience.

Booked on our flight! But wish to fly on another date and/or time, just sign-up for Preferred Flight Options (PFo) and you may get to fly on your preferred flight for a nominal price!

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music on board

SpiceJet flights play soft rock music for boarding & take-off, and again for landing & disembarkation. Here's our track list...

U2 I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For A classic from Bono and his band of Irish rockers that brings back memories of carefree college days, days mixed with laughter and a sense of yearning for both the past and the future.

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John Lennon Imagine One of rock’s great pieces of musical poetry from one of its greatest legends, this track continues to move generations from across the world. Foreigner Waiting For A Girl Like You A classic rock ballad from the English-American band. Many in their forties today had this on their cassette-decks on repeat in the early to the mid 1980s, when they were in the throes of their first crushes. Thin Lizzy Still In Love With You This Irish band from Dublin, featuring legendary guitarist Gary Moore, was better known for their hard rock hits, but this lesserknown plaintive rock ballad is probably one of

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the most beautiful pieces of music from the 1970s.

“southern rock” sound of the 1970s.

Mr Mister Broken Wings Another 80s' power ballad from the American pop-rock band, this 1985 track is one that many in their forties today possibly had their first slow dance to!

Peter Sarstedt Where Do You Go To (My Lovely) Delhi-born, Kurseongeducated Sarstedt had a global hit in 1969 with this classic. Often thought to be a bitter love letter to Sophia Loren, Sarstedt, however, insists it was not about anyone specific.

Bruce Springsteen I’m On Fire A classic from the New Jersey rock legend’s 1985 album - Born In The USA - the track is dreamy and unforgettable in its simplicity. Doobie Brothers You Belong To Me Written by Carly Simon and Michael McDonald and originally recorded by The Doobie Brothers in 1977, this track remains a soft rock mainstay on American classic rock stations even today. Guess Who These Eyes A huge hit in 1969 by the Canadian rock band out of Winnipeg, Manitoba, with the haunting lyrics “These eyes are crying / These eyes have seen a lot of love but they're never gonna see another love like I had with you." Atlanta Rhythm Section So Into You A lilting and haunting classic from the American band from Georgia, this song typifies the gentle

Andy Williams Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You This gentler cover of Franki Valli’s 1967 classic was recorded by American musician and TV personality Andy Williams. Journey Who’s Crying Now

Another classic ballad from 1981 by the American rock legends, Journey, fronted by vocalist Steve Perry. Orleans Still The One A 1976 hit for the band from Woodstock, New York, the lyrics of the song are of a man describing his feelings for a woman with whom he has a long-lasting relationship ("You're still the one, I want to talk to

in bed; Still the one that turns my head"). And all the reasons why she is "Still the One".

Foreigner I Want To Know What Love Is The all-time power rock ballad from the English-American rock band Foreigner, this 1985 song stirs memories and brings back days of youthful heartbreaks. Gerry Rafferty Baker Street Named after the famous London street on which Sherlock Homes had his fictitious home, Baker Street is a charttopping ballad from 1978 by Scottish singersongwriter Gerry Rafferty. The arrangement is famous for its distinctive saxophone riff, played by Raphael Ravenscroft. U2 One A 1991 ballad by the Irish rockers U2, this has often been featured in polls of the greatest songs of all time. Dobie Gray Drift Away Made famous by American musician Dobie Gray in 1973, this song is also a famous "goodbye" for concerts.

It is often used as a filler for a last song, usually in preparation for an encore. Eric Clapton Knocking On Heaven’s Door Written by American legend Bob Dylan in 1973, the song describes the collapse of a deputy sheriff, dying from a bullet wound; he tells his wife "Mama, take this badge off me; I can't use it anymore." This cover version was made famous by English rocker Eric Clapton in 1975.

Crosby, Stills, and Nash Just A Song Before I Go This song, part of the 1977 album CSN, was written by Graham Nash about leaving loved ones behind before going on a concert tour. It was written in Hawaii in about 20 minutes at the piano while Nash was waiting to leave. Louis Armstrong What A Wonderful World A hit for American jazz trumpeteer Louis Armstrong in 1968 and written as an antidote for the racially and politically charged climate of the United States in the 1960s, the song has an optimistic tone.

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