November 2014
Volume 1 Issue 6
ANDHERI WEST EDITION
Complimentary Copy
FOR weddings AND WEDDing functions designer - Paresh lamba
DO’s & DON’TS of DIY BEAUTY
that might surprise you
Meerra
chakra meditation household superstars
home remedies FITNESS BEAUTY
HEALTH
Chopra
LIFESTYLE
NUTRITION
ENTERTAINMENT
EDUCATION
COMMUNITY
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dosa varieties
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CONTENT NOVEMBER 2014 Volume 1 Issue 6
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07 Editorial Selfish By Nature 10 Coprprate etiquette For This Festive Season 12 FOR weddings and wedding functions DESIGNER Paresh Lamba 15 SKIN care tips for men 21 chakra meditation 24 The dos and don’ts of DIY Beauty 29 Household Superstars Home Remedies 30 RECIPES 34 COVER STORY: MEERRA CHOPRA BOLD & PRIVATE 36 What makes MAMI so Special? 16th Mumbai Film Festival 39 In conversation with Amita Sehgal Casting Director 42 145 Freakin’ DOSA Varieties Neighborhood Food Corner 45 Rules to Understand Canine Behavior 46 Hands On Fathers 52 Horoscope Month of SCORPIO Advertise with Living Local Magazine (Andheri West edition) 6
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Contributors
AVNEET KOHLI
The youngest leading image strategist certified as a personal branding and merit image consultant by the London Image Institute. Founder and CEO of Iopener. www.avneetkohli.com
VIKETA ANAND
A foodie by nature. Cosmotologist. I eat. I pray. I love. (repeat)
MOHINI
Mohini is a Tarot Card reader, Hypnotherapist and a Life Coach. She also teaches reading Tarot Cards and various self-healing techniques.
SIDHARTH SODHI Writer Actor
ASHEESH KAPUR
MEERA
In the field of education for over 30 yrs / Conducts Teacher Training Programs / Integral part of The Little Company
POOJA ADVANI
Actor Story-teller Filmbuff
Founder & Owner of It’s Doggiie Dog World. A certified groomer, dog trainer, K9 Behaviourist and Quantum Touch Practioner. Certified Hydrotherapist. pooja@doggiiedogworld.com
KASHISH SINGH
DIVYA PANDAY
A young poetess, writer and blogger who believes in expressing her heart through her words in hope to touch the soul of every reader.
Working for HERE Maps, a really simple God Loving girl who loves to help people whenever possible.
CONTRIBUTE
Do you like to write? How about clicking photos? As part of the Andheri west community we would love for you to share them in your very own Living Local magazine. Let your voice be heard whether it is on the topic of health and wellness, local news, or an event you want to share in your community. Send in your entries: articles@livinglocalmag.com 8
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The Rubbish Culture A very dear subject to me that always used to get rubbished by majority here in the past. The rubbish culture. I mean literally rubbish. I remember an incident a few years back while walking in our very own Lokhandwala market area. I saw a Man holding his child dearly as he ate and fed his 6 year old from a bag of chips. What a cute moment that was as I could see the child enjoy the tangy flavor of the chips. The last chip out of the plastic bag and the Man flew the plastic chips bag right in the middle of the road. Completely change in the picture that was so eye-pleasing a moment ago. As I happened to be right in the eye of the incident I humbly asked the man why did he rubbish on the road. His most callous response.. Who r u? I will do what I need to. And the only repartee deeming fit to that occasion from my end was... “The rubbishing the street by an adult like you is unfortunate but the more unfortunate thing is that your child is learning from you about the civic sense or lack of. Who am I? A question that stops most of us in making those small differences around us. Let’s give ourselves the importance of I AM THE ONE WHO MATTERS. Each one of us does. Every rubbish not in its proper place is because of an individual first. We are all praise of the cleanliness abroad. Why not be proud by taking that one simple step. Till the street bins are in place let’s hold our own rubbish a little longer and take it where it finds it’s proper disposal. Sorry for being a little crude here but… Treat your rubbish like your own Sh*t. Carry it home and dispose it off where it rightly deserves. We were always a clean nation back in the days. Something went wrong. I am not sure if we can blame this one on any western influence. It’s got be a home grown disease and the cure is very much home-grown as well. They say things always come in full circle and I hope this is the case with India being once again a clean nation.
Editor-in-chief Anubhav Anand @anubhavanand
November 2014 Volume 1 Issue 6 Publisher: Urbane Living Media Printer: Swastik Prints, 5 khan compound, Andheri east, Mumbai-400069 Feedback: feedback@livinglocalmag.com Advertising: advertise@livinglocalmag.com
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Corporate Etiquette for this Festive Season By Avneet Kohli Leading Image Strategist, Founder and CEO of Iopener
It’s season and festivity time. We know the norms when it comes to gifting etiquette with regards to family and probably even those pesky whatsapp forwards which flood your phone. But how about the workplace ? When it comes to the professional world, dealing with business partners, employees and colleagues is a slightly different playground. Here are some tips to deal with the barrage of Indian festivals that are going to come your way this year! 10
2. Vouchers and gifts cards are a great
3. When your business partners send
4. Personalise all cards that go out to
you gifts, the most appreciative way to say thank you, is to write a simple hand written note. Often people forget the simplicity and grace that comes with a note. In the highly digitised world that we live in today, that little piece of paper may actually be appreciated a lot more than an email. However, one thing to keep in mind is that you should thank the giver within a week of receiving the gift. Any more time taken looses the personal impact.
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6. Never get a gift only for your boss.
Even though you may do so with the best of intentions, you will be perceived as a brown noser by other employees
9. Drink, but don’t drink too
much. Consume small quantities of alcohol. Loosening your inhibitions in front of the people you work with may not be ideal, and not to forget no matter how personal the working relationship, ladies especially should avoid getting knocked out.
11. Corporate events are a great way to connect with executives and leave a lasting impression on them.Dress appropriately and wear clothes that are apt for festive office wear, whatever the occasion is.
16. Don’t arrive at an office party very late or when it’s almost over. Colleagues might get the feeling that you don’t give the office as much importance as you should.
7. Avoid anything that might be of reli-
gious significance, too personal, adult oriented, clothing and even alcohol bottles.
The festive season calls for office parties/ get togethers, here are
do’s and dont’s for the some
same
gifting idea! Don’t however give someone cash in place of a voucher. Gift cards are extremely versatile and readily available. They will save you time looking for a particular item.
your peers, even if you are a CEO or the busiest man on the planet. Handwrite the name and sign the card, even if the rest of it is printed out.
5. To do or not to do is a common ques-
tion. This may come as a sigh of relief to most people. No, you are not supposed to respond to a forwarded message on whatsapp or email. Since it hasn’t been personalised especially for you, not replying is usually not considered a breach of etiquette.
8. Pick chocolates/ cupcakes / macaroons over dry fruits at workplace.
10. If you’re physically present there, be mentally present there too. Texting excessively at an office event is considered rude. Engage in small talk! Festive occasions are a great way to get to meet the people you never interact with on a day to day basis.
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12. Carry your beverage in your left
hand so that your right hand is free for handshakes and you don’t have to awkwardly shift wet hands.
13. Either eat or talk. Don’t do both.
17. Don’t gravitate only towards your friends at an office party and form small groups. Make sure you circulate and socialise with others.
14. Do not bring a guest/partner with you at an event unless the invitation specifically states that you have to. 15. Be respectful while taking photos and be sure not to blast them all over social media without your colleagues consent. Many of them may not want to have those photos online.
18. Don’t be the one to start gossiping about office shenanigans.
Celebrating festivals are a great way to build office spirit and encourage team members to feel a part of the office culture regardless of their race, ethnic origin or cultural beliefs. Make sure you follow these tips and have a good time! 11
Lifestyle
1. In today’s times E-cards are considered old fashioned, a personalised email is sufficient enough to greet someone on a festive occasion in the business world. Emails, by most people are considered eco friendly and economical rather than office gifts.
DESIGNER
PARESH LAMBA
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Lifestyle
Specializing in men’s wear, be it prêt or couture, Bangalore based Paresh’s design aesthetic spells Class and never fails to deliver the best in quality, design and innovation. With a clientele that boasts of movie stars and industrialists, CEO’s and politicians, it is Paresh’s ability to deliver style that is sharp, sophisticated and masculine while incorporating and discovering trends in a covertly flamboyant manner, that has made him the go-to-man for fashion in the country for the last fifteen years.
For weddings and weDDING FUNCTIONS Q. What should men wear according to build and height:
• For tall and lanky men – The look should be such that capitalises the fact that there is good height, but camouflages the leanness instead giving a feel of shape. Ideally, a layered garment with 2/3 layers on top of each other would enhance the wearer’s voluminous feel. A normal length sherwani would look great, but instead of just a sherwani, one could first have an inner jacket, and a sherwani on top of that accompanied by a stole. • For short and stout men – These guys need to avoid anything that is too long. The longer the garment, the shorter they would look. Ideally, they should avoid sherwani’s and instead wear Indo Western outfits, or Band gala’s etc. •
• For tall and well-built men – These are probably the easiest to dress. They would look great with anything. From a long flowy sherwani, to an indo western etc., they can carry off anything with great élan. Kurta pajama’s would also look great on them, as that would sit properly on their body and not hang limp.
long and unstructured clothes. They would best be dressed in band gala’s and layered indo western’s. They should definitely avoid things like kurta’s etc., as they will make them look thinner.
