Spiceroute march 2015

The inflight magazine

Volume IX | Issue III | March 2015

36 64 76

spiritual Varanasi Walk through history in this cultural city

the new women Read the inspiring tales of success

festive drinks Enjoy unconventional drinks this Holi

www.spiceroutemag.com

spreading colour

TOP: (L-R) Owez Chippa, Cabin Crew Incharge, Hyderabad; Sameer Malaye, Cabin Crew, Mumbai; Capt. Jai Sadana, Delhi; BOTTOM: (L-R) Capt. Sne Geetanjali Sain, Cabin Crew, Hyderabad; Arushi Mishra, Cabin Crew, Bengaluru; Preeti Abrol, Cabin Crew, Delhi; Shimona Sharma, Cabin Crew, Mu

wishing you a happy holi

eha Shekhawat, Bengaluru; Samreen Rakshanda, Cabin Crew, Delhi; umbai; Aastha Singh, Cabin Crew, Hyderabad

FROM THE COO’S DESK

Dear SpiceJet customer, March is the month when people in many parts of India (and increasingly, in other parts of the world) celebrate the victory of good over evil, and herald the arrival of spring, with Holi, the Festival of Colours. Holi is a festival very close to SpiceJet’s heart as well, as you can tell from the cover and contents of this issue of SpiceRoute. Last year, SpiceJet celebrated Holi in a manner never before seen in India, by surprising passengers with Holi tika as they entered the aircraft, and by performing a professionally choreographed Holi dance by specially trained cabin crew on a select number of flights. This surprise captured the attention of people all around the world, and announced the emergence of a new SpiceJet —an airline with heart, an airline with a lot of spunk. The video of this performance can be viewed by scanning the QR Scan this code on your smartphone and watch code on the left. This year too, our stunning holi video we have a special surprise for our passengers, though there shot onboard

will be no onboard dance since we do not want to become too predictable!  As we head into another spring, SpiceJet also celebrates a virtual re-birth this Holi as the airline has changed ownership and is now back in the hands of one of its original co-founders, Mr Ajay Singh. Ajay has got some very exciting ideas and plans to take SpiceJet to another level altogether, and to remind passengers even more strongly that we are an airline with a difference, the ‘un-boring’ airline.

There are a number of plans in the pipeline that will not only turn the airline around completely financially, but will make flying SpiceJet even more fun and different from flying other airlines.

We will continue to demonstrate that being a low-cost airline with the most affordable fares does not mean one has to be a bland and boring airline.

The difference is right there in our name – SpiceJet. We will bring this difference to life more strongly than ever before, and this

difference will be delivered to you each day by our fantastic crew and their commitment to take care of your safety and service with all their heart. And of course, we will continue to be led by our mantra ‘SOCCH’ (which is ‘Think’ in Hindi), that stands for Safe, On-time, Clean, Courteous, and Hassle-free.

No compromises on that front!

In the upcoming summer schedule that commences at the end of this month, we will be introducing more flights to Dubai, from Amritsar, Pune, and Mangalore, adding to the service we already have to Dubai from Delhi, Mumbai, Kochi, Madurai, and Ahmedabad. Dubai is just one of the eight international destinations we fly to, the others being Kathmandu, Colombo, Male (Maldives), Bangkok, Kabul, Muscat, and Sharjah. We will also be looking into adding more flights to Bangkok and Muscat, and are considering several other new international destinations as well. At the same time we will be adding frequencies to some of our existing flights, and changing timings to suit customer needs better. All of this is a part of our transformation plan that started last year, and will be accelerated this year. Our commitment is to regain our place as one of the Top 2 airlines in India, as well as regain the special place we have held over the years in your hearts.

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Thank you for flying SpiceJet.

Sanjiv Kapoor Chief Operating Officer

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. G-0-A (GROUND 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 / SPICEJET 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 / SPICEJET DOES NOT ASSUME ANY LIABILITY FOR SERVICES OR PRODUCTS ADVERTISED HEREIN. FOR INQUIRIES | MMGIPL TEL: +91.11.43011111, WWW.SPICEJET.COM, WWW. MAXPOSURE.IN CIN: U22229DL2006PTC152087

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INTERNATIONAL SALES OFFICES Europe: London | Seraphine Money | IMM International 10 Denmark Street, London WC2H 8LS- UK Tel: +44 20 3301 4900, Fax: + 44 20 7240 3258 Mob: +44 777 459 8220

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now follow us on twitter & facebook www.twitter.com/flyspicejet; www.facebook.com/flyspiceJet

USA East coast | Francesco Lascari | Huson International Media Huson International Media | 13-17Laight Street | Suite 401, Box 7| NewYork, NY 10013 Tel: 212.268.3344, Mob: 646.407.6966 Email: francesco.lascari@husonmedia.com Australia, New zealand: Charlton D’Silva | Publisher’s Internationalé Level 10, 131 York Street, Sydney, NSW AUS 2000 Tel +61 2 9252 3476, M +61 400 656 937 Email: charlton.dsilva@pubintl.com.au

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Hot dates Travel buzz

CONTENTS

March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

36

Paresh Maity

Wildlife sancturies

44

Savitha Sastry

Jaipur

46

Barkha Kaul

Weekend getaways

48

Saba Hasan

Rosy starlings

56

Moushumee K Jha

100

Shatbhi Basu

Holi across India

Anahita Dhondy

48 hours in Varanasi

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4

TETE-A-TETE

EXPLORE

60 66 67 68 69 70 71

36 The inflighT magazine

Volume IX | Issue III | March 2015

36 64 76

spiritual Varanasi Walk through history in this cultural city

the new women Read the inspiring tales of success

festiVe drinks enjoy unconventional drinks this holi

www.spiceroutemag.com

48 spreading colour

60

185 MM

241 MM

Alstone International

Branch Offices:

2E/7 Jhandewalan Ext. New Delhi-55 E: info@alstoneindia.com • www.alstoneindia.com Toll Free No. 1800-1233123 • SMS ACP TO 56161

Bangalore • Chennai • Delhi • Hyderabad • Indore • Kochi • Kolkatta • Lucknow • Noida • Patna • Pune • Ranchi

CONCERN

INDULGE A sweet spice

Nurturing against odds 96

72

POTPOURRI Festive flavour

Unique drinks for Holi 76

Films

Passion for superbikes 80

Predictions

Navroz festival

84

Book review

Interior trends

88

Launch pad

92

Spotlight

Holi precautions

96 100

76

106 108 110 111 112 115

138

112

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COVER STORY Spreading colours with SpiceJet!

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March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

INSIDE SPICEJET 20

122 Spice news 126 Music 130 Celebrating womenhood 132 SME traveller 134 Group booking 137 Holi celebration 138 Stars of SpiceJet 140 SpiceJet fleet 142 A day in the life

INSIDE SPICEJET

FlySpiceJet My best wishes are with you SpiceJet. You are my favourite airline. Proud of you. Hope you will recuperate soon.

Convival Smit Would love to see SpiceJet flying high all time. I found the entire staff to be well mannered and courteous. @khanjan4ever Well done SpiceJet for fighting your way back! India surely needs its spices!

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All the best SpiceJet. We want you to fly sky high, and to more destinations.

Kamalkumar Daftari One of my best airlines. Love you guys.

Mohd Fahad

It’s great news for those who love SpiceJet very much like me.

Wishing everyone all the best for the year ahead. @kites10 Come on guys, bounce back.

Desperately waiting to fly with you guys with incredible low fares. Love you Sanjiv sir. @ROHIT_CHENNAI Even during testing times, excellent and heart warming service by the SpiceJet staff, especially by Bhavna in the flight from Mumbai to Thiruvanthapuram. @13Harmeet

@KeyurJoshi_ Really enjoyed the SpiceJet flight from Mumbai to Mangalore on January 21. Keep it up!

Hope you overcome all obstacles and keep flying with more spice!

Manoj Warrier

@NimbleSpeak

@suresh_kini As always, SpiceJet has lived up to my expectations. That's the reason why it is my favourite airline since inception. @AgarwalKishore Congratulations for the tremendous response. Continue flying to make fares affordable & keep competition in check. @aparajitsarkar Hats off to you guys! Great job during the tough times! Flew on the Aurangabad-Delhi sector in January. All the best and keep smiling! @mridul_chakra

God please bring happy moments for everyone in SpiceJet and all those associated with the airline. Best of luck from all our heart.

Sandhya Dubey

Thank you! SpiceJet makes us feel very comfortable in reaching back home. Appreciate the good work you people are doing. @mallikfaisal1 Boarded flight SG871 from Kolkata.

The staff was very helpful. Happy to see a fully occupied SpiceJet flight. @SancharTravels

@flyspicejet March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

Thank you SpiceJet! Hope the airline quickly recovers to set even higher standards of customer service.

Now it's cheaper to travel in flight than Rail in India! All thanks to SpiceJet! @jainananya247 A good on-time arrival by SpiceJet. The best way to see a change is to improvise. It's good to see the change. @AlayRazvi Stepped in a SpiceJet carrier after a while and was pleasantly surprised by vibrant uniform, impeccable grooming and soft music. Great going. @tanutewari

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HOT DATES SODHI KISHAN SINGH MEMORIAL POLO CUP Anandpur Heritage Foundation organises the second edition of the Sodhi Kishan Singh Memorial Polo Cup to coincide with the vibrant Hola Mohalla celebrations. This annual polo tournament highlights the tradition of horsemanship and brings an international flavour to the vibrant festivities of colour, spirituality and dynamism in Anandpur Sahib. When: March 2-6, 2015; Where: Anandpur Sahib, Punjab

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DUBAI INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW

HINA-MATSURI During this festival, Hina Ningyo dolls are decorated in homes where there are daughters, praying for the daughters’ healthy growth and happiness. When: March 3, 2015; Where: All over Japan

It is the largest and most important event of its kind in the region. It provides a classic showcase of yachts, supercars, equipment and supplies from both local and international builders, together with the latest innovations in marine industry.

When: March 4-8, 2015; Where: Dubai

SPRING LANTERN FESTIVAL The festival heralds the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations. Lanterns - many of strange design and colour - are lit and carried all over China. One can enjoy watching lanterns, fireworks, folk dancing, eating yuanxiao, rice dumpling balls stuffed with varied fillings and much more!

When: March 5, 2015; Where: Hong Kong

March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

FESTIVAL OF SACRED MUSIC The festival aims to restore the pride of the musical centre that existed during the time of Saint Thyagaraja and once again make it an important seat of music.

When: March 6-8, 2015; Where: Thiruvaiyaru, Tamil Nadu

RANG-E-ISHQ Conceptualised by Manjari Chaturvedi, the evening brings together traditional Qawwals from Hyderabad singing traditional Holi and basant and the association of these festivals with Sufi saints. When: Saturday, March 7, 2015; Where: India International Centre, Lodhi Road, Delhi

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URBAN REFLECTIONS The fine art prints exhibition by Chandu Mhatre is a result of his many journeys through Mumbai to chronicle how the city has changed under the impact of globalisation and economic liberalisation.

When: March 13-23, 2015; Where: Arpana Caur Gallery, Siri Fort Institutional Area, New Delhi

TRAVEL WITH STYLE Witness the most rare and historically significant automobiles owned by Indian royalty and private collectors, for the first time ever, in a stunning exhibition.

Handpicked by Cartier and Curated by Manvendra Singh of Barwani, it brings alive the eccentricities and uniqueness of the Indian automobile industry. When: March 14, 2015; Where: The Jaipur Polo Ground in New Delhi

TIME OUT A photo art exhibition by Ravi Dhingra, Moushumee K Jha, Shoba Jolly and Ahmed Firoz, portrays the myriad facets of life and the real essence of small things in life. When: March 25 to April 7, 2015; Where: Arpana Caur Gallery, Siri Fort Institutional Area New Delhi

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WHAT’S NEW

WI-FI ENABLED GHATS IN VARANASI

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Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad inaugurated BSNL's free Wi-Fi service in Varanasi at Dashashwamedh Ghat and Shitala Ghats, in February. The minister also announced setting up of the state's first IT park with support from the central government.

The free Wi-Fi services will be available for 30 minutes per 24 hours to be utilised in multiple sessions. After the free usage limit of 30 minutes is exhausted, a customer can continue using the service on a paid basis.

The facility is planned to expand to other ghats soon.

SOUTH AFRICA TOURISM TARGETTING MORE INDIANS

In its continued efforts to attract more and more Indian travellers to the country, South African Tourism has unveiled a new outdoor advertising campaign, #MeetSouthAfrica, by showcasing a diversity of experiences available in here.

The campaign spreads out to metro and tier-II cities in India and demonstrates South Africa’s distinctive, spectacular and high quality tourism products and experiences that are amongst the world’s finest.

2015 AS MP TOURISM YEAR

Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation (MPSTDC) has declared 2015 as ‘Madhya Pradesh Tourism Year’.

Popularly known as the ‘Tiger State of India’, MP boasts of three world heritage sites, namely Sanchi, Bhimbetka, and Khajuraho.

The state offers a vibrant mix of spiritual, nature, wildlife, heritage, art and culture, and adventure tourism. In 2015, the state tourism board plans to hold roadshows and food festivals in different regions of India to promote the state.

The state government wishes to develop tourism facilities for every section, so that people can spend some peaceful time in current complex times.

March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

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ABU DHABI LURING INDIA’S MIDDLE CLASS Abu Dhabi has been a hotspot for highend Indian travellers and now its Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA) is promoting it as a value-for-money tourist spot for the middle class travellers. Focussing on all types of travellers, including leisure, business, wedding, corporate, etc., TCA is also projecting itself as an ideal tourism spot amongst backpackers.

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ENJOY HERITAGE RAIL JOURNEY Designed to offer a memorable ride that evokes a strong sense of history, heritage and decadence of royalty and nobility of yore, Mana Hotels in Ranakpur has introduced a heritage rail journey. The 1.5 hour journey gives passengers a peak into the local history.

One of the highest tracks in the western railway system of India, the rail journey offers a picturesque landscape.

CONCERN

POTPOURRI

INDIAN FLAVOUR IN RIYADH

Michelin-starred chef Vineet Bhatia launched the renowned finedining Indian restaurant Maharaja East by Vineet in Riyadh. The new fine-dining establishment will cater to food lovers looking for an authentic Indian gourmet experience.

Housed in a three-storey building designed with modern, sophisticated furnishings, Maharaja East by Vineet can seat 142 guests and features an atrium, family dining area, private dining rooms, tandoori kitchen, boardroom and open terraces. It is the latest addition to Vineet Bhatia’s thriving list of gourmet Indian restaurants located all over the world, including London, Switzerland, Mauritius, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE and India.

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FUSION DELIGHTS For those with a lion heart and adventure in their blood, head to The Liquor Warehouse to try popular world cuisines served with a surprising Indian twist.

The gastro-pub seems quite unassuming from the outside, but the minute you cross through the double doors, you are transported to a different world.

With a warm wooden appeal, the interiors exude a plush ambiance. Settle in with meat and cheese platters, British classic Fish-n-Chips, Bangers and Mash accompanied with a choice of lipsmacking drinks. The Indian fusion recipes have been conceived by the chefs here. Tuck into the Guard of Honour Chicken served with a South Indian twist. There is a huge

variety for vegetarians; pick from a delectable menu that includes nachos, wood-fired pizzas, burritos, among others. Do try the Harissa Paneer Tikka that is a traditional dish with special Tunisian spices, it packs quite a punch.

Meal for two: `1,200 for two Address: Second Floor, DLF Star Mall, Sector 30, Gurgaon

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EAT YOUR WAY ACROSS ASIA Sometimes the heart wants, what the heart wants. Those who crave for a mouthful of fresh sushi, fried glass noodles, a comforting broth or a wholesome salad, head to Pan Asian at Sheraton New Delhi and try their new menu. Savour the delicacies from various provinces in China, or the soulful Japanese cuisine, the balanced offerings of Thai cuisine and other favourites from across Asia.

A feature that sets Pan Asian apart is the inclusion of three interactive kitchens with seating around it, allowing guests a prime position to view the culinary skills of the chefs.

Set in the heart of Saket, guests can try Asian Mushroom Trio from Beijing province, that March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

includes the Honshimizi, Enoki and Shitake mushroom stir fry with black pepper, relish the steamed seabass topped with Chinese preserved vegetables or Japan’s Age-Dashi Tofu wherein deep fried tofu has been cooked with light soy sauce, ginger, radish and greens. The iconic Ramen noodle soup is heartwarming with wheat noodles served in a bowl ladled with meat or fish-based broth.

This is additionally topped with soy sauce or sliced pork, dried seaweed, among others.