For short and thin men – These guys need to avoid
Q. What kind of colours should men wear to weddings? I would recommend men to be far more adventurous, when dressing for a wedding, especially, if you are the groom, or are closely associated to the wedding family. Nothing is too much on such occasions. Experiment with colours and use the lavender’s/ fuchsia’s/ red’s etc. to full potential. Guys, who are a little apprehensive to do the same, can stick with the eternal favourite, black, but accessorise it with bright colours. 13
Q. What accessories should they wear? Accessories can be a plenty, depending on what one is wearing: • Sherwani – Stolle/ Cummerbund/ Pearl necklace/ Pagdi/ mojdi • Kurta – Stolle • Band gala – Pocket square/ broach
Q. What shoes to wear for different functions of the weddings and for the wedding itself?
Shoes depend completely on the outfit that is being worn: • Sherwani – Mojdi or Formal chisel toed slip on shoes, depending on the design of the sherwani. • Band gala – Formal slip on shoes • Kurta – Sandles/ Mojdi
Q. What according to you is the easiest ensemble that men can put together without looking too flashy on weddings?
The easiest ensemble for me would be the band gala jacket or the Jodhpuri. It can be worn in various ways to create the right impression. You can wear it with formal trousers and make it look like a complete suit, or couple them with a jodhpuri breeches/ dhoti/ Patiala trousers and create a different look.
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Beauty/ Health
SKIN CARE TIPS FOR MEN by Dr. Jaishree Sharad
S
kin care for men has come of age and men are now trying to understand the need for rituals beyond bathing and follow the rules of skin care in order to maintain a youthful look. Anatomy of male and female skin is by
and large similar. However, it is the subtle differences, which make skin care different. Male skin and female skin differ in hormone metabolism, hair growth, sweat rate, sebum production, surface pH and fat accumulation. Men secrete more sebum (oil) making them more prone to acne. Men sweat more than women and the sweat stays on the body longer. Men also have more body hair and therefore more surface area for bacteria to colonize. Male skin is more sensitive. This is because their skin has a slightly more acidic pH. Secondly, shaving strips off the hydrolytic film on the skin’s surface, making it more prone to irritation and infection. “Barber’s rash”, medically known as folliculitis, is caused when the hair follicles become infected with the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. This bacterium lives in the nasal passages and can be introduced to the follicles during shaving. The infection leads to redness, itching, and small,
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pus-filled blisters.
“Razor bumps”, medically called pseudofolliculitis barbae, occur when the hair curls and grows back into the skin leading to redness, inflammation and increased susceptibility to infection. The skin is a “hormone sensitive organ.” Male skin tone and texture is ruled by testosterone and that of females by estrogen. Male skin is thicker than female skin and has more elastin and collagen. The thick skin gives the rugged look in males while in females; thin skin gives a soft, supple look. However, photo damage in the form of freckles, fine lines, dilated pores, skin sagging is slower in males due to the increase in elastin and collagen fibers. Finally, hair on ears is exclusively seen in a lot of men and it generally runs in families. Skin care for men Since men have close to 20% oilier skin than women, it is necessary to cleanse the face at least twice a day to get rid of dirt; grime and environmental pollutants that 15
can clog the pores and increase blackheads and whiteheads. A salicylic acid based face wash is recommended for those with oily skin. Those with dry skin should use a soap free cleansing lotion.
For those above 30 years, a fragrance free anti-ageing cream containing any of the contents such as peptides, retinol, Ferulic acid, kinetin, AHAs, polyhydroxy acids may be used at night.
Hair care
If the pores are dilated, a good exfoliating facial scrub is essential for healthy clean skin. It is best to avoid scrubs that contain rough elements including ground bits of nut or seed extracts because of their harsh effect on the skin. A mild scrub with aloe Vera or Jojoba will slough off dead skin cells gently and help in deep cleansing. A toner may be used for those with excessive oily skin.
Exercise promotes improved capillary function that can decrease premature ageing. Exercise also increases oxygen saturation in the tissues that help keep skin looking healthy and youthful.
Whether dry or greasy, hair should be washed as often as required to keep them clean and free from dandruff & hair follicle infection. Conditioner is an essential hair product if your hair is dry. An herbal rinse is better for those with oily hair.
Moisturize after toning and then use a sunscreen with an SPF of 30. If you are likely to be exposed to sun for long hours, reapply the sunscreen every 2- 3 hours. Sun protection through full sleeved breathable clothing, wide sunglasses and use of a sunscreen is a very vital part of skincare for men and helps them look young and fresh & prevents signs of ageing such as pigment spots, fine lines and wrinkles. To prevent the harsh effects of shaving on the skin, one should have a standard razor kit with good quality razor, moisturizing shaving cream and a gentle after-shave preferably with moisturizing properties. Shaving should be done in the direction of hair to avoid having razor bumps. After shaving, it is essential to moisturize the skin with a product that has no alcohol in it. Alcohol is harsh on the skin and can cause dryness. It is also important to avoid fragrance based after-shave products as they can irritate the skin and lead to allergies. A deodorant or anti-perspirant is a must for men who sweat too much. This will prevent bacterial as well as fungal infection. Antifungal dusting powders may also be used to prevent fungal infections and smelly underarms and feet. Do not rub your face to wipe sweat, instead use a tissue or cotton napkin and dab the sweat. Frequent rubbing causes pigmentation, commonly seen as a dark band on the forehead in males. For those between 15 -30 years of age, a moisturizer is enough at bedtime. 16
Shampoo your hair at least thrice a week. It is a myth that shampooing increases hair loss and causes hair thinning.
Use a comb with wide bristles.
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A good balanced diet is a must. Ensure that your daily diet consists of green vegetables, brightly colored fruits and vitamins such as C and E. It is important to stay away from excess alcohol, smoking, fatigue and stress. All of these factors can lead to premature ageing by exposing your skin to harsh chemicals and increasing free radicals.
Don’t be cheap about the styling products. Cheap ones will either dry out your hair or grease it up. Find good quality gel, pomade, mousse, and whichever other products that are best for your hair type. They may be a bit expensive, but you only need to use them sparingly. Too much of these products may make the hair frizzy or brittle. If you keep your hair cut very short, you probably won’t need any styling treatments, as the oils from your scalp will be sufficient for your hair, and the short hair basically styles itself. Get regular haircuts and trims from your trusted hairdresser.
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Massage your scalp with your fingertips or the pads of your fingers--not with your fingernails in order to prevent those boils in the scalp. www.shutterstock.com/victoriaKh
Hair on ears can be embarrassing; however permanent laser-assisted hair removal gives cosmetically acceptable results.
Finally, stay stress free and have a high protein diet to have healthy hair.
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Beauty/ Health
Skin-sational FACTS The skin is the body’s largest organ. It grows faster than any other organ and continually replenishes itself. It is waterproof, flexible, generates hair and can repair itself. If you think that’s amazing, read on to discover more skin facts.
T
he average-size person’s skin weighs about 16 percent of their total body weight.
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I
Y
I
T
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n average-sized person’s skin n an average lifetime, about 18kg would cover an area of about 1.6 dead skin cells are shed and reto 2 sq m if laid out. placed.
our skin has approximately 72km of nerves and more nerve endings than any other part of the body.
he entire top layer of dead skin cells sloughs off and is replaced every month, yet we barely notice it.
n 6cm sq of skin there are 65 hairs, 100 oil glands, 650 sweat glands, 1500 nerve receptors and countless blood vessels. here are 5 million hair on the body, with only 100,000 growing on the scalp.
Home Help For Your Skin Condition Your Legs
Prolong the Scent
For a smooth leg shave without shaving cream or gel, substitute hair conditioner or an all-in-one shampoo-conditioner, both of which contain ingredients that soften, smooth and moisturize hair. They will do the same for hair and skin on your legs, underarms and, for men, the face.
Make perfume last longer for hours by first dabbing a tiny bit of petroleum jelly on your wrists, neck, ear lobes and anywhere else that you usually apply a drop of the fragrance.
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Hair Transplantation is nothing but just the relocation of Donor Dominant / DHT-Resistant Hair Follicles from the donor area (occipital region, frontal region, anywhere from the body) to the DHT prone/ affected recipient area is called hair transplantation.
TYPES OF HAIR TRANSPLANT FUE HAIR TRANSPLANT
Follicular unit extraction is a hair loss treatment in which hair follicles are harvested directly from the donor area one at a time through tiny, circular incisions. The individual follicles are placed in the recipient site where hair loss is predominant. FUT HAIR TRANSPLANT
Follicular unit transplantation, or strip harvesting, is a hair transplant procedure in which a strip of hair is taken from the donor site where hair is most resistant to balding, the individual follicular units on the strip are dissected under a microscope, and then transplanted to the areas of hair loss.
FUE Follicular Unit Extraction • No linear scar in donor area • Can shave or keep hair short in future • Can continue to harvest more grafts for future FUE procedures • Shorter recovery time and healing time in donor area • Enable transplantation when scalp is too tight for a strip excision (FUT method)
FUT Follicular Unit Transplant • Leaves a fine, but minimal, scar in back of head • Limits graft harvesting due to pulling of scalp in future procedures • Longer recovery time and healing time in donor area • For proper donor area healing, strenuous exercise following the procedure is not recommended. • More grafts can be extracted and planted in FUT over FUE, thus allowing maximum results in one procedure • Less damage to grafts during harvesting than in FUE, where grafts tend to be more fragile. 19
Beauty/ Health
WHAT IS HAIR TRANSPLANT?
20
Beauty/ Health
CHAKRA MEDITATION Chakra meditation is one of the very poplar and interesting meditation. Chakras are the points of concentrated energy, situated in the subtle body or ‘pranic body’, not physical body. They are the meeting points or junctions of the energy channels called as ‘nadis’. Two important nadis namely Ida and pingla cross each other at these chakra points. Many thousands subtle channels arise from these chakras and reach every part of the body. Vital energy called ‘prana’ flows through these channels. These chakras are sensitive to mental concentration. When one focus-
NITIN JAIN
es on these chakras, then the nerves around these carry the sensations to mind and several muscles. These chakras are also called plexus due to the formation of network or web of nerves. The word chakra literally means whirlpool, vortex, spinning circle or wheel. In ancient texts of Yoga and meditation they are symbolized as ‘lotus’, having a specific number of ‘peatls’. Each chakra is associated with a specific beej mantra, which is a sound of certain wavelength and frequency. These chakras are situated in spine but their influence is also on front of the body. Every chakra is associated with specific characteristics, specific emotions, specific personality traits, specific level of consciousness and specific level of spiritual evolution.
3. MANIPUR CHAKRA, naval chakra, situated at naval Its beej mantra is ‘rung’ Represented by lotus of 10 petals. Its element is ‘fire’. 4. ANAHATA CHAKRA, heart chakra, situated at center of chest in line with the nipples. Its beej mantra is ‘yung’. Represented by lotus of 12 petals. Its element is ‘air’.
There are 7 major chakras in the body.
5. VISHUDHI CHAKRA, throat chakra, situated at throat pit. Its beej mantra is ‘hung’. Represented by lotus of 16 petals Its element is ‘aakash’ i.e. ‘space’
1. MULADHAR CHAKRA, root chakra, situated at the perineum. Its beej manta is ‘lung’. It is represented by lotus of 4 petals. Its element is ‘earth’
6. AGYA CHAKRA, forehead chakra, 3rd eye, situated at center of forehead between eyebrows. Its beej mantra is ‘om’. Represented by lotus of 2 petals.
2. SWADHISTAN CHAKRA, sacral chakra, situated at center of pelvic area below the naval. Its beej mantra is ‘vung’ It is represented by lotus of 6 prtals. Its element is ‘water’
7. SAHASRAAR CHAKRA, crown chakra, situated at top of the head. It has no beej mantra as it is beyond sound. Represented by lotus of 1000 petals.
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For meditation on chakras one should sit straight in comfortable cross leg position on some asana made from cotton or wool. If one is unable to sit in cross leg position, then he may sit on a sofa or a chair. First thing is to relax the body, specially the shoulders, fingers, neck, face and forehead. Then for few moments one should watch the flow of breath so that the mind settles down. Then one may chant any small prayer or do om chanting 3 times. Now focus your awareness on the root chakra at perineum and feel the incoming breath gently coming to this chakra. Feel the vibrations there and mentally chant the beej mantra ‘lung’ for some time. Feel that you are becoming more confident, courageous and fearless, as you connect with this chakra and as this gets awakened. After some time bring your focus on swadishthan chakra at pelvic region, 4 fingers below naval. Feel the incoming breath gently coming to this chakra and let your awareness dwell here. You will feel vibrations and heat building up. Mentally chant the beej mantra ‘vung’ for some time. As you awaken and cleanse this chakra, your sub conscious mind gets healed and you become more balanced person. 22
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Every chakra is associated with specific characteristics, specific emotions, specific personality traits, specific level of consciousness and specific level of spiritual evolution.
Now bring your awareness to the naval chakra and feel the vibrations there as you gently inhale the breath. You will also feel the warmth at and around naval. Mentally chant the beej mantra ‘rung’ for some time. As you awaken this chakra, feel your will power becoming stronger and stronger. Now raise your focus on the anahata i.e. heart chakra, at center of chest. Gently breath into heart chakra and awaken this chakra of love and compassion, chakra of joy and happiness. Deep in your heart feel the warmth of love, and feel the inner happiness. Let the love spring out from heart and spread around. Let the happiness spring out from heart and spread around. Mentally chant the beej manta ‘yung’ for some time. As you connect with your heart chakra, you feel contented; absolutely contented. You feel at peace with yourself, connected to your core. Now bring your awareness to the vishudhi chakra at throat pit. Mentally chant the beej mantra ‘hung’ for some time and feel the mantra vibrating at throat pit. As you awaken this chakra, your communi-
Now bring the awareness to the forehead center, between eyebrows to the agya chakra; the chakra of wisdom, creativity and intuition; the chakra of spiritual transformation and enlightenment. See the vast cosmic space behind forehead. Let your limited individual self merge with this infinite cosmic space. This will guide your path to enlightenment. Mentally chant the mantra ‘om’ as you look at the forehead center and also visualize the bright sparkling light there. You may gently breath into this chakra to further activate it. You will feel peaceful and extremely pleasant meditative state, transcendental state. The ancient tradition of putting ‘bindi’ or ‘tilak’ was for activating this 3rd eye.
Now raise your awareness to the top of head i.e. crown chakra. Let your consciousness stay there and get stabilized, as you move into a thoughtless state. This sahasraar is the chakra of highest level of consciousness, beyond time and space. As your awareness dwells here, all illusions are washed out; your spirit gets purified and prepares to get liberated from cycle of birth and death.
your palms till they feel warm and then place them on your face. Take your time and then gradually open the eyes. Before coming out of meditation you can also pray for the peace and wellbeing of all the beings around you and all over universe.
The beginners may find it little difficult to locate the position of chakra while meditating. So they can touch the fingers on chakra position for a while. That makes it easy for the mind to ascertain the position and focus. These chakras are magnets which naturally attract the concentration of the meditator.
These chakras are also called plexus due to the formation of network or web of nerves.
Do not suddenly come out of the meditation. Move your fingers, toes and then rub
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Beauty/ Health
cation power will become more clear and effective. Your thyroid gland will function better. The quality of your sleep will improve.
The
do’s and don’ts of DIY beauty
(BPT) - The natural beauty movement is gaining momentum with more women seeking all-natural ways to look and feel fabulous. A big part of this trend is creating beauty products at home. The benefits are many: products can be completely customized, women know exactly what ingredients are used, and oftentimes, they save themselves money, too. If you want to join the DIY beauty movement, consider these top do’s and don’ts from the experts at Aura Cacia:
Don’t forget to use pantry staples Some of the most commonly used ingredients in DIY beauty recipes can be found right in your kitchen cabinet. Learn more about pantry staples like sea salt, oats, honey, eggs, course sugar and coconut oil, and how your beauty recipes can benefit from them. Do develop your own body spray Not only are perfumes costly, they are filled with chemicals. By using essential oils, you can create natural body spray in minutes. For an amazing DIY Patchouli and Rose Body Spray, simply mix these ingredients in a small spray bottle or atomizer:
Don’t use disposable containers DIY beauty embraces the idea of natural wellness not only for the family, but also for the Earth. Always opt for reusable containers when possible, as they reduce waste and maintain the integrity of homemade products longer. BPA-free plastic containers and glass alternatives are both great options you can use again and again.
4 ounces purified water 19 drops bergamot BF essential oil 19 drops patchouli essential oil 19 drops lemon essential oil 3 drops rose otto or rose absolute essential oil
Do learn more about essential oils Essential oils are the highly concentrated aromatic essences of plants. They are 75 to 100 times more concentrated than the oils in dried herbs. Using essential oils in DIY beauty products is a wonderful option, but they must be treated with safety and respect. Read up on essential oil basics and safety at www.auracacia. com.
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Do make health and beauty essentials for the whole family DIY health and beauty isn’t just for women, the entire family can benefit from natural products you can make in your own home. From luxurious body soaks for mom and back rub blends for dad, to baby balms and infant message oils, there are many easy-to-follow recipes at www. auracacia.com.
Beauty/ Health
Keep your skin glowing by staying active as temperatures start to drop (BPT) - For some, chillier weather can decrease the likelihood of sticking to a consistent workout routine. Luckily, there are plenty of small changes one can make to ensure that staying active during short winter days and long nights remains a priority. Not only does exercise benefit physical and mental well-being, but it also has a positive effect on the look and feel of skin.
Celebrity fitness trainer Kacy Duke’s motto for staying active is “movement is a privilege.” She firmly believes that colder weather is no excuse to press pause on one’s workout routine. As part of the Simple Skincare Advisory Board - a group of experts who help women care for their skin from the inside out - Duke is well-versed in the positive impact that physical fitness can have on one’s complexion. As the weather turns, she shares her tips for how anyone can stay active and ultimately keep skin glowing throughout the winter months.
Make it a habit
Lean on friends
Duke advises clients to get into the habit of working out before the dead of winter arrives. “It can be a challenge to start a fitness routine in freezing temperatures - especially if you haven’t started taking small steps beforehand,” she says. “Push yourself by setting unrealistic goals that you think you may not be able to achieve - in other words think big to win big, so even if you fall a little short, you’re still ahead of the game and on your way to locking in a healthy exercise habit.”
Switch out happy hour drinks for fitness outings with friends so that being active becomes a social activity. Plan to run a 5 kilometer race with a friend or schedule a weekly spin class together so that all parties are held accountable. “I recently created my ‘Girlfriend Training Sessions’ and ‘Bromance Workout Sessions’ so that girls and guys can work with me in a small, semi-private group setting and bond over a great workout and healthy sweat rather than calorie-packed cocktails,” says Duke. Fitness won’t feel like a chore once it’s enjoyed in a social setting.