Do try Okonomiyaki or Japanese style savoury pancake that is as wholesome as it’s delicious.

Meal for two: `3,500 approx Address: Sheraton New Delhi, District Centre, Saket, Delhi

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HOMESTAY IN ARUNACHAL PRADESH

A tribal community in the hills of Changlang district in Arunachal Pradesh have opened home stay, inviting tourists to not only stay with them amid the lush green nature cover but also taste their ethnic cuisine, visit the neighbouring hill tops and so on. During their stay, tourists can take the Pangsau Pass, which is only 12 km from Nampong, to visit Myanmar.

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WALK WITH THE TRIBE INITIATIVE

Chhattisgarh Tourism Board aims to promote the ‘Walk with the Tribe’ experience, whereby visitors can go on a nature walk with the experienced and local tribal people.

This will help job creation in tribal sectors and improve standard of living. The potential and relatively new source markets from South East Asia, are the ones that the tourism board is looking forward to tap.

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SPREADING

WITH SPICEJET

A much-awaited festival for all, Holi is celebrated across the length and breadth of India. Amidst colours, pichkaris, water balloons, gulal, delectable snacks and comforting thandai; this boisterous festival is packed with a whole lot of fun. Here is a list of top places that offer spectacular Holi experiences, with interesting tips from SpiceJet employees.

March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

H

oli is synonymous to Mathura and Vrindavan all over India. Visit these places to get a raw feel of the festival. For a more folksy rendition, stay in New Delhi where Holi coincides with Holi Cow, a music festival. Enjoy the carefree vibe and the zealous celebrations in the city of Shiva, Varanasi, during Holi. For a ‘grand and royal’ celebration, head to the old city of Jaipur. Visit Anandpur Sahib in Punjab to attend Holla Mohalla, an annual mela that coincides with Holi where the Nihangs showcase their martial skills. To witness the natural beauty with colourful flowers of Palash, Shimul, etc., head to Shantiniketan and celebrate Basanta Utsav in a very special way.

Photog ra ph : Dil ip Ba ne rj ee

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UNIQUE HOLI @ BRAJ | MATHURA

B

raj is a historical region which covers the area of Mathura and Vrindavan situated only four hours from Delhi. Mathura is the birth place of Lord Krishna and Vrindavan is the place where he spent his early childhood. The main venue for Holi celebrations in Mathura is in the vicinity of Holi Gate. A long procession with colours and music takes place this day from the temples along the river to the gate. Festivities usually last around a week.

Do not miss: Holi of Barsana, Radha’s village, is where the

Holi folklore When Krishna was young, he cribbed to his mother about Radha being fair while he himself was dark complexioned. His mother suggested him to colour Radha in a playful manner. Over the years, Krishna would travel to Barsana (Radha’s village) to colour Radha and other Gopis.

And hence, the tradition evolved.

celebrations begin six days before Holi. Lathmar Holi is played at sunset, when the women of Barsana adorn themselves as Gopika Radha and playfully beat the men with long bamboo sticks.

The men wear huge turbans decorated with leaves to protect themselves from the colour and beatings of the women.

Enjoy a gamut of different colours sprang on with an air of excitement and happiness all around. Experience an atmosphere filled with the chanting and singing of Holi songs in Braj language.

IN ORDER TO TRAVEL TO MATHURA AND VRINDAVAN, BOOK A FLIGHT TO DELHI. SPICEJET CONNECTS DELHI TO MUMBAI, CHENNAI, DUBAI, AMONG OTHERS. LOG ON TO WWW.SPICEJET.COM FOR DETAILS. March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

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CULTURAL EXTRAVAGANZA @ VARANASI

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he city of Lord Shiva is transformed during Holi as it looks playful and bathed in all kinds of colours. The streets are packed with groups of people throwing gulal and the ghats are filled with vibrant hues of pink, blue and yellow.

Watch the Holi celebrations from above and see the magnificent Ganga below slowly turning from brown to pink, as people jump in, splash around and cleanse themselves.

Bhang, regarded as prasad of Lord Shiva, is an inseparable part of Holi celebrations in Varanasi. The abundant use of bhang ka gola, barfi or bhang mixed thandai, adds extra

colour to the festival of Holi.

Do not miss: Haasya Kavi sammelans, mushairas and music festivals performed during the evening, as renowned personalities participate in them.

Holi is celebrated in Varanasi with great fervour and enthusiasm. People gather in the evening of Holika Dahan at various chowks to pray and greet each other by applying abir on the forehead. Next day, Holi is celebrated with multiple colours, bhang thandai with delicious pakoras and gujiyas. People sing folk songs and dance in the evening to the tunes of dholak and harmonium.

Amit Srivastava, Security Supervisor, Varanasi

SPICEJET CONNECTS VARANASI TO DELHI, OFFERING DAILY FLIGHTS.

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A NEW FLAVOUR OF HOLI | NEW DELHI 24

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evel in a blast of colour, music, art along with madness at the Holi Cow Festival in Delhi. Witness a melting pot of art, culture, music, dancing and colours with people from different countries attending this vibrant event.

Here you can play Holi in a safe

environment with non-toxic colours along with bhang lassis, street food, and sprinklers while DJs and bands perform.

The festival features music genres of dancehall, hiphop, reggae, electronic dance, indie and experimental along with visual

artists and performance artists.

Explore Delhi in all of its radiant glory during the colourful festival of Holi!

Do not miss: Good food, great music, activities, good crowd, and lots of colours at Holi Cow Festival in Delhi.

Holi is an exciting time to visit Delhi, the capital and the heart of India. Delhi celebrates Holi with extreme enthusiasm and you can witness an amalgamation of cultures and traditions. People move out in groups and apply colour on each other till they become unrecognisable. Feasts, music, dancing and amazing parties are held all over the city to mark the festival of colours. The festival is also famous for some delicacies like Gujiya, Dahi Bhalla, Chaat-Papri and above all, Thandai accompanied Himadri Singh - CSE, Delhi with bhang pakora.

SPICEJET CONNECTS DELHI TO AHMEDABAD, AMRITSAR, BAGDOGRA, BENGALURU, CHANDIGARH, CHENNAI, DEHRADUN, DUBAI, GOA, KOCHI, PUNE, MUMBAI, UDAIPUR AND JAMMU, AMONG OTHERS. March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

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Historical significance The Holla Mohalla Festival was established by Guru Gobind Singh in 1701. It was meant to be a kind of sports day to determine the military preparedness of the Khalsa Panth to fight tyranny. To this day, it is celebrated by the Nihang Dals.

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HOLA MOHALLA @ANANDPUR SAHIB | PUNJAB

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ttend the amazing Hola Mohalla Festival in Anandpur Sahib, in Punjab. Experience magnificent displays of the ancient martial arts & horsemanship, daring skills in sword fighting, tent pegging, archery and other martial skills.

A three-day festival, it is also an occasion to remember the valour of the Sikhs in battling the enemies of the land.

The Nihangs still live by the code of warriors of that era. They splash colour on the spectators while showcasing their skills and everyone follows suit. A lot of cultural activities including music, dance and poetry programmes and competitions take place in the evenings to unwind the charged-up atmosphere.

The event lasts over a week, and many camp outside, enjoying the performances on display.

Chandigarh has its own glory during Holi. You can celebrate the colours of joy at the world Holi festival hosted by Kalagram. Star celebrities from different walks of life come together and dance to the tunes of famous DJs. Fort Ramgarh is another place to celebrate the festival. Here you can enjoy the traditional dance of Punjab.

Manpreet Singh, Supervisor - Airport Services, Chandigarh

CHANDIGARH IS THE NEAREST DESTINATION TO REACH ANANDPUR SAHIB. IT IS WELL CONNECTED TO DELHI WITH NUMEROUS FLIGHTS OPERATING DAILY. THERE IS EVEN A DAILY FLIGHT FROM CHANDIGARH TO SRINAGAR. March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

Pressure Range

Capacity

Discription

Sr No

M3/Min

CFM

Bar

1

Lubricated SCREW Compressor

0.23 to 43.70

8 to 1545

8 to 13

2

Oil Free SCREW Compressor

5.30 to 51.40

187 to 1815

8 to 10

3

Lubricated PISTON Compressor

.125 to 6.20

4.5 to 219

8 to 40

4

Oil Free PISTON Compressor

.156 to 1.30

6 to 45

8 to 40

5

BOGE FLEXPET

1.55 to 17.9

54 to 634

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BOGE AIR. THE AIR TO WORK.

BOGE India , No. 216, Third Link Street, Industrial Estate, Nehru Nagar, Kottivakkam, Chennai - 600 096, india@boge.com* www.boge.in Chennai Mr. F C Jayakaran

: +91 9600041656 : fc .jayakaran@boge .com

/ Chennai Mr. Muthu Ganesan : +91 9003172111 : muthu.ganesan@boge.com

Hyderabad Mr.W.Narendra

: +91 9704770930 : w. narendra@boge.com

/ Mumbai Mr. Hasan Hasware : +91 9840956161 : h.hasware@boge.com

Delhi Mr. Deepesh Upadhyay

: +91 9818556732 : d.upadhyay@boge.com

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PINK CITY IN COLOURS | RAJASTHAN

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oli is celebrated with pomp and ceremony and more so with a regal air befitting the royal history of Rajasthan. The royals of Jaipur celebrates Holi at the City Palace with commoners and tourists. Along with all the cultural significance, the festival of Holi is observed with verve and gaiety in the entire Rajasthan. The festival is also marked by a number of cultural programmes.

Rajasthani women clad in colourful ghagras and cholis perform folk dances that provide a glimpse of the rich culture of Rajasthan.

UNIQUE HOLI CELEBRATIONS AT BEAWAR

Badshah ki Sawari re-enacts a medieval practice instituted by the Mughal emperor Akbar in Beawar, which is about 185 km south west of

In Rajasthan, Holi celebration at Rambagh Polo Ground, Jaipur, is noteworthy. Various artists put up a variety of programs and the arena is brought alive with musicians and dancers. The crowd, which includes sizable presence of foreign and Indian tourists, electrifies the atmosphere.

Sonya Mudgal, Jaipur

Jaipur. Impressed with his minister and one of the nine gems of his court, Raja Todarmal, Akbar made him the Emperor for a day. On the day of Holi, Raja Todarmal went on a procession distributing money and wealth. At Beawar, the Emperor and the wazir moved around throwing colours.

Koda Maar Holi is Rajasthan’s answer to the Lathmar Holi of Barsana. Men who throw colour or water are whipped by their victims.

Rajasthanis celebrate Holi by singing special songs called ‘Faag’, which celebrate the triumph of good over evil and the onset of spring.

Do not miss: Holi is celebrated grandly in Govind Dev ji Temple of Jaipur. Instead of gulal powders, flowers are used to play Holi here.

SPICEJET OFFERS DAILY FLIGHTS BETWEEN JAIPUR AND DELHI. THE AIRLINE HAS A WELL CONNECTED NETWORK PROVIDING CONVENIENCE LIKE NO OTHER. March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

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P h o to gra p h : D il ip B a n er jee

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HOLI @ SHANTINIKETAN | KOLKATA 30

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he Basant Festival, started by the popular Indian poet and Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore, celebrates Holi with serenity and peace. The festival heralds the season of spring (vasant) and thus the students of Vishva Bharati University arrange a huge social programme where they sing songs, perform elegant dances wearing yellow-coloured clothes and shower colours at the visitors.

After a day filled with music and dance, the students and teachers wish each other by applying abeer (dry coloured powder). The whole atmosphere becomes mildly scented with the fragrance of abeer. The Basantotsab attracts hordes of foreign tourists every year to see a unique facet of Holi.

Holi in Kolkata is known as ‘Dol Yatra’ utsav, which people celebrate with family and friends.

In Shantiniketan and Purulia, Holi is celebrated with great enthusiasm.

Purulia in West Bengal is around 250 kms away from Kolkata. Here Holi is celebrated for three days with folk music and dance. Villagers arrange a Chau dance, Darbari Jhumur and Natua dance along with a Sufi performance by Baul singers.

Sabyasachi Das (Duty Officer - APS)

Do not miss: Palash is one of the most beautiful flowers that blooms during March. Its colour mesmerised the whole atmosphere; it seems that nature is also playing Holi.

Note: Holi in Shantiniketan is celebrated a day before.

SPICEJET CONNECTS KOLKATA TO AGARTALA, BAGDOGRA, BANGKOK, BENGALURU, CHENNAI, DELHI, GOA, MUMBAI & PORT BLAIR AMONG OTHERS. March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

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COLOURING KATHMANDU | NEPAL

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ne of the most enjoyable festivals in Nepal is Holi known as ‘Phalgun Purnima’. The festival is celebrated joyously in the country’s hilly region, including the Kathmandu Valley. People are seen in their neighbourhoods and on the road, smearing gulal and throwing water-filled balloons on each other. People celebrate Holi with colours, water, sweets and music. Kathmandu Durbar Square is the major site of Holi celebration in Nepal. Mass, music, colours and fun, make the festival enjoyable.

Enjoy the madness at Thamel area where crowds from different directions meet with a clash of colour and smeared fresh paint on faces, clothes and hair. Enjoy the sound of music with DJs mixing heavy metal with traditional Nepalese folk music at City Squaree.

Rajendra Krishna Joshi (Airport Manager - APS), Kathmandu

SPICEJET OFFERS DAILY FLIGHTS BETWEEN DELHI AND KATHMANDU.

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Our crew with the talented make-up artist

COVER UNPLUGGED Here are the snapshots of March cover shoot where excited employees of SpiceJet, across departments, revel in the festive mood and put their best foot forward.

There is no better feeling on holi than saying - holi hai!

March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

Setting the stage for an exciting holi shoot

Enjoying our signature song - Balam pichkari

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Make-up artist giving Shimona the final touch

Posing for the camera

The cameraman on top of his job!

Shooting in between the shoot

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48 HOURS IN

VARANASI The cultural capital of India, Varanasi is one of the oldest living cities in the world. Read more about the place where history literally resides.

W O R D S| NE E LA M SING H

SPICEJET RECENTLY ANNOUNCED ITS NEW SCHEDULE WITH TWO DAILY RETURN FLIGHTS FOR DELHI-VARANASI. FOR MORE DETAILS, LOG ON TO WWW.SPICEJET.COM March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

“BANARAS IS OLDER THAN HISTORY, OLDER THAN TRADITION, OLDER EVEN THAN LEGEND AND LOOKS TWICE AS OLD AS ALL OF THEM PUT TOGETHER.” Mark Twain

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O

ne of the most well-known cities of India, Varanasi is a melting pot of various cultures and revered for its religious importance. In Varanasi, you are always surrounded by faith – whether at the temple, at Sarnath, or by the ghats or even as you stand and watch the funeral pyres.

The city makes you pause and reconsider the journey of your life DAY

Start your day by visiting the places that have historical as well as spiritual significance.

8.00 AM: DIVINE EXPERIENCE@THE KASHI

VISHWANATH TEMPLE

According to a legend, Varanasi was founded

by the God Shiva and this temple is dedicated to him. It has one of the most intense aartis and shlokas chanted almost 24x7 that adds to the divinity of the entire atmosphere. There is a series of smaller shrines, located in a small lane called the Vishwanatha Gali, near the river. Enjoy a very powerful experience, while walking through the narrow lanes that lead to the temple.

Did You Know? The temple has a 15.5 meters high spire plated with 1,000 kg of gold. One ton of gold, donated by Maharaja Ranjit Singh, has been used in the gold plating of the spire. The dome is a major attraction of this temple with carved sculptures on it.

Tip: Leave your mobile/ camera/ any electronic gadgets/ pen/ sharp objects/ car keys/ belt/ wallet (any item made from animal skin) at the hotel room or in the lockers available at the temple.

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AS PER MYTHOLOGY

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Dashashwamedh Ghat, is the place where Lord Brahma sacrificed 10 horses in a Yagna, thus named Dashashwamedh.

Manikarnika Ghat is the place where Goddess Parvati hid her earring and asked Lord Shiva to find them so as to make him stay there. This is a major cremation ghat.

Mandir Ghat was built by Maharaja Jai Singh of Jaipur in 1770. Its northern part has a beautiful stone balcony.

Lalita Ghat was constructed by the King of Nepal in distinct Kathmandu style, dedicated to Lord Krishna.

Assi Ghat is the place where Tulsidas sat to compose Ram Charit Manas. It is popular among photographers and painters.

Left: Durga Temple Bottom: Khasta Kachori with lassi

9.30 AM: BREAKFAST@

12.00 NOON: TULSI MANAS

After the temple visit, relish the delicacies of Vishwanath Gali as it has innumerable street food stalls.