Remember the skin-loving benefits Exercise increases blood flow and helps flush cellular debris out of the system. Plus, exercise tones muscles and reduces stress, all of which contributes to an improved overall appearance. At the end of any movement session, make facial cleansing a can’t-miss step to remove sweat and remaining traces of makeup. Try products that have no dyes, artificial perfumes or harsh chemicals that can upset skin, such as the Simple Skincare Facial Wipes that refresh with one step (no rinsing required) and are ideal for packing in gym bags. As sleeping in makeup can increase likelihood of skin sensitivity, irritation and dullness, follow Duke’s advice: “Washing one’s face post-workout and before bed ensures what I like to call a ‘No Makeup Wakeup’ so you can start the day with naturally healthy-looking skin.”
For more holistic facial skincare tips from myself, and other Simple Advisory Board members, visit www.simpleskincare.com. 25
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Beauty/ Health
Dr. Suhas Lele Cosmetic Dentist
BDS (BOM) MAACD (USA)
Accredited Member, American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry Appointed as Official Smile Care Expert for Pond’s Femina Miss India Pageant 2013 and 2014. Official Smile Care Expert for Miss Diva 2014.
Digital Smile Design- A Reality
With today’s fast-track life, it has become a necessity to predict or assess the actual outcome of any procedure one undergoes on his/ her body. Be it liposuction for a big tummy or laser hair removal on facial skin! Then why not for our own teeth? Yes, now with the help of simple software and few technical gadgets, we can assess and predict the result of any smile that needs correction. That too without any pain or invasive procedure!
In western countries, it is a well established science and reality to assess the digitally developed smile before getting any procedure done. At Smiles Forever Studio Clinic- Andheri we have been treating patients of all ages needing smile correction or rejuvenation, under the same protocol of Digital Smile Design. A short appointment of half an hour is scheduled, in which the needy patient’s photographs are clicked using specific camera angles. This is followed by quick study models of the patient’s existing teeth along with one or two X-rays if required. Immediately within a day or two, the most apt picture is processed by highly qualified clinicians, who are trained to un-
dergo various modifications and additions using suitable software. Once the expected or predicted results in the smile and surrounding structures like gums and tissues are achieved, it is converted into a postcard size photograph and shown to the patient as before and after results.
explained the approximate number of appointments (generally two) and the exact cost of the smile correction. Patients who have undergone this pleasant experience of understanding their new look and smile, have long lasting memories of painless and skillful treatment with warm association.
Simultaneously, our expert clinicians, under my guidance and supervision work on virtual study models to assess the Patient before treatment Patient before treatment
Patient before treatment Digital Imaging of Patient
Digital Imaging of Patient Digital Imaging of Patient
Post Treatment Photo Post Treatment Photo
actual need and possibility of physical changes in tooth form, shape and height. The patient is then scheduled for an appointment to discuss and understand the possible but definite improvements in smile. In this same appointment, the patient is
Post Treatment Photo
All this is possible today without a hint of pain but with astonishing reality and a feel good factor. Smiles Forever, #307, 3rd Floor, Royal Plaza, Next to Dr. Batra, Before Infinity Mall, New Link Road, Andheri (W), Mumbai Tel: 022-26354585 / 9819109078 Email: smilesforeverinfo@gmail.com Website: www.smilesbydrlele.com
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HOME REMEDIES
6 QUICK BEAUTY FIXES WITH A LEMON
1 2
Exfoliate dead skin and bring new skin to the surface by washing skin with lemon juice mixed with a little sugar.
Smooth wrinkles by boiling 1 cup (250ml) milk, 2 teaspoons lemon juice and 1 tablespoon brandy. Cool the mixture to room temperature, apply and let dry before wiping it off.
Beauty/ Health
www.shutterstock.com/Aleutie
HOUSEHOLD SUPERSTARS FOR HEADACHE Soak feet in Hot Water and Mustard
If you have a pounding headache, here’s a simple home remedy. Take a small tub and fill it with hot water. Mix some mustard powder in it. Now soak your feet in it for approximately half an hour. Remove feet from the tub, towel dry them. This should make you feel better.
Petroleum jelly protects nappy rash from moisture.
3 4 5 6
Lighten age spots by dabbing them with lemon juice and rinsing off after 15 minutes. Repeat twice daily for 2 weeks.
Kill bacteria on a cut finger using Garlic. Help lower blood pressure with a banana at breakfast.
Mix the juice from 1 lemon with 1/4 cup (60ml) olive oil or sweet almond oil for a facial that both exfoliates and moisturizes.
Fight dandruff with a daily scalp massage using 2 tablespoons lemon. Rinse with water and follow with a rinse of 1 cup (250ml) water mixed with 1 teaspoon lemon juice.
Whiten and clean fingernails by soaking them in 1 cup (250ml) lukewarm water and juice of half a lemon for 5 minutes, then rub the inside of the lemon peel against the nails. Caution: lemons can cause skin to become extra-sensitive to sunlight; so don’t expose yourself to the sun for too long after applying a skin treatment containing lemon.
FOR COLD Chicken Soup with a touch of Garlic There have been many proven studies than chicken soup helps fight colds. The anti-inflammatory compounds in the soup help reduce the formation of mucus in the nose. If you add garlic cloves (crushed) in the soup, it helps boost the immune system. 29
Cremica - Mexican Torta Ingredients For the Veggie Topping • Oil – 2 tbsp • Chopped onions – ¼ cup • Chopped garlic – 2 tsp • Chopped capsicum (red, yellow and green) – ½ cup • Green chillies, deseeded and fine chopped – 1 pc • Chopped tomatoes – ½ cup • Boiled mix veggies (baby corn, carrot, peas, beans) – 1 cup • Crumbled paneer – ¾ cup • Boiled mashed potatoes – 2 pcs
For the Tomato Salsa • Cremica Mexican salsa – ¼ cup • Tomato deesed and chopped – 1 pc • Spring onion chopped – ¼ cup • Coriander chopper – ¼ tbsp • Cumin seed powder – ½ tbsp • Black olives chopped – ¼ tsp
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Other Ingredients • Baguette or caibatta roll • Cooked refried beans (rajma) – 2 tbsp • Avocado – 1 pc • Lemon juice – 1 tsp • Cremica Mint Mayonnaise – 1 tbsp • Salt and pepper to taste
For the Veggie Topping
Method
• Sauté Onion-Garlic and Capsicum till light brown. • Mix in all other ingredients and let it cool down. • Keep it aside. • Half the Avocado, remove the kernel and the skin. • Mash well with a few drops of Lemon Juice and Mayonnaise • Cut the Rolls in half and toast lightly. Spread one side with the mashed Avocado and top with the Veggie Mix. • Top with Tomato Salsa. Spread the other side of the bread with the Mashed Avocado (and sprinkle some beans on top if desired) and close the bread. • Serve immediately or the bread will get soggy.
Ingredients • Eggs – 3 pcs • Green capsicum, cut in stripes – 1 pc • Carrots, cut in stripes – 1 pc • Onion, thin sliced – ½ pc • Instant noodles cooked, as per packet instructions – 1 packet • Yakisoba Sauce – 4 tbsp For the Yakisoba sauce • Oyster sauce -3 tbsp • Soy Sauce – 1 tsp • Chipotle Sandwich Spread – ½ cup • Picked ginger cut in stripes • Hot dog buns
Food
Cremica - Yakisoka Pan Sandwich Method • Fry the veggies in a Wok till light brown. Beat the eggs
and stir into the veggies and cook till it becomes a soft texture. • Keep the mix on the Side. • In the Same wok add a bit of oil and fry the noodles till it gets crisp. • For the sauce simply mix all ingredients well. • Add 3/4 of the Yakisoba Sauce. • Mix it with the egg mix on the fire to ensure the mix stays hot. • Toast the inside of the buns and fill with the Noodle Mix and garnish with the Sauce. • Sprinkle some stripes of Pickled Ginger on top.
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Chicken Black Bean / Oyster Sauce with Pineapple AND Bell Peppers
(Serves 2) Prep time 10 mins Cooking time 20 mins
Ingredients 300 gms boneless chicken cubes marinate in 1 tbsp soy for 30 mins (Here one can substitute with prawns) 3 tbsp soy sauce 1 tbsp black bean sauce or oyster sauce 2 tsp katsup or 1 tsp brown sugar 3 tbsp Chinese white wine vinegar 5-6 dried red chilies 1 medium onion cubed 2 tsp ginger paste 1 Spring Onion chopped small 1-2 medium Bell Peppers - green red yellow your choice. 2 slices of pineapple cut to bite size Method Note : Chinese food is usually cooked on high flame and you have to constantly stir and move the food or it will burn. Fry the chicken in 3 tbsp of oil 6 mins Add ginger paste and red chilies whole and the onion and peppers fry 6 mins Add black bean or oyster sauce, soy, sugar, vinegar 6 mins (constantly stir). We have the basic sweet sour salty n spicy (here you add the prawns stir 5 mins only if its not chicken) Add pineapple pieces stir 2 mins. Done. Garnish with fine chopped spring onions. Sprinkle a little sesame oil if you have. After its off the flame as this oil is very delicate and full of flavor. This dish is semi gravy. If you want lots of gravy then in a separate pan add 1/2 cup water, bring it to boil... add 2 tbsp black bean or oyster sauce, 1 tbsp rice wine vinegar, 1 tsp sugar, 1 tsp tabsco sauce. Boil for 2 mins. stir... stir... and then add 1 tsp corn flour into half cup water and add to the above boiling mix. Done. Amazing with steamed rice. Crazy good with pita bread. Eat n Enjoy ! 32
by Sanjay Hingorani Andheri West Resident
HEALTHY BREAKFAST EGG PUFFIE (Serves 1) Prep time 2 mins Cooking time 5 mins Ingredients 3 Egg Whites Handful of diced Green Pepper Handful of diced Red Pepper Few small pieces of diced Zucchini 3-4 small chopped mushrooms Pinch of Salt. Method It’s as simple as it gets. Take all the above ingredients and put them in a microwaveable bowl. Put the 3 Egg Whites along with it. Mix it well with a spoon just the way you would do for the preparation of an omlete. Put the bowl in the microwave and cover it. Turn the microwave ON for 4-5 minutes. Voila! The Oil-Free Taste-Rich Eggs for breakfast with veggies. You may add ketchup on the side and serve.