Try the super soft idlis of the South Indian snack shop or samosas, khasta kachoris, gulab jamun, rabri and mouthwatering jalebis available on numerous shops.

Do not Miss: Try the thick delicious yoghurt drink, lassi. There are a number of shops in the lane selling anardana, sweet supari, special pan mix, hingoli and sweet amla candy.

Do try them.

Positioned adjacent to the Durga Temple is another beautiful place to visit. Constructed in pure white marble and designed in Shikhara style of architecture, this post independence shrine was set up in the year 1964. Dedicated to Lord Ram, this temple is christened in the honour of Ram Charit Manas, the much celebrated epic poem composed by Goswami Tulsidas in 16th century AD. It is believed that most of the Ram Charit Manas was completed by Tulsidas at Varanasi and the Tulsi Manas Temple is erected at the very place where Tulsidas sat to write this outstanding Indian epic. The walls of Tulsi Manas Temple are adorned with the engravings of verses from this epic, as well as the episodes depicting the life story of Lord Ram.

VARANASI

11.00 AM: DURGA TEMPLE Dedicated to Goddess Durga, the temple is an example of architectural grandeur.

Constructed in 18th century, this holy shrine is designed in the Nagara style of architecture and painted bright red. As the legend goes, the idol of the Goddess placed in the sanctum of the Durga Temple is not manmade but it is swayambhu, i.e., self originated.

March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

TEMPLE

2.00PM: DELECTABLE LUNCH The Bread of Life Bakery & Restaurant, run by an American interior designer and a German flight attendant, is a place worthy to visit. Enjoy wholesome western

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8.00 PM: DINNER@GHATS You will find most of the local favourite food joints near the ghats or in the jumble of narrow lanes that run behind them. There are several restaurants offering a wide array of cuisines, from vegetarian Indian and Chinese to continental and Italian. It is not surprising to see a perfectly baked wood-fire pizza on the ghats.

2

DAY

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dishes and freshly baked breads and muffins. Their menu for lunch is huge ranging from Quiche Lorraine, Moussaka, Mediterranean eggplant escalope to Portuguese warm salad, Pizza, Spinach fettuccine, etc.

Try to make more of a day by visiting nearby areas of Varanasi.

8.00 AM: ST. MARY'S CHURCH Situated in the cantonment area of Banaras (Varanasi), the St. Mary's Church has a soaring structure with projecting entrance and low towers. The canopy like structure of the holy church mesmerise the

3.30 PM: GHATS CALLING On the banks of river Ganga, there are 84 bathing ghats built by several Maratha rulers including Shindes, Holkars, Bhonsles, Peshwas, etc.

Most of the ghats at Varanasi are meant for bathing and washing, but some of them are specially used as cremation sites, as it is believed that if your mortal remains are immersed in the Ganga River at Varanasi, you attain complete salvation.

Do not Miss: The Ganga Aarti is a highly choreographed ceremony, performed daily at 6 pm on the Dashashwamedh Ghat.

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Being a tourist hub, it is not surprising to see wood-fire pizza stalls at the ghats visitors.The church is located very close to the cantonement station.

9.00 AM: BREAKFAST There are several popular food joints in Cantonment area apart from Cafe Coffee Day, Pizza Hut and Bikanerwala. So before heading to Sarnath have a sumptuous breakfast.

10.00 AM: SARNATH Just 13 km from the city, Sarnath is the place where Gautama Buddha first taught Dharma after his enlightenment. It is one of the most serene places in India.

There are lots of Buddhists mathas

Top left: A helping of Kachori and Subzi Left: St. Mary's Church

FAST FACTS Best time to Visit: October to April Mode of Travel: Cycle rickshaws and scooters are the primary modes of transport in Varanasi. Since most lanes are narrow, so prefer walking.

March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

○V aranasi is also the place where the great Sufi poet Kabir was born. ○V aranasi is popular for Bismillah Khan, Banarasi paan and Banarasi sari.

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Extreme left: Dhamek Stupa at Sarnath.

Left: Ashokan Pillar Inset: Banarsi silk saris

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and shrines scattered throughout the city, along with an Ashokan stupa that is said to have relics of the king and the well-known Sarnath pillar.

There is also a Bodhi tree located next to a Sri Lankan monastery. Six national temples have been built by various Asian communities at Sarnath since the site's restoration, including a Tibetan temple and Sri Lankan temple.

Do not miss: The standing Buddha statue, with a height of 80 feet, sleeping Buddha at the Japanese Temple and the big bell near Mulgandh Kuti Vihar.

Did you know? The Archaeological museum in Sarnath holds

important historical relics like the Ashok Chakra and our national emblem, the Ashokan Pillar.

There are five galleries and two verandahs in the museum to display the antiquities ranging in time from 3 rd century BC to 12 th century AD found at Sarnath.

2.30 PM: FOOD GALORE Sarnath has a variety of restaurants that offer quality food as it is a popular tourist place. Apart from vegetarian and scrumptious south Indian cuisine, you can have lip-smacking momos or Tibetan dumplings at Friend’s Corner Tibetan Restaurant.

4.00 PM: SILK SHOPPING The silk saris of Varanasi are known the world over, usually worn by brides in most North Indian weddings and are priceless family heirlooms, handed down from mother to daughter.

Besides Banarasi saris and brocades, look for wonderful pieces of brassware, copperware, wooden and clay toys and antique designs of jewellery in Varanasi.

A trip to Varanasi is more about being absorbed into this ancient city and experiencing its culture. So get ready for a wonderful experience.

MUST DOs ○ A boat ride along the river Ganga ○ A visit to Malviya Bridge, which is a double decker bridge, that carries rail track on lower deck and road on the upper deck. ○ An aimless stroll in the city’s narrow lanes ○ Experience a festival like Holi, Diwali or Mahashivaratri in Varanasi March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

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CALL OF THE

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Before the heat of summer takes a toll, head to India’s national parks to marvel at the slender big cats, chirping birds and enjoy the isolation from the urban jungle.

W O R D S | MIA G A NDH I

JIM CORBETT NATIONAL PARK Uttarakhand Established in 1936, Jim Corbett National Park is located at a distance of 240 km from Delhi. It is the first of its kind in India. Nestled in Nainital district in Uttarakhand, it is spread across an area of 521 sq km. Amidst a variety of habitats, be it dry, humid, plain or grassland, there is a rich diversity of flora and fauna. Among the well-known residents are the Asiatic Elephant and Bengal tiger. A hot favourite among tourists, one can come across gharials, jackals, over 600 species of birds and reptiles, etc.

Book a SpiceJet flight to Delhi.

Best time to visit: November 15 - June 15

SPICEJET OFFERS CONVENIENT FLIGHTS TO AND FROM DELHI, JABALPUR IN MADHYA PRADESH AND JAIPUR IN RAJASTHAN. FOR DETAILS, LOG ON TO WWW.SPICEJET.COM March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

WHAT TO WEAR? Ensure you carry light clothes.

Do not pick shockingly bright colours; instead choose something that will help you blend into the background.

Various shades of green, brown, black and white should work perfectly.

BANDHAVGARH NATIONAL PARK Madhya Pradesh Situated in the heart of India, Bandhavgarh National Park is 204 km from Jabalpur. It has a large population of white tigers and Bengal tigers.

The 450 sq km park has a rich array of flora and fauna. Watch the many species of birds here, such as black stork, woodpeckers, cormorant, sandpipers among others. Before Bandhavgarh acquired the status of a national park, the Maharajas of Rewa maintained it.

Book a SpiceJet flight to Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh Best time to visit: January to March

RANTHAMBORE NATIONAL PARK Rajasthan One of the largest national parks in north India, the park is 132 km from Jaipur. Most famous for its tiger population, other animals such as leopards, striped hyenas, jackals, porcupines, hare, mongoose, crocodiles, desert monitor lizards and turtles can be found here. The famous and most photographed tiger in India, Machli, is the pride of this park. She is named after the unique fish-shaped markings on the left part of her face.

Due to a varied terrain, numerous domestic and migrant birds find a home in the park. Peer at Graylag Goose, Flamingos, Hornbills, Finches, Asian Palm Swift, among others.

Book a SpiceJet flight to Jaipur, Rajasthan Best time to visit: October 1 to June 30

MUST CARRY?

A hat, a good pair of sunglasses, sunscreen, stay hydrated and a sturdy pair of sneakers that can withstand rugged use.

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DESERT ROSE 46

Step into the world of the Rajputs and royalty, magnificent architecture and scrumptious local cuisine in the blush-coloured capital of Rajasthan.

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top pick among tourists, Jaipur is a favourite spot for those seeking to know more about the Rajputs and local culture. Located very close to the railway station, ITC Rajputana offers a magical retreat away from the city bustle. The sprawling hotel has been designed akin to the traditional Rajasthani havelis with its red brick structure rising to different levels. The various wings surround a central open area that offer space for recreational activities.

UNPACK

Among the 218 keys, there is a 487 sq ft Thikana suite, 340 sq ft

Rajputana Royale rooms, along with Rajputana Chambers and Executive Club rooms to suit the varying needs of the guests. The rooms offer a sweeping view of the property, with the humble Aravalli range in the backdrop.

DIG IN

Offering a wide variety of cuisines, ITC Rajputana can satiate your every craving. An iconic F&B outlet here is the Peshawri, that offers authentic North-West Frontier cuisine, with its popular tandoori delights, kebabs, creamy curries and baked breads.

The Dal Bukhara is definitely a must try. Post sundown, grab a drink and

sit at Jharokha, relishing the cool evening breeze. Tuck into delicious snacks and enjoy a live performance of instrumental folk music.

UNWIND

The Pink City is famous for its traditional bazaars, and once you’re tired to the bone heaving all those shopping bags, slip into Kaya Kalp, an award winning spa at the property. Open to only resident guests at the moment, the plethora of treatment programmes offers the perfect opportunity to relax and connect with your inner being. Opt for their signature pomegranate treatments.

Guests can also stroll through the few shops within the property itself, or try their hand at snooker or chess. Splurge on books at the in-house bookshop, or collect a few souvenirs or quirky knick-knacks.

There is even a separate playground for kids.

SPICEJET OFFERS DAILY FLIGHTS BETWEEN JAIPUR AND DELHI. THE AIRLINE HAS A WELL CONNECTED NETWORK PROVIDING CONVENIENCE LIKE NO OTHER. March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

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WEEKEND ESCAPADES

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As a number of long weekends have been generously sprinkled across the next nine months; we help you to make the most of it.

WO RDS | MIA GANDHI

SPICEJET OFFERS WELL-CONNECTED FLIGHTS TO AND FROM DELHI, MUMBAI AND CHENNAI. FOR DETAILS, LOG ONTO WWW.SPICEJET.COM

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POTPOURRI

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his year, it would be prudent to keep a travel duffel bag handy to easily slip away for the deliriously long weekends coming up. Of course, you may have to skip a day or two from work for maximum utilisation, but I don’t need to tell you it’s worth it.

Reschedule those meeting plans, revive the wanderlust, step out of your comfort zone this year, and make 2015 all about discovering new places and a new you FROM CHENNAI

PUDUCHERRY

The name Puducherry, erstwhile Pondicherry, stirs up a heady concoction of images. Brightly coloured walls, bold window frames, street signs in both French and Tamil and even the salty sea breeze; Pondy, as this place is lovingly called, is a popular tourist destination.

Getting there: SpiceJet offers wellconnected services to Chennai from major cities in India, and Puducherry is at a distance of approximately 173 km. Take a train or a bus to reach the Union Territory within 4 hours.

Places to see: Dip your feet in the waters, make sand castles, dive straight into the waters and meet the waves headlong. Puducherry has quite a number of beaches to explore. The Promenade Beach is said to be the foremost among all, stretching across a distance of 1.5km, with the seafront dotted by a war memorial, Joan of Arc’s statue, remnants of an old pier, among others.

Situated on Rue de la Marine, the Sri Aurobindo Ashram is a major draw for tourists. Founded almost 89 years ago by Aurobindo Ghosh, the ashram professes a synthesis of yoga and modern science. Auroville, an experimental town set up in 1968 by Mirra Alfassa, a French artist, the chief disciple of Aurobindo.

Tuck in: As Puducherry was a French colony for almost 200 years, its essence has seeped into its various facets. Le Cafe on Goubert Avenue is a good place to head to post a dreamy walk down Promenade

Below: A glimpse of the local architecture; Inset: Food at Kasha Ki Asha

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Beach. Dig into warm croissants, baguettes, salads or cakes. Villa Shanti serves delectable seafood like grilled fresh barracuda, tuna tart, among others. For fabulous pancakes, head to Kasha Ki Asha that also stirs up some mean fusion food.

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Left: A view of the Jain temple; Below: A close up of grapes in the vineyard

FROM MUMBAI

NASHIK 50

Situated at a healthy distance of near 170 km from India’s financial capital, Nashik is an amazing getaway option for Mumbaikars. From beautiful temples, natural attractions to sprawling vineyards, Nashik is prized for its picturesque surroundings.

Getting there: A prominent city in SpiceJet’s network, Mumbai is well connected to most cities in India.

Travellers can opt for volvo buses or trains, if not by road, to reach Nashik. Buses take more than four hours, while trains take you at half that time.

Places to visit: A culturally rich city, Nashik is known as the city of temples. Trimbakeshwar Temple is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas in India.

Visit the many vineyards in Nashik, watch the grapes being crushed

Built by Jain kings, Pandavleni caves are over 2,000 years old and deem as a must-visit spot. Also known as the wine capital of India, the climate here is perfect for vineyards. Zoom past sprawling acres of gorgeous vineyards. Some even double up as resorts, offering a unique stay.

Tuck in: Nashik is home to many restaurants offering a variety of cuisines, from Italian to Chinese, South Indian fare to traditional Marathi cuisine.

Annapurna Lunch Home located on MG Road offers a host of delicious dishes, especially the dosas. Tourists can even sample the street food here. From Misal Pav to Vada Pav, Shawarmas to Sabudana Vada, there is something to suit everyone’s taste buds.

HOLIDAY IN STYLE Home to almost 30 wineries in India, Nashik offers the perfect weekend escape to slip away from the bustle of Mumbai, and sip away to glory, overlooking the sun-kissed vineyards.

March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

Opt for tented accommodation if you’re up for it, dig it into delicious gourmet food and take your pick of shiraz or cabernet among other, holidaying in Nashik can become an amazing affair.

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Left: The facade of Viceregal Lodge; Inset: A serving of local momos

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FROM DELHI SHIMLA

Shimla is one of the most popular hill stations in India, and when it is only 6 hours away from Delhi, it becomes even more alluring to Delhiites. The former summer capital of British India, Shimla is replete with colonial splendour, quaint cottages and wooden homes, narrow serpentine roads marked with rickety fences, all paint a perfect holiday picture.

Getting there: Delhi is a key destination for SpiceJet, and the airline has numerous services that connect the city to other parts of India. Those who may be in the capital for business can easily book volvo buses that offer a comfortable ride to this enchanting hill station.

Places to see: Viceregal Lodge is definitely a must-visit spot. It was built in 1888 as the official residence of British viceroys, and is now home to an educational institute. Scandal Point is said to be the centre of the town, and the lodge is at a distance of 4.5 km. The Gaiety Theatre and March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

Colonial splendour & old world charm are alluring to Delhiites its adjoining cultural complex is said to be a gem in Shimla. Guided tours are also available at this Victorian theatre. Jakhu Temple, dedicated to

Lord Hanuman, is a famous religious site here, and nearby, there is a 33 m-high statue of Hanuman. Adding to the colonial backdrop, Christ Church has astounding architecture with stained glass. Apart from trekking, visitors can even let their hair down at Shimla’s ice skating rink.

Tuck in: Indian Coffee House is an age-old establishment in Shimla offering inexpensive yet delicious dosas, omelettes and oodles of frothy coffee. Cafe Sol serves a healthy mix of Italian, Mexican and other continental delights. Shimla also has a lot to offer in terms of street food.

Traipse around the city tucking into tangy fruit chats, generously lathered butter buns, ice creams in plastic glasses doused in syrups, fruits and shakes, all the while drinking in the old world charm of this place.

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A BURST OF

WONDER

The sight of thousands of Rosy Starlings flying across the sky in fluid fast-changing formations is one of the most amazing spectacles of nature.