T to get the recommended i in p amount of s your
Food
fruit daily diet
(BPT) - No one questions that fruit is an essential part of the diet. But did you know that more than 70 percent of Americans do not eat the recommended amount of fruit? One hundred percent juice is a convenient way to help you get the important fruit nutrients you need. Juice doesn’t just taste good, it also fulfills an essential part of the daily diet. Nutritionist and registered dietitian, Diane Welland of the Juice Products Association provides information on what’s so good about juice. How does juice fit into a healthy diet? Because the majority of Americans aren’t eating the recommended daily amount of whole fruit, they’re missing out on many important nutrients. Fruit juice is an easy way to make sure you’re getting key nutrients like potassium, vitamin C, folate, magnesium, riboflavin and niacin. Some 100 percent juices are also fortified with vitamin D and calcium. How much fruit juice should a person drink each day? Recommended serving sizes vary with a person’s age. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends 4 to 6 ounces of 100 percent fruit juice for children ages 1 to 6 and 8 to 12 ounces for those ages 7 to 18. As an alternative to whole fruit, the USDA’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans consider one-half cup of 100 percent fruit juice to be equal to one half cup of whole fruit. Does fruit juice contain sugar? There is no added sugar in 100 percent fruit juice - it contains only the natural sugars found in whole fruit.
diets than those who do not drink juice. Other studies indicate that children and adolescents can drink juice in appropriate amounts without gaining weight. “I recommend that parents follow the guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatrics, when it comes to serving sizes,” Welland says. Welland suggests adding fruit and fruit juice into your diet in subtle ways like incorporating juice into traditional recipes. Fruit juice can add new flavors to any recipe from snacks like ice pops to savory dinners. This Orange Cranberry Oatmeal Recipe showcases how easy it can be to incorporate juice into family favorites. Orange Cranberry Oatmeal Makes 4 servings Ingredients: 2 cups orange juice 1 cup water 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon 2 cups oatmeal (quick or old-fashioned, uncooked) 1/2 cup dried cranberries 1/4 cup chopped toasted walnuts 1 cup low-fat or fat-free vanilla yogurt (optional) Additional dried cranberries (optional)
Does drinking juice contribute to weight gain?
Directions:
Fruit juice is definitely part of a healthy eating plan. New scientific studies show that juice drinkers have better quality
In medium saucepan, bring orange juice, water, salt and cinnamon to a gentle boil. Stir in oats and cranberries. Return to a boil; reduce heat to medium. Cook 1
minute for quick oats, 5 minutes for old fashioned oats or until most of liquid is absorbed, stirring occasionally. Let stand until desired consistency. Spoon oatmeal into four cereal bowls. Top each serving with 1 tablespoon walnuts and, if desired, 1/4 cup yogurt and additional cranberries.
Need it in a pinch? Microwave directions: In 3-quart microwaveable bowl, combine all ingredients except yogurt and nuts. Microwave on high 4 to 6 minutes for quick oats and 7 to 9 minutes for old fashioned oats or until most of liquid is absorbed. Let stand until desired consistency. Top each serving with walnuts and, if desired, yogurt and additional cranberries.
For more information on the health benefits of 100 percent juice or to find family friendly recipes made with juice, visit www.JuiceCentral.org.
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T
here is always a sense of intrigue when one gets to chit-chat (yes we like to chit-chat ‘cause interviews are boring) with an up and coming Bollywood actor. Everyone forms an opinion before the chit-chat and they often end up with another by the end of it. So I call up Meerra on her cellphone since she was in Delhi (her hometown) visiting her family for Diwali and an in-between break from the shooting of her film Zindagi Ek Pal. We are both unaware of each others personalities so its best to start with a common ground which I figured a Chopra girl would be happy to open up with.
Q. You were born in Delhi. How much of the Delhi-ite is still in you? What are those city characteristics that you will never be able to shed? 100 % delhite. Delhi is a very slow paced and relaxed city compared to the crazy maddening city of Mumbai. I always want to come back to delhi. I am a very relaxed and slow paced girl.. something that I see as a Delhi trait. Q. How long were you in Michigan, USA? Why did you choose to come back? Michigan for 2 years. I was studying Masters in Mass Comm. I always wanted to be a news reader. Then I was in New York for work. I am a very family girl. I wanted to be close to my family. I can’t be without them for a very long time. Hence, came back to India. Q. Meera Chopra is seeking her own identity in Bollywood. What’s taking so long? I was working in South for a very long time and was very happy with doing films there. I wanted to leave and get back to my old job in the USA. But just around that time my brother had a baby girl and I got so attached to her that I did not want to leave. Then I decided to pursue Bollywood. I used to shuttle back and forth from Delhi. And also, a lot of projects that came my way were where I had to compromise outside my comfort zone. I needed the work satisfaction. Q. Are you a trained actor? No. I am a born actor. It flows in my blood (She smiles… sorry that was a cheesy one) Q. Good friends that you have in the industry. Not many really. Vikram Bhatt is someone who I look up to for advice. Mostly I am a private person. Q. Are you a workout junkie or workout just to stay fit? 34
I hate working out. In fact when I came from South and signed Vikrams film 1920, I was on the plum side and Vikram told me to lose weight. That’s when I went all out but in general it’s just not my thing. Q. Most Chopra girls in the industry happen to be good singers. What about you? I am a very bad singer. Q. What’s Meera Chopra got that no other Chopra girl does? Oh my God! I think all Chopra girls are similar.. overconfident, pretty. Q. Who do you follow in life? Nobody.
Q. What advice would you give to people throwing things out of their cars on roads? It’s your own country. These very people go abroad and bitch about their own country. Every person needs to contribute in their way and that would take care of the whole. Q. What does this phrase mean to you: “You may be traveling global… but you are always living local”? You know when you come back home after a break of a few days somewhere else you always say “ yaar ghar kee tau baat alag hai”.. that’s what it really means.. no matter where you go nothing like the comfort of your own surroundings.
“I think all Chopra girls are similar... overconfident, pretty.. “ Q. What’s your Love Mantra? Koi nahin hai yaar. I don’t believe in love existing in this world anymore. Everything seems more out of convenience of two people being with each other. No body wants to compromise and make things work. You need to work extra hard to keep things in tact or love. Q. Your famous food joints with the choice of food in Andheri West? Lot of food joints like Maroosh ka shwarma. Dhaba ka butter chicken. Lucky ki Biryani… Q. What do you do to keep your surroundings clean? Having stayed in the USA, one of the advantages is that you give cleanliness importance. I am very finicky about cleanliness. You won’t see any dust in my house. I like the awareness that’s been going around lately about cleanliness. People say one person cannot make the difference. It’s the attitude that needs to change.
What was most interesting during the chit-chat which didn’t really become part of the QnA is the fact that she is obsessed with her little niece at home in Delhi whom I could hear in the background every once in a while. A strong personality who calls a spade and spade and doesn’t seem to think twice about it, Meerra is kinda like a mixed bag of goodies... she’s homely and friendly, yet very private and straight-forward. Her pictures look like a million dollars while she finds excuses to stay away from the gym. An educated sharpshooter who is not looking to play dumb to pave her path in the Indian film industry. Like I said a mixed bag of goodies... some sweet some sour... but all goodies. Just the way our little chit chat started with a common ground of being a Punjabi, by the end of it there was a lot more in common. Like the same gym we have been going to for donkey’s years but never bumped. Here’s wishing the young Chopra girl speedy Bollywood releases!
Professionally I am … Emotionally I am … By nature I am …
MEERRA
very lazy f***ed. All the time… extremely strong
CHOPRA
Money or Love
Chai or Coffee
Money
Chai
Beach or City
Beach
Burger or Paratha
Paratha
Entertainment
Personally I am … quite friendly
Mumbai or Delhi
Delhi
Shorts & t-shirt or Dress
Dress
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what makes
MAMI so special ? by Siddharth Sodhi
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The Mumbai film festival is not just an international film festival. It isn’t just the city’s most awaited film culture event. IT’S A TRADITION!