W O R D S | B RINDA G ILL P H OTO GR A PH S | A DE SH SH IV K A R

THE NAME 'ROSY STARLING' STEMS FROM THEIR COLOURING: MALES HAVE A GLOSSY BLACK HEAD WITH A SHAGGY CREST, WINGS AND TAIL WITH A PINKISH BODY, AND THE FEMALES HAVE SLIGHTLY DULLER PLUMAGE. March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

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ait for a while,” said birder Adesh Shivkar, as if he had a plan in store.

Over a dozen bags had been hauled on the jeep carrier, hot milky ginger tea sipped, and the motley group of nature lovers, who had arrived by the early morning train from Mumbai, couldn’t wait to head for Little Rann of Kutch.

Yet, he seemed in no hurry to make tracks even as vehicles honked and people swarmed all around us in the parking lot of Ahmedabad Railway Station The winter sun was rising slowly, the light was low, and the area was getting noisier and more crowded.

It was still dark to spot birds and there didn’t appear to be any birds of specific interest within sight or sound. True, parakeets and rosy starlings jabbered away in trees in the parking area, yet they remained largely concealed in the foliage and darkness, and their calls were muted by the traffic.

A SPECTACULAR DISPLAY We waited, as experience from previous trips had showed us

Above: The murmuration of Rosy Starlings; Right: A close view of Rosy Starlings

that there is invariably a method to Adesh’s directives! “We need just one to make a move,” he said ambiguously. A dozen pairs of eyes looked hopefully at the mellowed cacophony from the nearest tree.

Minutes passed, the sun rose, and another round of ginger tea warmed us. One rosy starling flew off a tree.

It was instantaneously followed by a cluster. And then suddenly from seemingly nowhere, hundreds of rosy starlings were up in the sky like a cloud.

In the blink of an eye, another cluster of rosy starlings joined them, and the huge flock morphed into flowing shapes flying above the station. It parted into two, twisted and turned, and met again over our heads. The sight of a wave of thousands of birds, against fleecy white clouds and a pale blue sky, left us rooted to the spot. The flock fluidly changed shape: it appeared heart-shaped, spade-shaped, fish-shaped, split up and merged.

The sight of thousands of birds against fleecy clouds left us rooted to the spot The birds seemed within wingspan distance of each other yet none crashed into the other as they changed speed and direction in an instant, chattering all the while!

The flock darkened as the birds drew close, lightened as they scattered, seemingly revelling in forming a vast living breathing being composed of thousands of heartbeats. For a moment, it appeared like the scintillating ribbon of a gymnast, moving like a wave or spiralling. For another moment, it appeared like a diaphanous muslin floating across the sky. And later, it turned into an easy sea wave, gracefully rolling and retreating. The mesmerising performance carried on

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HELPING HAND

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Rosy Starlings feed on locusts that otherwise destroy crops. So they are welcomed by farmers in India. They also eat berries of the miswak tree Salvadora Persica, that grows in large numbers in Rajasthan and Gujarat, especially in areas that have saline soil. The berries are round, sweetish and juicy. The seeds of the berries pass through their digestive system or are spat out by them, and this helps in the propagation of the miswak tree. for a few minutes. Cell phones and cameras were brought out to capture the magic. And then suddenly, just as they had emerged, the Rosy Starlings dispersed... emptying the sky of their presence and calls.

MAGIC OF MURMURATIONS

How do so many birds gather out of nowhere? How do they change

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direction and speed, all in a fraction of a second? A dozen questions were directed at Adesh! Although, knowledge about the bird’s colouring, calls and spectacular shape forming flocks were known, seeing it was a different experience.

The phenomenon of starlings flying in formations is called murmuration. Adesh adds that there are different theories that explain the occurrence. “Gregarious by

They are the first to arrive in India and the last to leave in April nature, Rosy Starlings migrate and roost in flocks. Murmurations are typically seen in the early morning and at dusk. Perhaps it is a type of signalling, a feeling of safety in numbers that they fly together at sunrise and sunset. It is like a gathering of solidarity before setting off for feeding at different sites during the day. And once again, as

WHERE TO SEE THEM One of the best sightings of murmurations of Rosy Starlings is at the Lakhota Lake in Jamnagar, where thousands of birds indulge viewers in spectacular formations. Seen against the orange hues of March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

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they gather in the evening. Seeing one flock, other birds are attracted to it, till it is one huge flock.”

Apparently, when one bird changes direction or speed, each starling responds to it in a fraction of a second. Research and observations have deduced that each bird responds to about six to seven birds nearest to it, which, in turn, sets off a reaction that spreads through the flock like a ripple. Thus, the movement is actually a series of thousands of rapid short-range reactions!

Adesh adds that such movement also offers the advantage of confusing a bird of prey, just like a shoal of fish suddenly changes direction or speed when there is a predator fish nearby. It becomes difficult for a bird of prey to target a single bird. Another theory states that murmurations help the flock to gather, as it is warmer when thousands of birds roost together.

VISITORS FROM AFAR

Rosy Starlings spend their breeding months in Central Asia and the Middle East; they arrive in India to escape the cold winter. In fact, Rosy Starlings are among the first birds to arrive in the country as they start arriving around August and they are among the last to leave around April.

They are of the same family as the Common Myna.

As people travel from far to see the spectacle, the sociable winged visitors gift us the joy of seeing one of nature’s most amazing marvels.

sunrise or sunset, with the lake waters mirroring the hues of the sky, it makes for a stunning sight. Nature India conducts birding trips to different parts of India. Write to natureindiatours@gmail.com for details.

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A

bold painter in every might, Paresh Maity has dabbled in all mediums, be it watercolour, oil or even sculptures. He highlights the hidden and oft-seen beauty of India’s vast landscapes, and has thus, among a vast body of work, recreated the rustic flavours of Rajasthan, the serene allure of Shantiniketan and even the breathtaking frescoes at AjantaEllora.

He has to his credit almost over 70 solo exhibitions held across the world

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COLOUR MY WORLD A behemoth in the global art scenario, the versatile work of Paresh Maity forces one to see beauty in a new light.

W O R D S| R AM YA JS D' ROZ A RIO

His works have been exhibited in Hong Kong, Singapore, Germany, France, the United Kingdom and America.

Deeply inspired by Rabindranath Tagore, he organised an exhibition of watercolours Shesh Lekha (Last Words) on the occasion of Tagore’s 150th birth anniversary, at the National Gallery of Modern Art, in Delhi and Mumbai.

He also has to his credit a monumental feat of creating one of the longest paintings in the world. Set over 800 ft, the Indian Odyssey is on display at T3 Terminal at Indira Gandhi Airport, New Delhi. Welcoming tourists and travellers from across the world, this work of art focusses on the rich diversity of India.

Spiceroute catches up with the man himself and delves deeper into the mind and motives of the renowned Indian painter.

“THE ARTIST IS A RECEPTACLE FOR EMOTIONS THAT COME FROM ALL OVER THE PLACE: FROM THE SKY, FROM THE EARTH, FROM A SCRAP OF PAPER, FROM A PASSING SHAPE, FROM A SPIDER'S WEB.” Pablo Picasso March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

What is your latest collection Yatra all about?

Yatra is the journey of my life. It is a popular form of folk-theatre in West Bengal. When I was a child, I could experience the yatra while travelling in and out of my small town, Tamluk, Bengal. I could see, at night, on an open stage, beautiful performances blended with a lot of fantasy, mystery and surrealism depicting the real life journey - colourful and musical. It touched my heart and thus was born a series of paintings, Yatra.

You are known as a prolific artist, having put up 70 exhibitions in 35 years. How has the journey been so far?

The journey of my artistic imagination started at the age of 7.

It involved exploring a completely new language. I am inspired by the never ending stories of daily life and expressions that evolve every moment, as spontaneous as they can be, with colours, line and forms either in painting, sculpture or installation.

The surrealism, fantasy and mystery of Bengal's folk theatre touched my heart clay models of gods and goddesses, and later I moved on to painting rivers in watercolour and then in oils.

I knew I wanted to create the best works of art.

After having worked with various mediums, which is closest to your heart?

I enjoy working on different kinds of projects, and like to experiment with my work. Be it mixed media, watercolour, installations or even photography, every medium is close to my heart as any creation can be.

FAST FACTS Favourite cuisine: Home cooked Indian food Favourite holiday destination: Places that have fascinating imagery and tranquil surroundings, such as those that I have sketched like Kerala, Rajasthan, ghats of Varanasi, etc.

Five travel essentials: Art materials, sketch book, camera, walking gear and appropriate clothing.

Hobbies: Music, photography, and love observing and appreciating beautiful things in any form.

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How did you foray into this field?

As a child I had no idea what I wanted to be or do. However, suddenly at the tender age of seven, I felt an attraction towards art and painting.

I entered the field unknowingly without any pre-conceived ideas and thoughts. In school, I started making

Inset top left: Life is a Music; Top right: Life is a Full Circle Left: Wedding Bell

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I cannot put one before the other.

However, every medium has its own flexibilities as well as limitations.

I continuously like to explore all mediums and strive to touch new horizons.

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A lot of your work focusses on India’s natural beauty. How does travel inspire you?

Sometimes, there is not just one source of inspiration. Every small aspect has a purpose and touches me in some way. I have travelled vastly across India. Travel inspires me to get a clear understanding of life, humanity, colour, language and vocabulary of a new place, a new medium and new thoughts. It opens my mind to so much more.

Every moment of my travel helps me experience light, sound, movement and prods me to gain a deeper understanding of my emotional journey. It inspires me to change my palette, language, forms and imbibe new cultures and the new language of aesthetics in my art.

Left: A view of Maity's exhibition on display at The Taj Mahal Hotel in Delhi

country, my art and myself in the public domain on a global platform. I felt I had been given the opportunity to create better awareness about Indian art at an international level, as well as to inspire the aspiring generation of artists of our country.

Your comments on the current art scenario in India.

The current art scenario in India is exciting, strong, cerebral and universal. It is gaining immense recognition at a global level.

Tell us more about your future projects?

My future projects include major public art and worldwide exhibitions, representing my deep-rooted artistic expressions.

Now a national award winner, what were your thoughts when you received the Padma Shri?

The award has added greater responsibility to represent my

Travel inspires me to experience light, sound & movement

Your dressing style is as unique & creative as your work.

I see beauty and art in every thing, and so maintain the same in my personal life. My dressing style is a manifestation of my artistic spontaneity taking another form.

COLLECTIONS GALORE Some of Paresh Maity’s collections are housed in illustrious museums and institutes across the world, such as British Museum in London, Rubin Museum of Art in New York, Commonwealth Development CorporaMarch 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

tion in London, National Gallery of Modern Art in Delhi, among others.

Apart from the many awards bestowed on him, he has been recognised by the Indo-American society and Royal Watercolour Society.

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A CALL FOR

EMPOWERMENT

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Held annually on March 8, International Women’s Day celebrates the achievements of women across the globe. To mark this event, this issue, we speak to six illustrious women who are shining in their fields, reaching the pinnacles of success.

WO RDS| RAMYA J S D'ROZARI O

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his day is dedicated to the many acts of determination and courage where women have taken a stand for themselves and others.

The United Nations started celebrating International Women’s Day on March 8 during International Women’s Year 1975. The concept for this day emerged through the many labour movements that took place in North America and across Europe.

Women across all fields, be it political, social, education, science & technology, entrepreneurs,

personalities and educators, among others, take part in various thought-provoking activities on this day.

These events seek women to assess the development and growth of women in the world, what changes can be made and how to empower the others. Even schools and colleges organise events to mark this day, fashioning young minds to understand equality and give fair chance to all.

The UN theme for 2015 is ‘Empowering Women, Empowering Humanity: Picture It!’

“I MEASURE THE PROGRESS OF A COMMUNITY BY THE DEGREE OF PROGRESS WHICH WOMEN HAVE ACHIEVED.” B R Ambedkar

March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

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DANCE, DRAMA & MORE

Often described as the ‘Dancing Storyteller’, Savitha Sastry, a Bharatnatyam exponent, has brought a sweeping change in the field of performing arts. She spins a tale through her emotions, mudras and dance style.

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The journey My life with Bharatnatyam comes in two acts. The first part was when I was doing traditional pieces, that lasted for three decades. In 2010, due to the indifferent reactions of a dwindling audience for such particular type of shows, I felt a change was essential. Since then, I have been using Bharatnatyam as a medium to convey stories that have not been heard before. Taking a leaf out of cinema and good theatre, these productions deliver an edge-of-the-seat experience. The audience reactions to my productions such as Soul Cages, Yudh, The Prophet, and now Chains have been far beyond my wildest expectations.

Solo dancing A solo act can be the most difficult form of dancing, but it is also an enabler for a connect with the audience which a group dance can never achieve. To me, that connect makes up for all the exhaustion, physical and mental.

Depicting women My dance narrations are about characters that are as strong or weak as the people we find around us. To me, a real heroine can come from all ranks and rungs of society, and heroism comes from living with dignity in a difficult world.

Women empowerment I think an empowered woman is one that has the freedom to make a choice and act on it. This is beyond equality. In any relationship, there are times when a woman comes out taller and then there are times when she accedes to her partner.

March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

PEPPY BEATS

A disc jockey since the past seven years, DJ Barkha Kaul is a name that carries weight in the music and live entertainment industry. The former model, was recently awarded the Best DJ at Live Quotient Awards.

The beginning Even though I was born and brought up in Agra, I was always interested in music. However, when I was in Class 11, I won the Miss Agra title, and this pushed me into the modelling fraternity. One day, I realised how there were very few women DJs, and hence I decided to explore this career path. I landed with my first gig in August 2008.

Challenges This industry is definitely more challenging. I always have to be on my toes. I have to do my homework, stay updated with the latest music, keep practising with my equipment, etc. The working hours are late, and people keep coming up to me for requests. Whenever accepting a gig, I ensure my clients or event managers provide me with basic security, bouncers near the console, etc. In case the crowd seems to get restless, I am always prepared to leave the console, and let other DJs take over. But such a situation has not happened yet.

Receiving the Best DJ female award I could not believe this was happening.

Earlier, I had been nominated, but I had never won. Being recognised by the best in the industry means a lot to me. This has given me more confidence.

Women empowerment means A lot of courage and strength.

Many women are today picking up work in male dominated careers.

This just means that when women are determined to reach their goals, nothing can stop them.

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The beginning Since preschool, I used to doodle on paper, desks and walls. As far as I can remember, I have always been reading, drawing, making up rhymes, watching clouds and dreaming, unable to ever decide what I wanted to be, a writer or an artist. My journey as an artist is very exciting as I get to meet new people and work on new mediums all the time.

Confronting social issues I have chosen an expressionistic mode to tackle issues ranging from power relations and communal conflict to gender politics. Layered with undertones, my work speaks of the forces of time, nature and personal histories in a potent, nuanced voice.

Such as Saba Hasan Reads Her Poems, a video was screened in Barcelona as part of a performance festival in 2014 that comprises three of my verses. The poems were written in the last four years and concern themselves with racial profiling, caste and gender oppression, love, conflict as in war/violence and hope.

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A STATE OF TRANSCENDENCE A versatile artist whose work includes paintings, photographs, videos, sculptures and sound, Saba Hasan has been creating waves in India and abroad.

She uses various mediums to depict cultural and political issues, using her expressionistic mode.

March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

Innovation is key Of all the materials one is accustomed to encountering in art installations, sound is by far the most intriguing. It can fill up a bare space like nothing physical can, and leave a rather distinct imprint on its receiver. I have also chosen the medium of haiku as it suits my intuitive, minimalistic expression and my artistic philosophy. I use video poems soundtrack, which gives altogether a different experience. I use several Urdu expressions in English verses, which form old literary conventions.

My inspiration Inspiration comes from anywhere - an angry heart, a memory, music, the sky, ocean waves, leaves, bringing up my children, changing society, power conflicts and most certainly hope.

Women empowerment means The ability to express oneself and stand in this male dominated world makes me feel empowered.

A LIFE OF CONTRAST An accomplished photo-artist who captures people, street life, culture, Moushumee K Jha’s career began as an actor. Having worked on a variety of projects, she seeks inspiration from her artistic heritage and cultural training.

My inspiration I am fascinated by light. I find light intertwines with life and livelihood through patterns, angles, context, spaces and shadows, and creates stories that touch us. I am also curious about how candid moments impact the stillness of life and create a story. This journey started as a hobby 17 years ago and evolved into a profession in a short time span.

The challenge The challenges are due to requirement of travel, equipment handling, odd timings, lack of infrastructure especially washrooms, etc., but I have always received great support from fellow professionals, mentors and friends.

Advice for budding photographers Photography is a beautiful and a very satisfying creative profession to be in; and it is also easy to get in now with digital technology. But it takes time, patience and incessant passion to evolve and find your own niche. It takes some experimentation, some mistakes and a good mentor to show you the way and lift you when you are down.