The 16th Mumbai film festival organized by Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI) took place between 14-21 Cctober. The Venues: PVR Andheri, Cinemax Versova, Chandan Cinema – Juhu. A star studded opening ceremony was inaugurated by Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Bollywood actor Helen and French actor Catherine Deneuve were conferred with Lifetime Achievement Awards. On 15th the festival was opened for the public. Hundred’s of patrons turned up eagerly on Day 1. Right in the morning. Aerosmith’s lyrics ‘I don’t want to miss a thing’ spring to mind. However, it was election day. So nobody could get in till the afternoon. People had travelled from Town, Vashi. People hung around coffee shops, at friend’s places for several hours. Some went back home to come later. Some stood outside the venue in the scorching heat of the afternoon. At 1 pm was Anupama Chopra in conversation with Deepika Padukone and Catherine Deneuve. That got postponed. Post 2:30 pm the conversation did take place. After which Deepika Padukone sweetly
obliged her fans by getting pictures and selfies clicked with them. The rewards of patience are Sweet! MAMI was off to a stupendous start. At 8:15 pm was the screening of the much awaited film ‘Boyhood’. Directed by Richard Linklater. Filmed from 2002 to 2013, Boyhood covers 12 years in the life of a family. One can always tell something is in demand if things start to get chaotic at the venue. The crowd started to swell. The queues quickly disappeared. Although MAMI had done a wise thing by having repeat shows of sought after films like Boyhood.
dashing Jackie Shroff, looking as young as they did 27 years ago shooting for the film Parinda, directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, which was shown at the festival. All 3 sharing anecdotes and jokes that had the audience enthralled. Also we understood why Vidhu Vinod Chopra Sir is so phenomenally successful. How much effort, blood and sweat goes into making gems like ‘Khamosh’ and ‘Parinda’.
Speaking of queues, be it a film director, casting director, models, actors, singers, artists… People of Mumbai. All coolly stood in queues chatting, waiting, to enter the hall. To every cinema loving person in Mumbai MAMI opens the doors to heaven (on earth). I spoke with an elderly gentleman whose been attending the festival for 9 years straight. Where else do people get to see the crackling ‘Ram – Lakhan’ chemistry in ‘Real’ life. The debonair Anil Kapoor, and the 37
Entertainment
“When I think of Mumbai I think of Cinema. A city full of crazy filmi people. And you know what we film buffs wait for every year? MAMI.” ..goes the promo for the Mumbai film festival on youtube starring Imran Khan, Sonakshi Sinha, Arjun Kapoor, Varun Dhawan, Sidharth Malhotra, Huma Qureshi, Rajkumar Hirani, Anurag Kashyap, Imtiaz Ali, Zoya Akhtar, Vidhu Vinod Chopra and Anupama Chopra.
On one hand the audience got to listen and learn from the masters of cinema. Shyam Benegal, Govind Nihalani, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Vishal Bhardwaj. On the other hand you had the new kids on the block that represent the changing narrative of storytelling via social media. Tanmay Bhatt, Rohan Joshi from AIB, Arunabh Kumar from the Viral Fever, who’ve created quite a buzz in the online world.
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Eminent writers-directors Sriram Raghavan, Shridhar Raghavan, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Vikramaditya Motwane offering invaluable tips to aspiring writers. Mr. Jagdish Mahapatra (M.D. Mc A fee. Part of Intel security) advised people to be cautious about sharing data on cell phones and the net. An important topic of discussion especially in light of the recent Hollywood photo hacking scandal. MAMI on one platform blended the Old School with the New Wave. Got the students close to the Gurus. To think none of this might have happened. To think that the festival might have missed its date with Mumbai this year… had it not been for a corporate house, a few filmmakers and cinema lovers. To honor this year’s saviors, the
festival’s posters and hoardings have the names of all the contributors who pledged more than Rs. 10 lakh. In recent years films like ‘Shahid’, ‘Fandry’, ‘Ship of Theseus’ got attention at MAMI. This year it was ‘Court’, ‘Chauranga’, ‘Killa’, apart from short films and documentaries. Every year we look forward to Mumbai film festival. We take pride in it. It’s a tradition. We Indians are known for keeping our traditions alive. (EXCERPT: Anupama Chopra. ) …how crazy people are about movies. That’s what makes it so special. The crowds that showed up for ‘Boyhood’ or for Dolan’s ‘Mommy’. I saw a tweet that said it feels like a Bhai film is releasing (laughs..)
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Entertainment
In conversation with
Casting Director Amita Sehgal who
firmly believes that resilience & hard work is the only way forward. by Asheesh Kapur Beginnings : I am primarily a Calcutta girl. I started my career in advertising with HTA now JWT. In Mumbai I joined a production house, White Light as a production assistant which was an invaluable experience. In 1992 I lost my younger brother & realized that I needed more perspective from life so I went back to my family in New Delhi. Channel 4 was making a foreign film then. I was interviewed for the job. That is how I got into ‘Bandit Queen’. I cautiously worked my way up from there. Being a woman on a huge unit of men I wasn’t sure how I would fit in. It was my hard work that actually spoke most for me. The even keel is always the work you put in. I was 29 then. This is how my career in feature films started. Soon after Shekhar’s film I did a little work on Mira Nair’s ‘Kama Sutra’ after which I was line producer on the British/Canadian film called ‘Such A Long Journey’ which was an adaptation of a novel by Rohinton Mistry. I realized that this is what I wanted to do yet I did not give up advertising. I worked a lot with Prahlad Kakkar, doing innumerable films for Pepsi. What followed was my first hindi film as an executive producer called ‘Haasil’ & to the best of my knowledge it was the first hindi feature film to adopt the corporate system in terms of budgeting. Post this Shyam Babu called for me and asked would I line produce ‘Bose’? I remember replying to him, ‘Sir, if Satyajit Ray asked you in his lifetime to work with him what would you possibly say?’ This was a huge experience for me. I have been fortunate to have worked with great directors. Somewhere in the cosmic cycle artists touch each others lives. I felt this, working with some of my directors. Casting :
Personal Life :
Casting is something I’ve loved right through my life. I am told I have an instinctive eye for it. Amongst all the directors I have cast for in hindi cinema, Sanjay Bhansali is one person who has always allowed me to interpret the screen play the way I wanted to with respect to the characters involved. Casting has its challenges. A keen sense of observation and an understanding of life is important for a casting director. Ever since I remember reading as a youngster, I’d always visualize and put a face to the character I was reading about. Believe me it is the supporting cast which is often most important to cast right because it is them that highlight the protagonist.
Creative people are somewhat like islands. They need their space. There is little discipline with respect to work hours within our industry so it can be quite hard to devote time to one’s personal life, family, children. I see a lot of youngsters getting into the show business without truly realizing the sacrifices that lie ahead. This is unfortunate. Balance : You don’t want to talk shop at the end of every day. I keep away from the business and nurture my creativity. I strive to do work that resonates with me. I try and choose my directors wisely yet I am not always lucky. I can be extremely formi-
dable & I had to be, so that I was taken seriously. Yet I am polite and give respect where it is due. I like to keep my professional and personal life separate. Advice To Artists : Avoid those who take you for granted & assume to sell you dreams. Look for perspective & aspire to find the direction that is right for you. Do your work diligently & stay away from excuses. Appreciate those who value your time. Enjoy the smell of a book, work on a crossword, do anything that helps you evolve. Avoid drifting.
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Neck Of TheWoods Events Festivals Parties Activities
Acting Workshop Event Date: 8th & 9th Nov Time: 3.30 pm – 6.00 pm Venue: AAMAD, Aram Nagar 1, Versova Contact: 9930029265
Time Management Seminar Event Date: 16th Nov Time: 8.30 am – 6.30 pm Venue: Hotel Park View, 37, Lallubhai Park Road Contact: 7208112331
JOY OF BUSINESS ADVANCED (2 days) Event Date: 8th-9th Nov Time: 9.30am Registrations from 8.30am Venue: The Club, Andheri.
The Indian Networker Meetup 14 Event Date: 14th Nov Time: 7.00 pm Venue: The Club, D.N.Nagar
Power of Acceptance Speaker: Swami Swatmananda Date: 13th Nov Timings: 05:30 pm - 09:00 pm Venue: Oberoi Springs Banquet Hall Contact: Usha 9820304242 BOMB Thursday @HRC Andheri feat. HOIRONG (Delhi) Date: 13th Nov Timings: 09:00 pm onwards Venue: Hard Rock Cafe, Andheri West Drunvalo Melchizedek’s Awakening The Illuminated Heart Workshop by Darlene Waddell and Rosi Barrera Oaxaca Date: 15th Nov Timings: 09:00 am Venue: The Club, Andheri (W)
NOVEMBER
2-Day GARBA workshop Event Date: 8th & 9th Nov Timings: 04:30 pm - 06:00 pm Venue: AAMAD, Aram Nagar 1, Versova Contact No: 9930029265
india vs Sri Lanka Cricket Series 2nd Nov - 16th Nov F1 Brazilian Grand Prix 2014
7th NOV
Barclays ATP World Tour Finals
21st Nov
Dubai World Championship (GOLF) 25th Nov
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In Your
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From making dosas on a gaadi on the roadside to running one of the most famous street-food Dosa places in the Andheri West area, meet 28 yr young Ravi Anna who owns Tirupati Dosa Center (Jai Ambika Annadatta Aayere Centre)
1 DOSA... 2 DOSA... 3 DOSA... freakin’
Originally from Bangalore. Ravi Anna was just 11 years old when he moved to Mumbai. He came in 1993 and for 3 years worked somewhere else. In 1996 he helped his elder brother with the roadside thella that he started in Andheri. It flopped and then in 1998 they took A jewel in its own right the place is over this place from someone who right outside Jewel Shopping Center in wasn’t doing good business at this Versova (right next to WTF restauplace at that time. Since then there rant). In the evenings if you happen has been no looking back. to see cars at this corner trying to squeeze in for a spot, its not to party at Do you plan on getting married? WTF necessarily. Chances are they are “Soon Sir”, he blushes. looking to enjoy Ravi Anna’s Dosa’s served in their car. “How many varieties of Dosa’s do you have?”, I ask. A casual reply from Ravi Anna – 145. Holy macaroni and a bag of chips! 145. I refuse to believe such a thing. Ravi Anna casually with his constant charming smile shows the Menu with the list of the 145 Dosas. 42
DOSA VARIETIES
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What’s so special about dosa? “We maintain quality. We bring all the fresh vegetables from Vashi every day. We use Amul butter. All over Mumbai there is no such variety of dosas.”, he proudly claims. The famous ones are Special Dosa, American Chopsuey Dosa and he could go on with the names and it would probably just be all. “The recipe was started by my elder brother Nagi Dosa. He sits in another branch in Vashi. Today we have a total of 3 branches. The 3rd one is in Nerul station.“
With the weather moving towards the Mumbai winter, if you are looking to explore some neighborhood street-side delicasy you know where to go. Just a word of Caution... Be prepared to pick your brains before you pick which one out of the list of 145.
How many people come everyday? “Never counted sir but 200 at least everyday. “ The Jewel Shopping center here was more active and we used to get those clients as well but now the shopping center is slow. But we get crowd going to the beach. The Metro has also helped as there is a lot more people coming to this area now. Home Delivery from this outlet starts as early as 9:30am up until 11:30pm. “We have more people who like to come here and have the food as opposed to home delivery.” A total staff of 8, including him, run the show from morning till night 7 days of the week.
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Communicating effectively with your dog is very important; after all they are known to be man’s best friend. Just like we communicate to convey certain things and have telltale signs that mean specific things, so do dogs.
Dogs have a language that is their way of communicating emotion, feeling, among other things. Although they do use sound to convey what to say, a lot of things about your pet’s mood wants and needs can be understood by their body language too. Understanding what your pet’s saying will make sure you know when he’s spooked, scared, tired and even when he’s feeling aggressive. Dogs primarily communicate by smelling, seeing and lastly hearing. How often do you just watch your dog and try and analyze what he’s trying to communicate? Now’s the time! By looking at your dog’s gait, posture, bark, position you can understand what he’s feeling just in a glance. Here are some basic rules to understand canine behavior: 1. When your dog assumes the following position you should know that he is relaxed. His/her ears will be up, but not forward, head high, tail down and relaxed, loose stance on the feet and tongue slightly lolling out. But, when his body is lowered, hackles raised, pupils dilated, nose wrinkled, lips curled, and his tail tucked with little or no movement you should immediately know that there is something or someone that your dog is fearful of and may attack. However, if he starts to lick the other dog or humans face and starts leaving sweaty pawprints and keeps maintaining brief eye contact, that means that your dog is truly fearful and that he wants to surrender or get out of that situation as soon as possible. Your pet is definitely in the mood to play when his tail is up, wagging, and when his front end is lowered by bent forepaws. This is the most common invitation that your pet wants to play. He will maintain that position for a split minute and will then break into a random run barking! Facing you with head and chest low and legs splayed out is also a sign of playfulness.
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RCANINE BEHAVIOR ULES to UNDERSTAND
By Pooja Advani, Founder and Owner, It’s a Doggiie Dog World
6. Yawns are usually an indication of sleep, but in pets it can also be an indication of stress. With yawning the dog might be trying to displace stress that it is feeling. 7. After relieving him/herself if your pet resorts to furiously pawing the ground and repeats that behavior he/she is primarily trying to establish dominance and mark his/her territory. 8. If your pet rolls over in front of you, it is more often than not out of trust and showing respect for authority. Reward him/her with a belly rub. 9. Pacing around in an open area can mean several different things, ranging from excitement, nervousness or even boredom. 10. When your pet freezes in the middle of an action it is because he/she is feeling unsure of him or is preparing himself for an attack of some kind because something has startled him or put him out of whack. 11. A tilted head signifies that he is either puzzled, listening or uncertain and wants more information. These are some basic signs and rules that once you’re familiar with, will make communication much easier with your pet and your pet’s with you!
2. Dogs don’t like it when people, or other dogs for that matter stare into their eyes for elongated periods of time. When they turn their head away from you, effectively breaking the eye contact, you should know that it is warning sign that you should back off, as that’s the pet’s way of being polite and avoiding confrontation. 3. If your pet is continually standing off balanced, ready to dart away at a moments notice, that means that there is someone or something that constantly scares him. Try and figure out what that is. 4. Dogs that travel in a straight line indicating a proud and upright posture are more likely to be dominant, while dogs that walk in curved lines or playfully bound around are the ones who are more likely to be friendly and ready to play. 5. A grunt from a puppy or a dog is a sign of pleasure. It means that he/she is feeling warm, loved and affectionate. 45
Hands on Fathers
by Meera
www.shutterstock.com/ Oksana Kuzmina
For years now the Mother has always been considered the primary care giver for the child, and the father has always taken a back seat. Even at the time of delivery, would-be mothers would go to their mother’s home and the fathers would either join them later or just a few days before the delivery. Often fathers would even hesitate in holding their newborn babies, as they would feel that they are too delicate and tiny to handle. The mother-child bond is immediate and instinctive, right from the time the child is in the womb. In the first six months the child is almost completely dependent on the mother for sustenance and survival. Sometimes fathers who want to be more hands-on with their children face a subtle resistance from those around them with remarks like ‘this is not your job’ or ‘why should you change the diaper’ as; in the minds of many people the role of the mother and the father is well defined. But gone are those days! In urban areas these mindsets are considered old fashioned and gradually we are seeing more and more fathers getting involved with their children right from the very beginning. Things have changed and no longer do men step into their ‘father role’ at a later stage. Instead, they are hands-on dads from the very early years; whether it is in feeding the child or taking her for outings or reading a story aloud to her or changing her diaper or dressing her! 46
Without taking away from the role that mothers have played and continue playing, an involved father definitely has a positive impact on the child. It adds to the child’s well being and sense of security. Today with workingwomen on the rise, mothers are happily sharing the job of caring for the child with the fathers. Fathers too take on the responsibility with greater enthusiasm and enjoy the child by
For those fathers who have missed out on being hands-on fathers in the early years; they can still make a beginning. 1. Once home (which should be at a reasonable hour and not an unearthly one) fathers can take out time to spend with the child; by doing something fun like tell stories, or dance to a favorite tune or sing or play games or even just go out for a stroll with the child.
getting involved in all that the child does. Parents often tend to have opposite personalities and a child who is exposed to this will pick up things from both the parents. A father may be more rational and logical while a mother may bring more emotional stability to the child and thus both these aspects become complementary to one another. The child also begins to understand that the parents work as a team and they are both role models for the child.
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2. Attend the parent teacher meetings of your child, you will get a different point of view of your child which may make you a very proud parent. Often children behave very differently at home and at the Day Care or Playschool and so you will see a different side to your child.
braver and not cry when given an injection provided of course the father isn’t queasy himself! 5. Dropping or picking up your child is another way of spending quality time together and of course the weekends can be spent in ‘together time’ and not essentially in a mall but somewhere where the child and parent feels closer to Nature. 6. Often parents and this could be done by the fathers too, can dedicate a few minutes to a prayer or chanting or meditation. Even an infant will react to this ritual and it will have a soothing effect on them. I remember when my younger son was barely five months old we visited the Bahai temple also known as the Lotus temple in Delhi. Once inside it one has to maintain complete silence. I told my father that I am not sure if we should go in with my son and he told me not to worry and took him inside. I was very pleasantly surprised to notice that while we were inside the temple my son did not make a sound. He was quiet in my father’s lap. It was at that time I realized how sensitive and receptive even little children could be to the vibes and the atmosphere around them.
3. Take them for sporting events or practice or play scrabble or monopoly or any game that you like with them. 4. A father can very well go for a doctor’s appointment with the child. Who knows the child may just land up being
A father doesn’t have to hold back his emotions anymore and he can express them to his child. The interaction and the bond with both parents will only grow and increase in this manner. To a large extend mothers also need to let go of their over protective instincts and trust the fathers.