Entering this sphere I had been a theatre artist, a TV anchor and had also done few Assamese films. The love of light, stage and camera stayed behind. Over time, this love found an expression through my camera.

Women empowerment means The freedom for a woman/girl to do what she wants to do, how she wants to do and when. This could be about education, profession, marriage, family and choice of lifestyle. My first book Ananya, published in 2010, was based on the journey of women in everyday life.

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ON A HIGH

India’s popular female bartender, Shatbhi Basu has been creating a stir in the F&B industry.

From corporate projects to hosting her own show, she now heads her own bartending academy.

March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

The journey so far Euphoric! I started out simply by doing my job well, without any strategic planning for the future. The rest just happened along the way and every opportunity was a way of getting better at what I do and sharing the knowledge with others.

The challenge I started out wanting to be a Chinese chef, but professional kitchens then were not very happy with women invading their domain. I moved to restaurant operations, and that’s when I discovered that my practical knowledge of the bar was quite poor.

Other bartenders were not happy about sharing information and so, learning was difficult. Hence, it became a challenge to be the best I could be. The biggest challenge was to adapt to available ingredients and create great cocktails. In fact, I learned to be a bartender after I was already a manager!

The process of reinventing It’s a constantly evolving process. I learned how to write first because there was nobody out there giving out real knowledge in my area of expertise. From my columns in mainstream press and trade journals, I wrote a book. Then began talking at seminars, hosting TV shows, etc.

Advice to budding bartenders...

Bartending is a strange mix of art, science and technique. If you have a passion for this kind of stuff, pursue it. A passionate bartender is quite like a chef. He doesn’t just cook from a recipe, but from a deep understanding of the ingredients and how they interact with one another.

A perfect drink to you is....

A drink is only perfect if the person drinking it says so! My personal favourite is a well-made martini.

A WHIFF OF GOODNESS

Chef Anahita Dhondy, Chef Manager at SodaBottleOpenerWala, is spreading love and joy through the rejuvenation of Parsi food and culture, in Delhi NCR. With grit and determination, her food touches the very soul.

The challenge The day I joined SodaBottleOpenerWala, I took it up as a challenge. I am a chef trained in French cuisine and pastry, but when I got this opportunity I grabbed it, as I knew my home cooked food could reach the masses. Parsi cuisine is rare to find, and if I can do my bit to promote it, there is nothing like it!

My food represents the community that I am from, a crazy, eccentric, foodie bunch who enjoys life as it comes!

Being in a male dominated industry When I was studying at IHMAhmedabad, the ratio of girls to boys in the kitchen was 1:10, but when I went to Le Cordon Bleu in London, it was very different.

There are many women who work in professional kitchens there; the industry is more sensitive there. My training experiences in Indian hotels weren’t easy as I used to be the only girl in a kitchen full of men.

The beginning I’ve been extremely passionate from a very young age towards cooking.

My mother introduced me to the world of food. My parents always pushed me to do what I wanted to.

Advice for budding chefs Things are changing in the industry as people are now more open to having women chefs. However, if you are passionate, there is no stopping you! Just be a fighter, and do what you love doing, and you’ll be successful.

A perfect meal to you is....

For a chef, there can be no such thing as a perfect meal. But for me, a really good meal would definitely be home-cooked dal, chawal and kolmi nu patio, which is extremely comforting after a long day at work.

And maybe a glass of chilled beer to go with it!

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ANISE A SWEET SPICE

Sweet and very aromatic, Anise is one of the earliest known herbs. Mainly known as a digestive aid in India, it has several uses in culinary and medicinal fields.

W O R D S | NE E LA M SING H

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nise or aniseed botanically belongs to the Apiaceae family of the genus Pimpinella and is known scientifically as Pimpinella anisum.

A native of East Mediterranean region, it is cultivated in Bulgaria,

Cyprus, France, Italy, Mexico, South America, Syria, Turkey, Spain, the UK and USSR, and was brought to the New World in 16th century by Spanish colonists. Since then, it has been used by Latin Americans for cooking and medicines. During medieval

times, it was combined with honey and vinegar, to treat tonsillitis. In India, it has grown to a small extent as a culinary herb.

HISTORICAL REFERENCE Anise has been mentioned in

EACH SPICEJET AIRCRAFT HAS BEEN NAMED AFTER A PARTICULAR SPICE. IN THIS ISSUE, WE TALK ABOUT THE BENEFITS AND USAGE OF ANISE.

March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

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Pharaonic medical texts where it was used as a diuretic to treat digestive problems and relieve toothaches. Hippocrates stated that anise can be helpful in clearing the respiratory system.

Anise was appreciated by Pliny who recommended chewing it to get rid of ‘morning breath’ and advised people to keep it near the bed for preventing bad dreams. Around the 16th century, Europeans used anise to bait mice and trap them.

CULINARY USES

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Anise seeds, oil as well as fresh young leaves are used in cooking.

It is used as a flavouring agent. Its flavour can be heightened by dryroasting the seeds. Anise is used in savoury and sweet dishes to impart its sweet-aromatic flavour to a variety of cuisines.

The whole seeds and freshly grounded powder are added to dishes at the last moment to limit the evaporation of essential volatile oils.

Anise is primarily associated with confectionery. It is used in much the same way as fennel to flavour fish, poultry, soups and root vegetables.

Anise seeds as well as its oil have been in use in the preparation of sweet dishes in many Asian countries. It is used as a flavoring base in the preparation of herbal tea; and a liquor called anisette.

OTHER USES

Anise is an herb. Its seed (fruit) and oil, and less frequently the root and leaf, are used to make medicines. It is anti-bacterial, anti-

Anise is used in both savoury and sweet dishes to impart its distinctive sweet, aromatic flavour to a variety of cuisines

STORAGE TIPS Store anise in airtight container in a cool, dry place and away from direct sunlight.

When stored properly, anise stays fresh for about 12 months, but it is best to use it as early as possible since it has the tendency of losing its flavour quickly.

March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

fungal, anti-oxidant, stimulant, carminative and expectorant. Its oil is used for production of anethole and sometimes as a sensitiser for bleaching colours in photography.

Anise is also used for upset stomach, intestinal gas and as an expectorant to increase productive cough, as a diuretic to increase urine flow, and as an appetite stimulant.

Other uses include treatment of seizures, nicotine dependence, trouble sleeping (insomnia), asthma, and constipation. In manufacturing, anise is often used as a fragrance in soap, creams, perfumes, and sachets.

ANISE TEA

Steep anise leaves in boiling water for about 5-6 minutes, strain them out and add honey to taste.

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BE DESI, DRINK DESI, THIS HOLI

Bold flavours are for Holi, but be unconventional this year and pick unique desi drinks instead of the usual thandai. Or, at least, have it with a twist!

W O R D S | MINI RIB E IRO

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handai is so inextricably co-mingled with the ethos of Holi that we seldom think beyond that. Traditionally, a paste made of almonds, cardamom, pepper and saffron is added to milk to make the perfect thandai.

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And, of course, it must be laced with bhang to usher in the spirit of Holi Tarun Dacha, Corporate Chef Sarovar Hotels, is of the opinion that Holi is incomplete without its staple thandai. A glass full of this lip-smacking drink down your throat is one of the highlights of every Holi celebration. However, he feels that keeping health in mind, one can have a low calorie version too. He adds, “Just add healthy ingredients like low fat milk, almonds, melon seeds (kalonji), poppy seeds (khus khus), black pepper, aniseed (saunf) to your regular thandai and make it a healthy drink.”

VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE While bhang is the most obvious

SOME COOLANTS FOR YOUR DRINKS Sabza seeds March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

Watermelon seeds

Kesar or saffron

Gulkand or rose petal preserve

Right: A yoghurt drink with fresh strawberries; Below: Khus sherbet

77 extension of thandai for that kick on Holi, nowadays, new twists are being given to thandai. A multitude of ingredients are being combined with it to impart a different flavour. After all, thandai too can be pepped up with a little imagination. Kesar, dry rose petals and khus, are the most popular additions. These can be added for a sweet and refreshing milk drink. Rose petals, however, must be combined with rose water for that special aroma and flavour and kesar has to be mixed sparingly, to ensure the flavour does not become overpowering.

Those with a sweet tooth are bound to relish this version with almond paste and gulkand blended with chilled milk and few cubes of ice. Topping this with chopped nuts will give it a little crunch and calories.

This is very similar to thandai, just a little richer. And for the calorie conscious, low fat milk may be used, to enjoy this drink guilt-free.

A LOT MORE WITH YOGHURT

Being a versatile ingredient, one can do a lot with yoghurt in drinks too.

Use fruits to jazz up your yoghurt and make a healthy fruit lassi.

And if you want to keep it simple,

Did you know? • Bhang ki thandai is also known as sardai. • Bhang is prepared from the leaves and flowers of the female canablis plant. • If consumed in the right quantities, bhang is believed to cure fever, dysentry, etc.

merely add rose or khus syrup to your regular lassi.

Another must-have with yoghurt is piyush, a creamier version of lassi.

Extremely popular in Maharashtra and Gujarat, it is made with shrikhand, curd, milk, sugar and a hint of cardamom. Piyush is the

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TRY IT AT HOME! TINGLING THANDAI Tarun Dacha, Corporate Chef, Sarovar Hotels Ingredients Quantity Milk ½ ltr. (2 cups) Sugar 1.5 tbsp Saffron 6 to 8 strands Almonds 20 nos Poppy Seeds 1 tbsp Fennel Seeds 1 tbsp Cardamom Powder ¼ tbsp Pepper corns 10 nos Pista 20 pcs

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Method 1. Boil the milk, add sugar & saffron & bring it to cool.

2. Soak the peppy seed & fennel seed in warm water, blanch the almonds.

3. Grind the poppy seed & fennel seed in a mortar & pestle.

4. Mix this paste with almonds, pepper corns & blend well (add a little milk, if required).

5. Mix this paste with milk & churn. Strain it with fine muslin.

6. Serve chilled with almonds, pistachios & saffron.

Variations:1. We can do variety of thandais like strawberry thandai, mango thandai, sitafal thandai.

2. For variations take the fresh fruit pulp, blended with fresh vanilla ice cream and mix it with the prepared thandai.

March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

Left: Bel Sherbet; Below: Thandai

perfect drink for cooling one’s system as well as satiating hunger.

SHERBETS

For those who do not enjoy dairybased drinks, one can settle for lighter sherbets. These are refreshing and easy to digest. Kedar Bobde, Executive Chef, Hyatt Regency Mumbai, recommends a bel sherbet. “Bel, also known as wood apple, is great for drinks. Personally, I like this only with fresh pulp. One can determine the ripeness of fruit by its skin colour, which should be towards brown or pale orange. Once you break open this fruit, the pulp is bright in colour. Mash the pulp to remove seeds and puree it. This can be refrigerated.”

He adds, “To prepare the drink, add two generous spoons of puree with a slice of lemon and few mint sprigs in a tall glass and muddle (this will enhance the floral aroma).

Top it up with ice cubes and pour over some fizzy lemon drink or even a dry white wine.”

From the family of cranberry, comes karonda.

Those who do not enjoy dairy-based drinks can opt for lighter sherbets This too is an apt ingredient for an innovative drink. Soak ripe berries overnight and discard seeds the next day. Grind this to a smooth pulp. For that zing in the karonda sherbet, rock salt and roasted cumin are a must.

Chef Kedar gives a tip. “To impress your guests, you can pre-season this pulp with some lime juice and rock salt and then pour over ice cubes in a tall glass and float some fizzy lemon drink.”

Sattu (ground roasted gram flour), if paired with ginger and mint, makes for a great drink.

So discover the goodness of our own desi ingredients and be innovative this Holi.

Enjoy these Indian drinks without getting intoxicated and sing Rang Barse!

Happy Holi!

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NEW PASSION FOR

SUPERBIKES With enthusiasts increasingly seeking that tantalising rush of adrenaline, passion for bikes and adventure is growing day-by-day. Know more about these superbikes and their riders...

W O R D S | S HYA M O LA K H A NNA P H OTO S | ARVIND RE DDY

ARJUN MITRA BELIEVES THAT IT IS ALMOST SPIRITUAL TO GET ON TO HIS BIKE AND RIDE OFF INTO THE SUNSET. IF HE NEEDS TO CONNECT WITH HIMSELF, HE DOES A SOLO TRIP. WHILE ON THE ROAD, HE CONNECTS WITH NATURE AND HIS MACHINE. March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

that it is because this ride is like a meditation— pure concentration!”

Arjun Mitra or ‘Dai’ (means ‘big brother’ in Nepali) is one of the older riders and is quite comfortable being ‘big brother’ to the group of riders. He used to ride a Harley Davidson earlier and did a lot of solo trips around the country. Now, that he has a BMW GS 1200 all terrain bike, he thinks that it ‘understands Indian roads better’.

A DREAM COME TRUE

Sanjai R Pahujaa, 41, bought his first Super Bike, a Suzuki GSX R 600cc in 2009. It was a four cylinder bike and the first time when he revved the throttle of that machine, it was a feeling similar to ‘First

Captain Ravee on his BMW 1200 GS

C

apt Ravee (retd), 44, has just got back from a motor bike ride to Nawalgarh on the Rajasthan border, approximately 120 kms from Delhi. His friend ‘Dai’ Arjun Mitra, rode on his superbike while Capt Ravee’s 19-year-old son, Abhinav, rode pillion with his father on the BMW 1200 GS. They are tired but exhilarated!

Capt Ravee was just 21 when he first saw Tom Cruise riding a Ducati in Top Gun When he spotted the Yamaha superbike at a showroom in Delhi in 2006, he realised that it was way beyond his reach. A few years later, in 2009, he bought the Suzuki Superbike, the Intruder and since then loved every ride on it.

According to him, “Riding a superbike is like riding a horse. The relationship between a man and his machine is the same as that between his horse and him. I have been a horse rider since childhood, but ever since I started riding this motorbike, my horses have taken a back seat. The greatest thing about riding a superbike is that even after riding for almost 10 hours at a stretch and covering 600 plus kms, you are not tired. And I do believe

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BIKE BLOG Arvy says, “I strongly believe that bikers are the nomads of yesteryears, flamboyant like gypsies, who want to go their own way, to connect with nature and thus, unknowingly understand themselves. For me, biking is about going places and picking up the vibes of local surroundings and while experiencing these special moments, trying to work out the puzzle called ‘life’.”

Left: Abhinav (L), Ravee (C), Arjun (R) Morning Ride on DND Below: Sanjai Pahuja - Suzuki Hayabusa

A favourite quote: “Sometimes it takes a tankful of fuel before you can think straight!” love’. In 1984, a few companies had launched the 100cc motorbikes in India. But then, the 11-year old Sanjai knew it was not his cup of tea—he wanted something more powerful.

Sanjai recalls, “At the age of 20, I was the proud owner of 350cc Yamaha Double Induction—the look, the sound and the feel of that engine were awesome!”

Today, Sanjai is a proud owner of a Suzuki Hayabusa 1300 R and a Suzuki Intruder 1800 M109R Limited Edition. Whenever he is on the road, people start clicking pictures of his bike from their cars. Some of them encourage with gestures.

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A RIDER AND A BLOGGER

A BIKER’S BIKE Capt Ravee feels, “Bike is a living being and all beings have spirit. She responds to my thoughts, take turns when I think and even stops as soon as I give a mental signal with very little of the physical action. She has a full fledged brain and I trust it completely since I know that I can make a mistake but it won’t.”

March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

YV Arvind, aka Arvy, 39, is a passionate biker and blogs soulfully about his passion.

The first time Arvy actually hopped onto a motorised 2-wheeler was on his Dad’s ‘Vijay Super (Mk-II)’, way back in 1985, when he was 11 years old. One day, Arvy pushed it in neutral and jumped onto it, putting it into 1st gear… and the scooter rattled off. The feeling was one of exhilaration! He had graduated…from the cycle to the motorcycle!

Arvy’s first bike was the ‘Bullet A350 Machismo’ in 2002, although

Points to remember Sanjai says, “I respect my bike, and when I am riding, I wear proper safety apparel and no stunts! I feel that my bike and I are one soul and we are facing each moment together---- whether enjoying the beautiful clean highways or the pain of traffic, the heat or the cold or rainy season. When we stop to eat, I prefer a good eatery which has a clean and safe parking place for my bike. I look out for gas stations which sell clean fuels, check tyre pressures and clean my bike also.”