In a Day Care and Playschool we meet all kinds. There are mothers who are convinced that if we leave our child with the father something will go wrong. That isn’t true, until you don’t try how will you know. There are also fathers who are now getting more involved but in the process also becoming over protective and this is a common syndrome with fathers and daughters. These fathers also cannot hamper the child’s development by being over protective. It is essential that a balance is maintained by both the parents and that they do not contradict each other and create confusion in the child’s mind. Both of them can be equally important role models and set the right example and the child can benefit the most if the family functions as a team.
www.shutterstock.com/ Oksana Kuzmina
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Being equanimous! As individuals, we always desire to approach our lives with balance, composure and serenity. We look for a world where our children live a life filled with happiness, compassion and tranquility. Where their thoughts, actions and words echo nothing but the sheer joy of living… where there is no rage, disappointment or heart break. Is this really possible? As parents and educators, our biggest goal is to prepare our children to face the challenges of an increasingly unpredictable life, so that they embody equanimity through the toughest situations. In our fast-paced world, with technology shrinking the world like never before, it is imperative for us to embrace anger and love, frustration and patience, sorrow and joy. We need to be mindful of our actions and words. Of course, it is impossible not to be annoyed when your five-year old refuses to let you take that much loved (and de-
it, raising children is no easy jobsitting back and reflecting a bit may provide creative solutions that beat frustrated outbursts. It will probably be worthwhile not to waste our energies getting upset over things that are beyond our control, to let go and accept that it’s okay not to be perfect. When a child spills milk- are we going to be frustrated and angry or offer a towel and help clean the spilled milk? A wiser choice will mean a happy, calmer you and a clean floor! Studies have shown that parents who express a lot of anger in front of their kids end up with less empathetic children. Their children tend to be more aggressive and depressed than their peers whose parents have calmer responses to situations, and they perform worse in school too. These children often cope more poorly to stressful situations in adulthood as well. Canteen Day
served!) afternoon nap. Or your ten-year old refuses to see why she cannot wear a particular dress to a party although you have something that you think is more ‘appropriate’. Or why your three-year old stomps his feet and wails morning after morning because he does not want to brush his teeth! In these circumstances, it gets increasingly difficult to stay calm and not lose one’s temper. However, a little calm reflection does give us the space to step back, think and realize that anger and frustration are not really a solution to the problem. For instance, for the three- year old who hates the mundane routine of brushing every morning, a story about how he needs to rescue his teeth from the germs attacking his mouth might work wonders! (It really does!) When the going gets tough- and let’s face 48
Sometimes your children appear to be the trigger of a
crisis but more often than not they are just the last straw. Try these strategies at times when you feel you are losing it! •Count to 10 and breathe deeply old-fashioned but it works! •Remind yourself that you are the adult and you are setting an example to your child on how to behave. •Think about what you’re about to say how would you feel if this was said to you? Avoid sarcasm. •Use clear, brief, simple commands and keep your tone polite, calm but firm. •Do ‘timeout’ on yourself - go into another room or outside for a breath of fresh air, and think about why
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you are angry. Is it really because of your child or is there something else upsetting you? •Phone a friend - someone you can talk to. Sometimes talking things through helps you to see things in a new light. •Plan a comforting treat for yourself. Choose something that makes you feel good such as a quiet cup of tea, listening to music, a brisk walk or meeting up with friends •Have a laugh! Laughter can help lighten your mood. Once we learn to adjust our sails, learn to surf, we won’t be tossed around by the storm!
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HOROSCOPE (NOVEMBER) (Please note: The guide uses Zodiac Signs according to date of birth, and not according to your Sun Sign, Moon Sign or Ascendant. There is no cusp.)
The year ahead for SCORPIO (23rd October- 22nd November): Happy Birth Anniversary! As you already have a sneaky suspicion, you are destined for big things. There are certain aspects of your life in which you have already accomplished a pleasing lot. Now for the next twelve months, please ensure that you move on to your next level in an empowered, educated and rational manner. For things with which you are still struggling, do not expect great things yet, but allow your confidence from success to boost your overall performance. A very good year, indeed! ARIES (March 21st-April 20th) Much of your dynamic energy will be wasted this month if you do not determine from the beginning to channel yourself into routine. Look after your health as boredom will affect you adversely.
LIBRA (September 23rd-October 22nd) A slow and heavy month for you, so make all attempts to keep your spirits up. Mid-term and long-term projects being planned or worked upon may make you feel better. Exercise, get fresh air, and look after yourself well.
TAURUS (April 21st-May 20th) When you allow yourself to be at ease, you can have a wonderful and enriching time this month. Ask for help when you need, because at other times you will be doing very well. Health would be good with care for digestion.
SCORPIO (October 23rd-November 22nd) A mixed bag of a month for you. Efforts will be fruitful if you focus only on the purpose. If such clarity does not exist, you may feel frustrated. Enjoy whatever action that comes along. Health will be well, with care.
GEMINI (May 21st-June 20th) A frustrating month for you as the only thing to do would be to take focused and productive action, which for you is very limiting. There will be a few exciting pockets of time, if you can find them. Take very good care of your health.
SAGITTARIUS (November 23rd-December 21st) This month is not amenable with your nature. So prepare yourself for that and act accordingly. It will be a good idea to observe those who are having a good time, for they can teach you something new. Health will be well, with good cheer.
CANCER (June 21st-July 21st) If you focus on your current activities, you will have them turning up well. Keep your spirits up by comparing the situation now with that at the beginning of this year. There is no need to feel low, but you may not be cheerful either. Watch your diet. Health is fair.
CAPRICORN (December 22nd–January 19th) You can make a good month out of an average one, by keeping your focus on clarity of purpose. Minor disappointments should only be used for learning, and not self-castigation. Treat yourself with respect to enjoy good health.
LEO (July 22nd-August 22nd) You do not like to make mistakes, but this month, you will make some. The good news is that you will learn and improve from them. The better news is that this, too, shall pass. Health will be well, with some control.
AQUARIUS (January 20th–February 18th) This month, you will feel left out of the main action. If you want, you can find it and join in. It is also all right to not want to. Focus, instead, on holding your own fort and looking after yourself. Exercise well.
VIRGO (August 23rd-September 22nd) A very productive month ahead, for you. Some matter from the past will turn up a disappointing result, but it will eventually not matter. Pay attention to your feelings. Be alert for infections.
PISCES (February 19th-March 20th) It is likely that you will need to make a huge effort and make yourself a part of other people’s activity. You may gain in wisdom by this, but others will benefit immensely from your aura. Stay calm and in your own skin. Don’t become overwhelmed and your health will be well.
MOHINI BASU is a Tarot Card reader, Hypnotherapist and Life Coach. She can be contacted on mohini.tarot@yahoo.com. Her website is theredfoxanddeerlady.wordpress.com. 52
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The Scarlet Illusion-Love
by Kashish Singh
Vilified tokens of love Are scattered all around me in vain, Gathered pieces of scarlet entities Are retrieving to be rived once again. They came to me with borrowed faith and vesselled hopes Just to be faultily played by the trickeries of the scarlet illusions A fatal lie, it would have remained for me As I could clearly see it to be a delusion. Oh, what’s the charm of the scarlet illusions That dissuades one to pursue reality? Or is it just me just me who fails to see it Let alone believe in this meaningless fidelity? And then you came to me With words dipped in nectar and stories stemmed in myths And the captivated me is still in disbelieve“Love hasn’t got me... Yet.” ................. Love. What is this love? Over the years, man has led down several definitions for this one word, yet nothing has been that very accurate. For love is an emotion beyond words. It’s a feeling, sensation, someone’s reality where as someone else’s dream. Well, I too tried defining it, and over the time I redefined it over and over again through my poems. So why do I call it a scarlet illusion instead of just “love”? Well because it’s my own version of love. To me it’s always been an illusion, an undefined theory with no proof of its true existence yet a sensation no one can deny. In my poems you will find different forms of scarlet illusions. This poem is about how one never really understands the magic of the scarlet illusions until its tornado blows off our closed and confined walls. Before it strikes, one leads a pragmatic life relishing the joy of existence and contentment. Yet, it never feels complete. That’s when the scarlet illusions hit you. Contentment and falling over the brim are two different state of being and the latter is what is being brought by the scarlet illusions. The scarlet illusions get us overwhelmed by our own set of emotions and still make us crave for more. Contentment is a term that doesn’t really exists anymore. The scarlet illusions act like a drug in our body and get to every cell, reclaiming them and more. Our souls are captivated and the yearn for these illusive entities never ends. Like hope, it springs eternal too within us. Life as one knew it has changed, and the scarlet illusions are to be blamed! ............ Childrens Day, in Hindi known as “Bal Diwas”, in India falls on November 14th every year. It is celebrated on India’s First Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s birthday. A tribute to this great man and his love for the children, his birthday is celebrated all over India as CHILDRENS DAY. He was fond of children and thus became popular as Chacha Nehru among his little admirers.
Positive Mind, Positive Vibes and Positive Life by Divya Panday In our life we have often come across a statement that is made by many people and it is “Be positive”. Let me ask you a question to you all what does being positive mean to you? Well, everyone has their own opinion of being positive or let’s say the definition of positive. But in the end it means do not lose hope and faith. Hope & faith are the results of being Positive in life. I’d come across a beautiful proverb which said “Do not expect always hope” – it says a lot about life if you think over it. Being positive is nothing but a state of mind where you do not lose hope. Being positive means the absence of negativity. In a bad situation, the amount of time spent feeling miserable or strong is same, then why not come out as strong person! This is being positive. To be in a positive state, you need to get rid of the company of those people who brings negativity with them, who always crib about everything and I am sure you have so many such people around you and you know what you are also one of them. Isn’t it? You cannot hang out with negative people and expect to live a positive life. Have the power that you over shadow the negative person with your positivity. Even if you are in the saddest stage of your life, believe that good things are going to happen and you know what good things do happen in a day but we go through so much of pain and struggle that we do not cherish the good thing that happened to us. We want that particular thing which we do not own. Being positive also means that you should not waste time thinking over of what happened yesterday because it will simple ruin your today. Being positive means even if you fall ten times stand up the eleventh time. When you wake up in the morning, wake up with a little hope and motivation in your heart, it will change your whole day. Positivity means not worrying about anything but to start praying for everything. Always remember that without rains there are no rainbows. Stay Positive even if your whole world is falling apart because life is all about Positive Mind, Positive Vibes and Positive Life.
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