Arvind Reddy - Harley Davidson 883 R Sportster

83 he rode a ‘Hero Puch’ for almost 7 years, before that! “Superbikes didn’t exist in that time frame, in my ‘world’. I was very happy with my Machismo and still am, as I ride it to office everyday, 9 years on. It’s been my loyal work-horse and we have covered a lot of ground together (80,000 kms), since then! It has been an integral part of my career-growth.

Talking about loyalty, it has stood by me in the coldest of Delhi’s winters (3-4 am) returning from relentless nights of work and during the hottest of summers, for almost 4 years while I was working on the Delhi Tube.”

Arvy’s weekday ride is the 500 Machismo – yes, he has upgraded the A350 and on the weekends, he rides the Harley Davidson 883 Roadster. Since Aug 2010, he has clocked around 7000+ kms on his weekly rides on the HD.

THE BOTTOM-LINE

The truth be told, these guys are actually living out their dreams.

What I admire about these four young men is that none of them

are smokers or drinkers. They are health conscious and take their health regimes quite seriously—not an ounce of extra fat on them.

But above all, they have done their duties by their families. Except for Dai, all others are married and have kids, and their wives are quite okay with this passion in their husbands’ lives.

Having said this, I have to quote what one young wife told me, “It is better my husband has an affair with a superbike than with another woman!” All these guys are like small boys with their new toys; they are happy with their passion.

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WELCOMING PROSPERITY BOTH PARSIS AND IRANIS ARE ZOROASTRIANS. THE PARSIS LEFT THEIR HOMELAND PERSIA AND MIGRATED TO INDIA 1,000 YEARS AGO, WHILE IRANIS CAME 300 YEARS AGO. PARSIS ARE DIVIDED INTO 3 SECTS - FASLIS, KADMIS AND SHAHANSHAHIS. March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

The festival of Navroz marks the change in season ushered by the Spring Equinox.

Know more about the Parsi new year festival...

WO RDS AND P HOTOS | SANAEA PATEL

O

n 21st March, day and night are almost the same in length. On this day, the sun crosses directly over the equator and in the Northern hemisphere, it is the vernal equinox or spring. It represents the triumph of good over evil, of light over darkness.

The Parsi/Irani New Year, which is based on this vernal equinox, is known as Jamshedi Navroz Navroz celebrations originated in Iran with the Persian king Jamshed who was a wise and gracious king.

'Nav' means new and 'Roz' means day. The day Jamshed became king was 'Navroz' and it happened to be a vernal equinox. Navroz also marks the change in seasons, from winter to spring.

THE CELEBRATION

Preparations for Navroz start weeks in advance with Parsis/Iranis buying

Above: Navroz table; Right: Chalk rangolis at the entrance of homes

new clothes and cleaning their homes. On Navroz, chalk rangolis adorn the entrance. The ones depicting fish and horse shoe which are for good luck, and ses which is auspicious, are common patterns.

The doors of homes and the Agiary (fire temple) are decorated with garlands of roses and tube roses known as torans.

Though both Parsis and Iranis celebrate Jamshedi Navroz, it is only the Iranis who lay the table for Navroz. A week before the festival wheat grains are placed in a dish to allow them to sprout. On the day of the festival the table itself has 7 items starting with the alphabet ‘s’ in Persian and this custom is known as Haftseen. ‘Haft’ means seven in Persian, there are also seven

On Navroz, chalk rangolis adorn the entrance for good luck Amesha Spentas or archangels in Zoroastrianism. ‘Seen’ means the Persian letter ‘s’. The 7 items include sekeh or silver coin for wealth, samanu or sweet wheat pudding, sabzi or the sprouted green shoots of wheat for prosperity, sonbol or hyacinth, senjed or a small dried fruit and serkeh or vinegar. The sweet meats kept in a plate and the rosewater in the gulab dani symbolise sweetness and happiness.

Seb or apple, sir or garlic, berries, green vegetables and fresh fruits, dried fruits and nuts, pumpkin seeds, the holy book Khordeh Avesta, a

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VERA MAI NU RAVO (​ 'My Grandmother’s Semolina Pudding' by Anahita Dhondy, Chef Manager at SodaBottleOpenerWala) Ingredients 1 cup Semolina (Sooji) 1 cup Sugar 2-3 Tbsps Butter or Ghee 2tsps Vanilla Essence 4 cups Milk Roasted Almond Slivers Fried Raisins A few Rose Petals

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Method 1. Sauté the semolina in Butter or ghee till it turns light brown.

2. Warm the milk, just slightly enough as to dissolve the sugar. Keep aside 3. Add the milk slowly to the semolina stirring continuously.

4. Keep stirring on simmer till it starts coating the back of the spoon and becomes thick.

5. Take off heat and add the vanilla essence.

6. Take out 'Ravo' in a pretty glass bowl and garnish with slivered almonds, raisins and rose petals.

Left: A visit to the fire temple or Agiary is a must.

picture of Prophet Zarathustra, are essential items placed on the table.

An important ritual is to place a small bowl with a silver coin on top of which is arranged a pomegranate. A mirror is positioned in a way to reflect the image of the pomegranate. It is believed that when the equinox occurs, the pomegranate shifts its position, that can be seen in the mirror and is said to be the 'turn' of the year.

Every year when the equinox occurs, the family prays and exchange greetings of ‘Navroz mubarak’. The lady of the house then leads her family to the Navroz table and the guest or family member is sprinkled with rose water, symbolising good aroma in the receiver’s life and then made to look into the mirror and smile. After the rituals, family member can partake of the goodies placed on the table.

Guests and family members also enjoy falooda, sev dahi and ravo.

Navroz sees Parsis/Iranis visiting friends and family with a box of sweets. The popular sweets are suterfeni, jalebi and boondi nu paan or mawa nu paan.

COMMUNITY CELEBRATION

There is a community get together on Navroz along with cultural and entertainment programmes, dances/ fashion show/ talent display by kids and adults followed by dinner. Parsi/Irani students who scored 70% and above in their 10th and 12th standard board exams are also felicitated. The community comes dressed in their Sunday best - the women wear their bright and intricate garas while the men are attired in traditional duglis and trousers.

So let spring bloom in the heart and new thoughts, words and deeds be followed on Navroz.

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WHAT’S TRENDING?

This year, embrace different interior trends to give your home a fresh appeal.

We share a few ideas here...

W O R D S | PA RUSH NI AG G A RWA L

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he best part of a new year is trying out new things.

New Year also brings new trends, be it fashion or interior design. It is important to accept them and to adapt them to our inner tendencies and styles.

Some of these predictions are about how the shift toward a more personal and meaningful space will translate into designs and home decorating in 2015.

The new tendencies in interior design provide more optimism, more joy and hope; they are concentrated around harmony LIVING ROOM

Whether it is hosting a bunch of close friends for a warm lunch or catching up an old classics together with family or simply snuggling on a relaxed couch, living rooms serve many purposes. It is here that we

spend ample time ‘together’. Thus, it is important to give your living room a nice facelift.

This year design trends include classic, retro and contemporary design ideas, traditional and new materials, fresh decorating colours, exotic motifs, ethnic decoration patterns, artistic details and surprising blend of textures.

Contemporary design ideas can be combined with velvet and silk or carved wooden accents mixed with industrial metal details to give more stylish, original and unique look to the living space. The latest trends reflect the desire to establish a vivid and memorable way of creating bold and interesting work or living space that has a vibrant personality.

For a long time we've been seeing mostly bright, white interiors (white walls, white floors, white ceiling), but this time the shift would be towards darker, moodier hues.

Think navy, charcoal, hunter green or even aubergine.

One can also create an almost transparent interior; contrast the

FURNITURE-STYLE CABINETRY AND OTHER FEATURES WILL BE ONE OF THE TOP TRENDS IN 2015. THIS MARKS ANOTHER STEP IN THE EVOLUTION OF THE KITCHEN AS THE HUB OF THE HOME, RATHER THAN JUST A FUNCTIONAL AREA USED FOR FOOD PREP AND COOKING ALONE. March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

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colour’s silvery and smoky qualities with the unexpectedly cool grey Dimpse, a colour inspired by the tones of twilight. Create a feeling of relaxed movement by adding an accent of Lamp Room Gray on the floor, feature wall or furniture, and blackened on the ceiling.Â

TRENDS IN BATHROOMS

Bathrooms are no longer just a utilitarian space, today's bathroom can be a place of luxury and convenience. Achieving this is a

matter of keeping up with the latest and greatest design elements.

Modern bathroom design trends for this year are looking to transform these functional rooms into bright and pleasant home interiors, with a fun water-party atmosphere and ultimate comfort. The new trend in the bathroom design is implementing features that improve accessibility and comfort, creating a spa-like feel in the spaces, natural light and air without damaging the necessity of privacy.

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MODERN STYLE Introduction of mirrored bath cabinets with an LCD television can be incorporated in the door. In 2015, modern bathroom design would take a shift towards contemporary style with free standing bathtubs, glass shower enclosures and wall mounted sink vanities.

Talking about the colour, white is still an incredibly popular choice for bathroom colours (along with blue and beige) and is also found to be the fastest-growing shade for bathrooms today.

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The bathroom trends of 2015 will be enabled by advanced electronics.

Digital Showering Systems have smart features such as a warm-up mode, timer, and the ability to pause water flow. For public restrooms, there's an iPhone app that plays a continuous flushing noise to cover up any offensive sound that might come from your toilet stall, saving both embarrassment and extra water-wasting flushes.

TRENDS IN KITCHEN

There are countless options for appliances nowadays. Latest appliances like steam assist ovens which promise speed,

Home entertainment enters kitchens, as appliances with builtin media gain favour

versatility, and healthful meal prep, combination steam/convection ovens have been making their way home. Four-door refrigerators provide an additional easy-access storage compartment, often with separate temperature controls.

Home entertainment is also entering the hearth. Appliances with built-in media are trending.

In 2015, lights of the kitchen would be considered more when planning the concept of kitchen design providing adequate illumination on demand.

The writer is the Owner & Creative Director of Studio Creo.

CONTRAST COLOURS To add interest and character to your cooking zone, incorporating wallpaper will be a major trend in 2015 as wallpaper provides an easy way to add visual impact even in March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

small amounts and gives you the control of complementing the architectural elements throughout the kitchen or adding a beautiful contrast to an otherwise simple colour palette.

Sandhiya Mehhta Numerologist and Vastu consultant

Sandhiya Mehhta received the ‘Asia Pacific award’ for outstanding achievements and services to the nation by Prime Minister of Nepal in October 2014.

The nation changed as it was supposed to, Modi Wave predictions have come true.

Sandhiya Mehhta is a world known ace Numerologist and Vastu consultant with ultimate knowledge and wisdom in her subject that no one has matched.

She has not only studied Numerology thoroughly but also researched and developed further to expand its reach to each and every human soul and guide them to their enchanting dreams and make them come alive.

She has been guiding and helping people for more than two decades and her charisma and enthusiasm in the field has won her Awards like, ‘The Nari Ratna Award, Indira Gandhi Priyadarshini award, Rastriya Rattan Award, 4P Brand, Mahila Shiromani Award, Global Indian Leaders Excellence Award, titled ‘The Indian Nostradamus’ etc.

“A bright star has its own energy; but to light up a lamp in the dark is much more powerful,” and with that motto she leads her life and helps all sorts of individuals.

Numerology is a science of accuracy, the first predictive occult science. In ancient times people used stars as a numerical reference to count things and plan their lives. Today when we have all the knowledge, we don’t need stars, we just need a number and then study it accordingly. A number changes things, it tells you a precise year that your life is turning, and allows you to prepare for it. Knowledge is simple, but to plan for the future is upon you, and if you do this well numerology will help you tremendously to grow, rise and shine.

However let me clarify any name change, mantra’s, fasting, spelling changes cannot guarantee you results. “To a person who seeks success, my system of numerological calculations will bring success, happiness and prosperity. And to those who are already successful it will bring sustainability, positive reinforcements, further success and an introduce to a new and higher perspective and lifestyle.”

Her methods “I do not just give predictions and sit as a numerologist, I communicate, consult and empower your energies for a better life”.

To see a hurdle as a problem is foolish, but to learn the path and use a different course is wise. I work with an aim of guiding people to sustain and grow their positive energies and to work on their weaknesses, make them stronger and positive for a future course. We all are blessed by positive energies, just not all. So to recognize what is missing, and to uplift it is my strength as a Numerologist.

This study of missing numbers in your birth graph helps me to determine what are the strong energies that I can see in you and uplift these energies to suit to your dreams and ambitions. By way of using self improvement and certain other tools and remedies that I have developed over a period of time we can uplift these energies and get a little extra boost that your fortune needed.

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4 & 8 the deadly duo Her findings show that 70% in this world are born with the number 4 & 8. We know them as rahu-ketu & connect them usually to disappointment’s delays and sorrows. But they also have the power to give you more than they take in the end.

A person with 4 & 8 can take benefits from numerology & understand which years of his life are turning out to gain positive forces from these numbers. As per that they can channelize their energy and make the most of those years, which if not for prior knowledge he would have skipped or not worked hard in. It is a blessing in disguise; it teaches you lessons in life and makes you a stronger person, and to find a partner with the same number will be the best marriage

Numbers such as 1,9,5 & 3 struggling through success Individually every number has its massive merits but if it doesn’t get the support of your fadic/destiny number it cannot do much for you. 1, 9, 5 & 3 are very powerful numbers and should get magnanimous success as per individual calculations, but if you are still struggling and have faced certain problems you should try and understand your state of energies and de tangle the web to create a free way for your future.

How does numerology help me: Numerology is the only work of occult science which deals in numbers directly, and so one does get to work with the closest association of our daily lives. Our age, finances, the turnaround years, the lucky dates, months. Once you have your detailed consultation, one can then plan his life. ‘To have the knowledge is the supreme power you will ever receive, and numerology will give you the knowledge about “Yourself ”.’

Overseas but curious: “I have many clients overseas who are so attached to me and have a faith in my system. One can just learn about themselves, understand his life in a much better way, no matter where you reside, what faith you belong to or what are your inhibitions, you should never deny yourself the knowledge of your own self ” Results There is a Buddhist saying, ‘you yourself must strive; the Buddha just point the way.”

There are no criteria to evaluate what the results of the remedies are. I just believe in helping who believe in the power of universe. If you believe in yourself and the universe let me just show you a direction, you yourself will lead on the right path and achieve the results within no desired time. I have received tremendous positive feedbacks to have faith in the universe myself.

“I am not god; I just understand my field of work and use it to help people, guide them and provide them with some efficient ways to be happy, peaceful, ever-glorious and a good part of our society & I continue to achieve results with all my clients.” Sandhiya Mehhta.

For any further personalized details about yourself or your family, guidelines, numerological analysis of yourself, feel free to write in or call up on the following:

Sandhiya Mehhta HO: Mumbai: 022-26371670, 71, +91 – 9819921673, +91 9769071673, Delhi: +91-9654483695 Email: contact.yellowsoul@gmail.com Website: www.yellowsoul.in

For daily predictions follow:

Twitter handle: @SandhiyaMehta Facebook: Sandhiya.Mehhta

NOTE: We really appreciate your interest in this article and look further to hear from you. Please let someone else read this article after you and kindly do not tear of the page. You can take a note of the contact details and feel free to communicate.

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A SAFE HOLI SAY NO TO WATER-BALLOONS INSTEAD, USE DRY GULAL TO COLOUR PEOPLE. LET THE FOCUS BE ON FOOD, MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT. HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY HOLI!

March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

Holi is a festival of colour with fun and frolic. Encourage safe Holi celebrations with family and friends.

WO RD S | MIA GANDHI

H

oli, celebrated during spring in India, is a festival every child and adult looks forward to. Drenched in mischief, this occasion entails a day spreading joy, colour and vibrance in the lives of loved ones.

Generally, people tend to get carried away on this day, and many don’t realise how they harm others in the process of applying colours So take time out to explain to your children and instill in them the practice of a clean and safe holi. Here are a few tips...

COLOUR ME BRIGHT, COLOUR ME RIGHT

○ As playing Holi is an opportunity to get drenched with colours, they stain the clothes beyond repair.

Ensure your children are wearing old clothes on this day that can be easily discarded later. ○ Children can wear full sleeves t-shirts and full pants that will protect their skin from the harsh chemicals often present in the coloured powders. ○ Encourage kids to play with organic and chemical-free colours, and stock up on the same at home too! ○ It is often impossible to dodge those armed with colours, waiting to attack people and smear them with colours. It is important to close one’s eyes and mouth immediately, preventing any colours from touching your eyes or from ingestion. ○ Before heading out on this day, apply generous amount of coconut oil, or any other oil on your hair and body. This layer of oil will form a preventive layer on your skin, keeping the harsh chemicals at bay. ○ Explain to your children that they must not play with mud, eggs and dirty water. These are extremely dangerous and unhygienic. To avoid ending the day on a sour note, it is better to be safe than sorry. ○ It is important that children comprehend the meaning of personal space and independence.

Tell them not to get carried away while playing, or forcing colours on hesitant friends. ○ When kids are out with their friends, it is very easy for them to succumb to peer pressure and carry out wrongful activities. It is imperative that parents must impart

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YOU CAN DO IT! How to prepare natural colours?

Green: Mix equal parts of henna powder with flour or use dry and finely powdered leaves of the Gulmohur (Delonix regia) tree.

Yellow: Mix one part Turmeric (Curcumin) powder to two parts besan (gram flour) or talcum powder.

Blue: Crush dried Blue Jacaranda flowers into a powder or blue Hibiscus flowers.

Orange: Dried and crushed flame of the forest (Tesu) flowers can be used to make an orange powder.

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a sense of right and wrong, such that they refrain from hurting others. For example, do not aim water balloons at oblivious pedestrians from roof tops, or fill the balloons with dirty gutter water. ○ On this day, traditionally, people consume drinks laced with opioids as a part of the merriment.

However, strictly tell your kids not to accept any drink or food items from strangers, as they may contain the unwanted ingredient. One must not throw caution to the wind today for the sake of this festival. ○ Do not let your children wander alone on the streets on this day.

There are many miscreants who harass lonely pedestrians. Children must be accompanied with adults or be a part of large groups. ○ It is true that holi would be incomplete without colours, however, take time out to explain to your children the significance of this vibrant festival. ○ Always keep a bucket of fresh water handy in case colours seep into any person’s eye. Wash the affected area with clean water

March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

a very early age and tend to repeat the same type of celebrations later in life.

INDOOR BLISS

Take time out to explain to your kids the significance of this festival copiously, and in case the irritation persists, visit the doctor as soon as possible. ○ If your child’s skin is susceptible to rashes, discourage him/her from playing with others. Use organic colours as a symbol of the festival, so he/ she doesn’t feel left out. ○ Avoid loud and rowdy Holi parties which might spoil the environment of family and create problems for neighbours. Children get accustomed to such parties at

○ In case you wish to spend time away from the revellers and loud parties, there are many activities at hand to enjoy with your family. This would be a good day to brush the dust off the carrom board and arm yourselves with piping hot snacks for a good game of carrom. ○ Children can also get creative with colours indoors and spend a lovely afternoon dedicated to colouring, painting or even spray painting!

This will not only provide a good deviation from the ruckus outside, but after their handiwork is done, you can pin up the paintings all over the house. ○ Engage the children in making a colourful rangoli at home using organic colours, flowers, petals and even chalk.

So this year, do not forget your responsibility towards your friends and yourself, and enjoy a clean and safe Holi.

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NURTURING 96

AGAINST ODDS

A mother and a child’s bond is essential for the latter’s development. It gives shape to a child’s personality. Read how a mother brought change in not only her child’s life, but in the lives of many others.

I

n the late 70s, when Dr Shayama Chona was blessed with a baby girl, little did she know what the future held for her baby and her. Tamana was born with Cerebral Palsy. Till the age of 9, she was unable to walk or speak. Treatment facilities for special kids were almost non-existent in India at that time. Dr Shayama Chona had to take her daughter for treatment abroad.

Dr Chona saw in this a calling for herself, to set up a facility for special needs children in India who could not afford treatment abroad. She set up Tamana, an NGO in 1984

And thus started the journey of one of the first special schools of India.

VISION

Tamana was created solely for the purpose of providing the best professional help to children and adults with developmental and multiple disabilities, minimal brain damage and autism; providing a holistic developmental education to

CEREBRAL PALSY (CP) IS A DISORDER THAT AFFECTS MUSCLE TONE, MOVEMENT, AND MOTOR SKILLS (THE ABILITY TO MOVE IN A COORDINATED AND PURPOSEFUL WAY).

March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

PRESENT SITUATION Tamana has survived extreme hardships, including living through times without basic amenities of adequate shelter, electricity and water. Today it can boast of completely independent and committed centres in three premises in Vasant Vihar New Delhi.

Tamana is recognised by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India and Department of Social Welfare, Government of Delhi. It is an NGO in Special Consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council.

children with special needs, to effect optimum adult habilitation and to make them happy and integrated members of society. And the organisation proudly confesses that it has been able to achieve the stated objectives.

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Left: Students of Tamana busy with various activities

CHALLENGES

There were many obstacles to the journey that began from a small shed with four children. The major obstacle was ignorance. There was hardly any awareness about disability and trained manpower was not available. Individuals with intellectual impairments were considered as ‘mad’ or ‘mentally ill’. The residents of the colony, where the first centre was to come up, protested that an institution for ‘mad people’ could not be allowed in a residential area.

Financial constraints were also present. There was no support from the government. At that time there was no ministry, special schemes or legislation for persons with disability.

From 1984-86, Tamana existed unknown and unheard of, working silently for children with special needs. Tamana helped about 30 children with minimal brain damage to get admission in normal schools,

Ignorance regarding Cerebral Palsy was an obstacle, as was lack of trained manpower successfully playing a dual role.

On one hand, it convinced schools not to strain the special child with normal academic load, and on the other hand, it counselled parents not to make unrealistic academic demands from their children. Soon Tamana realised that most existing schools did not have teachers for Special Education and were, therefore, incompetent to handle these children. It was at this stage

that Tamana decided to set up its own centre. Late Princess Diana inaugurated the first centre. It is then that the government and society started supporting the cause.

BRINGING CHANGE

Since the last 31 years, Tamana has been instrumental in improving the prognosis of life of the beneficiaries who have availed its comprehensive rehabilitation programme.

These individuals have become independent in taking care of their personal needs. Some have even moved towards self reliance. They are happily integrated in their familial setting and community. There is

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Left: Tamana focusses on employabilitydriven skills

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more acceptance for them in society.

Working hard to achieve success for its mission, the Tamana team has helped maintain an ambiance of vibrancy, enthusiasm and dedication with individualised attention for its students.

DIFFERENT AREAS OF WORK

Tamana is providing a comprehensive rehabilitative programme to the 300 plus special needs individuals through its three centres- Tamana Special Education Centre, Tamana Skill Development Center, Tamana Autism Centre. The services provided include○ Special education ○ Formal education through National Institute of Open Schooling ○ Therapeutic interventions that include speech therapy, occupational therapy and physiotherapy

Tamana maintains an ambiance of vibrancy, enthusiasm & dedication towards every student ○ Skill development ○ Early intervention ○ Hostel facility for outstation students ○ Diagnostic services ○ Outreach programme ○ Manpower training ○ Reverse Integration - Tamana is the first institution in India to start a reverse integration programme, where children from economically weaker sections are integrated with the special needs children in a special school setting.

FUTURE PLANS

Tamana is one of the oldest, and internationally recognised institutions in the area of rehabilitation of disabled in India. It focusses on introducing Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in the lives of the special needs individuals. Tamana had set up a Cognitive and Neuroscience lab to develop ICT-based application for improving motor, cognitive and social skills.

Tamana looks forward to being one of the premier institutions for research on disability, introducing innovations in curriculum design and developing state-of-the-art teaching aids. It plans to introduce more employability-driven skill development programmes for the special needs adults at its centres.

BREAKING BARRIERS Dr Shayama Chona, Founder & President, ‘Tamana’, is the former principal of Delhi Public School RK Puram, New Delhi. She has been awarded Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan by the President of India. Her daughter Tamana Chona is the inspiration behind the NGO. Today, Tamana is a confident self reliant young women who loves to dance, play tennis and watch the latest films.

March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

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HOLI

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THROUGH THE LENS

Festivals add colour to life and if it is a festival like Holi, then the whole atmosphere gets submerged in vibrant hues. In these pages, we have showcased different moods of Holi captured by different photographers across India.

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Photog ra ph: R a mit Ver ma

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HOLI MARKS THE START OF SOMETHING FRESH, NAMELY SPRING, AND BURNS OFF THE OLD AND THE DESTRUCTIVE PAST IN THE BONFIRE THE NIGHT BEFORE THE FESTIVITIES SO THAT THE MORNING CAN BRING A NEW BEGINNING.

P h o to gra p h : D i l i p B a n e r j e e

1

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Photogra ph: Sha il end ra Ra na

2

March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

1. Girls in yellow sarees with Palash flowers around their neck.

On the occasion of Vasant Utsav in Shantiniketan, the students entertain guests with some spectacular performances.

2. Children drenched in colours in the very essence of Holi, sharing joy and smiles.

Facing Page 3, 4 & 5: Different facial expressions during the celebration of the festival. Holi is one such festival when people do not mind getting dunked in colour.

Photog ra ph : Ra mi t M it ra

Photog ra p h: Ra m it Ve rm a

P h o to gra p h : R a m i t Mi t ra

3 5

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4

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P h o to gra p h : R av i D h i n gra

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1 1. People in Mathura and Vrindavan celebrate Holi in a very traditional manner by worshipping Lord Krishna and Radha.

March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

2. Spraying gulal during the celebration 3. The festival takes on a rosy hue 4. The accelerating frenzy during Holi

3

Photog ra ph : Yash Ne g i

Photog ra ph : Ra mi t Ve r ma

P h o to gra p h : R a m i t Mi t ra

2

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A TIME FOR TOGETHERNESS

This month, explore the many festivals steeped in history and culture in India and Southeast Asia.

W O R D S | N E E LA M SING H

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NAVROZ The Parsi New Year, Navroz, is celebrated at dawn of the vernal equinox, when daytime and night are of approximately equal duration as the sun crosses the celestial equator. Named after the Persian ruler Jamshed in whose reign the

festival began, Jamshed-e-Navroz is symbolic of rejuvenation and rebirth.

On this day, Parsees visit the fire temple for thanksgiving prayers and offer sandalwood sticks to the fire.

After the prayers, they greet each

other and exchange gifts.

They set up a table with the mythical ‘Gathas’ and put up things that represent prosperity, wealth, productivity and happiness.

When: March 21, 2015 Where: Nationwide

SPICEJET OFFERS FLIGHTS TO JAIPUR AND UDAIPUR IN RAJASTHAN, AND THOSE WHO WISH TO FLY TO PATTAYA IN THAILAND, CAN TRAVEL WITH THE AIRLINE TO BANGKOK. March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

CHAPCHAR KUT It is the most joyful festival of the Mizos (named after bamboo that has been cut and is drying). The bamboo dance, called Cheraw, is a big part of the festival.

Different styles of dance performances take place amidst cymbal clashes and beats of drums. People enjoy enthralling music and the crowd goes berserk when the choicest of the Mizo pop divas perform Mizo songs.

When: March 06, 2015 Where: Aizawl, Mizoram

GANGAUR Rajasthan is best seen in all its colours at the time of Gangaur, the spring festival dedicated to the goddess of abundance, Gauri (Parvati).

The festival is celebrated by womenfolk with great enthusiasm and devotion. The fortnight leading up to Gangaur is marked by fasting, daily pujas of Gauri, and on the day of the festival itself, a bejewelled and beautifully clothed idol of the goddess is the centre piece of an elaborate procession.

When: March 22-23, 2015 Where: Rajasthan

PATTAYA MUSIC FESTIVAL Enjoy three days and three nights of live music from musicians all across Asia along Pattaya beach road in Chon Buri. There is a wide range of musical talent from local musicians and Asian musicians who play everything from hip-hop to rock. The audience consists of thousands of music lovers from Thailand as well as abroad.

When: March 20-22, 2015 Where: Pattaya, Thailand

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FILMS RELEASING IN MARCH

BOLLYWOOD OTHER RELEASES

NH10 Release Date: March 6, 2015 Cast: Anushka Sharma, Neil Bhoopalam, Darshan Kumaar Director: Navdeep Singh

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Release Date: March 13, 2015 Cast: Randeep Hooda, Richa Chadda, Adil Hussain, Nandu Madhav Director: Prawaal Raman

MAIN AUR CHARLES

One of the first biopics to hit the screens this year is based on the notorious conman, Charles Sobhraj. Randeep Hooda stars as Sobhraj. The movie also features the Richa Chadda, Adil Hussain and Nandu Madhav. The film has been directed by Prawaal Raman, from the Darna Mana Hai fame. The film that focusses on the ‘Bikini Killer’ of Vietnamese and Indian origin, also tells the story of his famous Tihar jail break of 1986.

The film was shot in Bangkok, Delhi, Goa, Mumbai, Pattaya, Thailand and Udaipur.

DHARAM SANKAT MEIN Release Date: March 13, 2015 Cast: Naseeruddin Shah, Paresh Rawal, Annu Kapoor, Murli Sharma Director: Fuwad Khan DILLIWAALI ZAALIM GIRLFRIEND Release Date: March 20, 2015 Cast: Divyendu Sharma, Ira Dubey, Jackie Shroff, Prachi Mishra, Pradhuman Singh Director: Japinder Kaur Baweja Information has been sourced from Bollywood Hungama site

TOP 10 MOVIE TICKET BOOKING WEBSITES 1. BOOKMYSHOW 2. INOX MOVIES 3. TICKETNEW 4. TICKETPLEASE 5. PVR CINEMAS

March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

6. BIG CINEMAS 7. CINEMAX 8. EASYMOVIES 9. TICKET4U 10. KYAZOONGA

FILMS RELEASING IN MARCH

HOLLYWOOD OTHER RELEASES

Release Date: March 20, 2015 Cast: Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Octavia Spencer, Jai Courtney, Ray Stevenson, Zoë Kravitz, Miles Teller, Ansel Elgort, Maggie Q, Naomi Watts, Kate Winslet Director: Robert Schwentke

INSURGENT The film is based on the second book of the Divergent trilogy by Veronica Roth, depicting a dystopian story in a Divergent universe that showcases a post-apocalyptic vision of Chicago.

Shailene Woodley stars as Beatrice Prior, who searches for allies in the advent of an uprising. The cast also includes Naomi Watts, Kate Winslet, Maggie Q among others. Haunted by her past but in a race to protect the ones she loves, Tris faces continuous challenges.

CHAPPIE Release Date: March 6, 2015 Cast: Sharlto Copley, Dev Patel, Hugh Jackman, Watkin Tudor Jones, Yolandi Visser, Jose Pablo Cantillo, Sigourney Weaver Director: Neill Blomkamp The film is based on a robot, Chappie, who was built to learn and feel, and who must fight the forces that want to take him down.

CINDERELLA Release Date: March 20, 2015 Cast: Cate Blanchett, Lily James, Richard Madden, Stellan Skarsgård, Holliday Grainger, Derek Jacobi, Helena Bonham Carter Director: Kenneth Branagh www.bollymoviereviewz.com/2013/05/ upcoming-hollywood-movies-2013-release.html

TOP 10 WEBSITES TO WATCH MOVIES 1. YOUTUBE MOVIES 2. IMDB 3. CRACKLE 4. LOS MOVIES 5. TOPMOVIES

6. FREEFULLMOVIES 7. FILM.FM 8. B MOVIES 9. JUSTCLICKTOWATCH 10. HULU TV

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FORECAST FOR MARCH 2015

BY D R . PRE M KUM A R SH A RMA

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

Good Luck Tip: Burn three candles in your kitchen, as three is the number that represents growth and burning candles spread positive energy.

Good Luck Tip: Use a green tablecloth on your dining table as 'green' represents growth and money.

Good Luck Tip: Heavy beams, positioned above the stove, symbolically limits the energy of the stove. Hang fresh or dried herbs or flowers on it.

Good Luck Tip: Attach red ribbon to an exposed beam in your office to prevents the beam from limiting your earning ability.

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

Good Luck Tip: Place four objects that symbolise wealth in a pottery bowl and set them on your kitchen counter.

Good Luck Tip: Display the symbol for Jupiter in a common area, as this will expand your wealth and bring good fortune.

Good Luck Tip: Burn incense in a bamboo holder, which will symbolise combining a fire cure with wood, inviting prosperity.

Good Luck Tip: Hang a glass wind chime in the window of your office. Glass facilitates mental activity and communication.

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

Good Luck Tip: If a bathroom is next to your office or work space, hang a small mirror outside the bathroom door. This deflects the negative energy.

Good Luck Tip: Tie eight small bells on a red cord and hang them on the door to your office or work area. It reminds you of your intention to attract wealth.

Good Luck Tip: Place a figurine of a lion in your office. It helps you gain power and authority in office.

Good Luck Tip: Illuminate dark corners in your office. It will generate positive energy.

You will be able to enhance your reputation through outstanding work on the professional or academic front.

You will get the opportunity to go on a journey outside town.

This month is the time to save money; any plan for investment should be kept for next month.

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You need to keep your travel plans secret. Make sure that the journey you undertake this month is comfortable enough or else postpone it for some other month. You may come across some hard-nosed clients, but you will be able to handle them. You need to keep your expenditure under control as you may over indulge yourself.

You will get the opportunity to meet new clients. You should pay attention to family issues and sort them out. You will be able to reach your destination in record time in case you are travelling by road. A better choice is waiting for you in future, so do not spend money on something now.

March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

You will do well on the financial front.

Some people will be able to pay back their creditors easily. You will be doing good work on the professional or academic front.

Take care of all the things on the home front and things will be comfortable and smooth and you will be appreciated for your efforts by family members.

Some people will get the chance to meet someone they had not met in years.

Young people will go on a hike or trekking. Before taking any action on property issue, it is better to take some advice. This is the time you will join a skill enhancement programme, as you want to perform better on the professional front.

On the professional and social front you will make all the right moves.

You will be able to handle complex issues at work with ease. You will take a step in the right direction by picking a safe investment plan. Family members will try out different types of options in giving a new setting to the home.

You will be able to earn good money as a property is put on auction in this month. This is a good month for some builders to start a township plan. You may get the chance to organise a picnic or sightseeing trip. A repair job may cost more than it was thought previously

This month, you will be provided with a lot of liberty at work with resources and adequate authority. You will be able to strengthen your romantic life. You will be invited to attend an overseas event and you will also be provided a complimentary ticket for it.

Construction in the existing plot will start soon.

You will be able to keep your expenditure under control and will be able to save money for something important. A pending payment will be made soon. Seasonal ailments will be kept away by making use of traditional home remedy. You will be able to maintain good shape by sweating and working out a little.

You will be able to make a good name for yourself in your professional field as your stars are shining bright. People who are playing in the stock market will be able to get good gain from it. Due to some domestic issue you may be at odd ends with your spouse or family member. Try to avoid a night journey in this month.

You are aware of the fact that you are superior to people working around you in the professional environment, but you need to keep your activities up to the mark.

Through dedication and positive thinking you will be able to make your presence felt. You will get promising returns from a property you have given on rent.

You will take appropriate measure to remain in contact with people who matter to you on the social front. Some will get the opportunity to spend an evening with like-minded people. You will be able to take the right decisions at work. With the help of proper budgeting you will be able to get funds for a new project. You will get bored in a journey.

INTERESTING READS SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY A NEW PROVINCE OF LAW FOR INDIA TAGORE LAW LECTURES

The book is a collection of lectures delivered at the University of Calcutta in 2013. These lectures, designed to portray a radical development in the field of law, conveyed that a process of change has commenced related to sexual minorities and they look to the law for support and protection. Equipped with examples from all over the world, these lectures seek to demonstrate the importance of this subject and the utility of addressing them in India.

Compiled by: Justice Michael D Kirby Publication: Universal Law Publishing Co Price: `350/-

THE CHAOS WITHIN

NICOBAR ISLANDS IN NATURE’S KINGDOM

The book dwells on the most cherished college memories of five best friends. An invite to the long-awaited college reunion brings back old memories and a golden opportunity to relive the life they once enjoyed.

An incident at the reunion changes their lives. Full of fun, laughter, hatred and courage, the book highlights mid-life crisis.

AUTHOR: Ashima Chalia Publication: Rupa Publications India Price: `195/-

Dedicated to the victims of Tsunami, the book talks about little known islands of the Nicobars in depth. It provides a chance to explore this unknown, peaceful and amazingly interesting area that exhibits the splendour and beauty of nature and its catastrophic power. The detailed description of social 111 and cultural life of its original inhabitants supported by exclusive images make it a wonderful book.

AUTHOR: Dr Tilak Ranjan Bera Publication: Niyogi Books Price: `1,995/-

ANDAMAN ISLANDS IN WONDERLAND The book provides a captivating narration of the wonderful archipelago in a very lucid manner. The author explains the cultural and human wealth of these islands through his personal experience, extensive studies and exploration of the region for over 15 years. The book also has exclusive photographs of the region and its inhabitants along with the maps.

AUTHOR: Dr Tilak Ranjan Bera Publication: Niyogi Books Price: `1,750/-

WEBSITES TO BUY BOOKS

HOMESHOP18, INDIABOOKSTORE, INFIBEAM, SNAPDEAL, FLIPKART, AMAZON, CROSSWORD, ETC.

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HOT PICKS Splurge on these lifestyle essentials ECO-DRIVE L COLLECTION

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Created for fashion conscious women, the watch cases are made of stainless steel with gold plating. The models have diamonds embedded in the ring. The dial of one product is made of mother-of-pearl.

It is an Eco-Drive worry-free watch that can be recharged by any light source.

Price: `28,000-63,000 Availability: At multi-brand outlets and exclusive stores in India

QUIRKY IS IN

Minawala has recently launched a limited collection of a Quirky Cocktail range with the inspiration that lies in the contemporary styles, dynamically changing the preferences in jewellery purchases. The collection consists of earrings, rings and cuffs.

Price: On request Availability: Select outlets in Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru

UNIQUE DESIGNS

Made of solid wood and metal, the collection by The Furniture Republic will provide unflustered weight to any space and at the same time simply carry the room.

Price: Up to `49,900 Availability: Exclusive megastores in Delhi-NCR; www.tfrhome.com March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

A PERFECT CUPPA

The bold graphics with attention to details on small and large graphics associated with Indian rickshaws have been depicted on this set of mugs by Arttd’inox. This Bone China mug comes with a stainless steel tea-infuser and a stainless steel lid, that doubles up as coaster to keep the dripping infuser once removed from the mug.

Price: `1,430 Availability: Exclusive Arttd’inox stores in India

ARM CANDY

Da Milano’s men collection offers wallets, laptop bags, briefcases, passport case and travel & tech accessories. The highlight of the collection is its flawless craftsmanship and its amalgamation of modern and contemporary design, suitable for both the formal meetings and casual luncheon.

Price: `12,000 onwards Availability: Exclusive stores across India

GET YOUR DREAM KITCHEN

Franke Faber India Limited offers kitchen sinks, taps and bio waste disposers.

They have also launched a collection including hoods, built-in ovens, microwaves, deep fryers, barbeques, dishwashers, refrigerators and coffee machines.

Price: On request Availability: www.franke. comhavaianasindia.in

POTPOURRI

TIME TO GO RETRO

Brand ‘Scavin’ has come up with their new spring summer collection of retro, vintage & nerdy sunglasses.

The collection will fascinate you with a quirky look this season. They will protect your eyes from the hot sun as well.

Price: `1,199-2,399 Availability: Online shopping portals

ENCHANTING COLLECTION

Vikas Chain & Jewellery, a luxury designer jewellery brand unveiled its rose gold jewellery collection ‘Blush’ for the spring season. The collection comprises light weighted sophisticated rings, pendant sets, earrings and bracelets crafted finely with best quality diamonds.

Price: `10,000 onwards Availability: Kucha Mahajani, Chandni Chowk, Delhi or visit www.vikaschain.com

HAND-Y ACCESSORIES

I AM BROKE is a celebration of the happy state of being broke, a state where you do not have enough to buy things that always enticed you. Be it belts, clutches or wallets, each product is made of genuine leather that is hand painted and hand crafted.

With top of the class craftsmanship, use of the best materials and pocket friendly, if taken care of, each product can last you a lifetime.

Price: `1,000 onwards Availability: info@iambroke.in

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FALL IN LOVE

Holii’s glamorous Calypso range oozes style, class and charm all at once. Each bag is unique and exquisite. This range is for the lady who is fashionable always.

It creates a feminine look with a lux feel, with the shine of gold against the warmth of red, giving an enchanting effect.

Contrasting tones and textures together with mixing metallics, add a glint of romance and passion to the collection.

Price: `2,000 onwards Availability: Holii stores across India or visit www.holii.in

OFFICE ACCESSORIES

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Frazer and Haws brings a range of eclectic and functional desk accessories that includes everyday essential office items, adding opulence to the work space. These striking work style products draw inspiration from interesting matter of nature – utility expressed with a twist.

Frazer and Haws is a design-led British brand with an Indian soul and every product is handcrafted and hallmarked with 92.5% purity.

Price: On request Availability: Excusive showrooms in Delhi and Mumbai

DENIM REVOLUTION

Wrangler unveiled its latest ‘Silver Shield’ range of apparel with stunning graphic printed T-shirts, shirts, and denims.

Powered by N9 Pure Silver™ technology which protects it against bacteria and other microbes that cause body odour, Wrangler’s Silver Shield range of apparel keeps you odour free and fresh, even after a long ride.

Price: `1,195 onwards Availability: www.wrangler.in

March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

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SWEET DREAMS

One of the leading home linen brand Portico New York, brings forth a floral collection. Their bed linen collection is designed to match the ever-changing tastes of Indian audiences, and it is rendered in fabrics that best suit Indian climate.

The collection sports a gamut of colours and shades to choose from, and is fabricated in 100% superior cotton.

Price: `2,500 onwards Availability: Exclusive stores in India

DRESS UP YOUR HOME

The Yellow Door, an extensive and carefully curated online shop for all home décor needs, fosters traditional Indian crafts and modern global designs in complete harmony. Effortlessly blending classic and contemporary sensibilities together, The Yellow Door specialises in corporate gifts, bulk orders and customised promotional gifts.

Price: `300 onwards Availability: Exclusive store in Gurgaon; visit www. theyellowdoorstore.com

HUES & TONES

Keeping the Indian woman in mind, Fusion Beats offers a plethora of kurtis, tunics, dresses and colourful apparels perfect for summers.

The Spring-Summer collection of 2015 reflects light airy designs with a pop of vibrance.

Price: `400 onwards Availability: ​Leading apparel stores and online shopping portals

POTPOURRI

PAINT THE TOWN RED The month of March is an exciting one as Holi, International Women’s Day and the ICC World Cup will keep everyone on their toes. Hospitality brands offer special packages on these days, enticing customers to eat, drink and make merry.

WOMEN’S SPECIAL

T

he Suryaa is commemorating Women’s Day by offering flat 50% off on brunch and dinner for women at Ssence, a global cuisine restaurant. Relish the brunch with Japanese cuisine comprising salmon, gohan rice served with daikon and wakame or the South Indian fare with idli, medu vada, dosa, uttapam accompanied by brewed coffee. The dinner buffet has a lavish spread of global cuisines on offer as well.

Smoked Biryani House in Noida is offering ‘Ladies Special projkas’, a complimentary drink for women that day.

At The Liquor Warehouse in Gurgaon, women can avail a special discount equivalent to their age, provided you carry an ID proof with you. In case you forget, The Liquor Warehouse will assume you are 18, and deduct 18% off on the final bill.

HOLI MANIA

CRAZY ABOUT CRICKET

E

njoy your Holi weekend on the sun-kissed beaches of Goa. Resort Rio offers three nights and four days Holi package, all meal-inclusive, with round-trip airport transfers and stay in beautifully adorned rooms along with a variety of activities such as a Holi party.

Celebrate Holi with The Taj Mahal Hotel, New Delhi that has introduced the ‘Colors of Life’ package. Enjoy the breakfast buffet at all-day dining Machan or opt for a culinary experience at the House of Ming.

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odeo in Delhi’s Connaught Place welcomes cricket fans with live screening of the matches and savour the special menu designed for the occasion. The appetisers range from Hat Trick Fish Finger, Clean Bold Wings Molletes Leg Slip, Sixer Tandoori Murg Nawabi to name a few. Down it with exotic mocktails and cocktails like Gully, Silly Point, First Slip, Dhoni’s Slammer, Dilshan’s Scoop, Virat Se Takkar, Malinga’s Yorker, and all rounder’s margarita for the drinks.

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SPOTLIGHT

TAKING GIANT QUALITY STRIDES IN MEDICAL DOMAIN

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uality is an attitude to achieve perfection. Currently, in the midst of a high tide of concern and clamour for taking urgent action to improve the standards of the medical education in the country, the significance of medical education in delivering quality healthcare is assuming greater importance. Many stakeholders have realised that without addressing quality medical education, improving healthcare delivery is not possible.

RajaRajeswari Medical College and Hospital realised the need to take up several quality initiatives at the beginning of 2013 itself. It believed that in order to deliver quality health care systems, they have to provide quality inputs.

Recently RajaRajeswari Medical College and Hospital, as well as RajaRajeswari Dental College and Hospital was recognised by the International Accreditation

A.C. Shanmugam Chairman Organization, Houston, US, for achievement of highest standards in quality. RajaRajeswari Medical College and Hospital has achieved NAAC ‘A’ Grade accreditation and the journey so far for this 8-year-old institution has been very rewarding.

Today, we must re-look at the system so that a larger proportion of the academia in India can also engage

in research activity that directly contributes to continuous quality improvement in the educational processes. With its ultra sophisticated Central Research Lab, a facility that provides centralised clinical research infrastructure to benefit investigators in multiple disciplines across college and hospital, RajaRajeswari Medical College and Hospital is leaving no stone unturned to carve a niche in the Quality Health care Education and Delivery segment.

With their relentless approach, the institution is the only medical college and hospital in Karnataka to get ISO 9001:2008 certification for both medical education and health care delivery systems.

It is a dream for the institution to make RajaRajeswari Medical College and Hospital a one-stop health destination, where apart from education & services, a holistic treatment is offered to all their patients.

FULFILLING THE DREAM

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upa publication has recently released a book The Chaos Within, written by a young author Ashima Chalia. A law graduate from the National Law University, Jodhpur, holding a certificate in fashion journalism from the London College of Fashion and having successfully worked for over three years in corporate consultancy with one of the leading consultancy firms, Ashima realised that her true passion lies

in creative writing. As a result, she gave up her flourishing corporate career and dedicated her time to writing her first work of fiction, The Chaos Within.

At the recently concluded World Book Fair in New Delhi, eminent film and theatre personality Nasir Abdulla conducted a reading session for her book. Ashima writes extensively on current fashion trends in her blog Ashima Wandering.

SPOTLIGHT

BUDGET SMARTPHONE BY LAVA

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esigned to meet the needs of heavy smartphone users who are looking for a device with astounding battery life, Lava launched its newest member, the Lava Iris Fuel 20. A competitively priced 2G phone, it is designed to give its buyers a delightful smartphone experience. The phone comes with a 4,400 mAh battery, which is the second biggest battery in the country along with a large 12.7cm (5) screen with an FWVGA display.

Equipped with 1.3 GHz dual core MediaTek processor and 512 MB of RAM, it comes with a 5-inch (480x854 pixels) FWVGA display. The smartphone is powered by a 1.3GHz dual-core (unspecified chipset) processor, it comes with 4GB of inbuilt storage, which is further expandable via microSD card (up to 32GB). It sports a 5-megapixel rear camera with LED flash, while there is a secondary 0.3-megapixel front-facing camera also on board.

Apart from 2G, other connectivity options on the Lava Iris Fuel 20 include Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, MicroUSB, and Bluetooth options.

Price: `5,399

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LE CIRQUE APPOINTS NEW CHEF DE CUISINE

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he capital’s most celebrated fine dining restaurant, Le Cirque at The Leela Palace New Delhi has appointed Diego Martinelli as the new Chef de Cuisine. A quintessential culinary personality, Diego brings with him over 16 years of strong culinary expertise working with world-renowned luxury brands. An alumnus from I.A.L. Institute of Culinary Arts in Modena, Italy, he has made notable achievements through his career.

An expert in Italian cuisine, Diego at Le Cirque plans to orchestrate a new era in the fine dining industry of India and continue the culinary legacy of The Leela Palace New Delhi with his penchant for creativity and experimentation.

March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

WATCH THE WORLD CUP WITH MITASHI

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s the Cricket World Cup fever catches on, Mitashi has launched a brand new 58" (146cms) LED Television that is sure to light up the matches. Known for their high quality & fully featured LED TVs, Mitashi TV features DLED technology with super SLIM panel, 1920x1080 resolution with 500,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio.

Warranty: 3 years Price: `84,990 Available at: Across leading consumer electronic stores & e-commerce portals For further details visit: www.mitashi.com

summer schedule 2015 now fly with • improved metro connectivity • best day return options • enhanced non-metro connections • better timings book for travel till 24th oct. 2015 on spicejet.com and get great fares.

SPOTLIGHT

A PERFECT GOAN HOLIDAY

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ne of India’s most flamboyant tourist destinations offering sandy beaches, sparkling water and breathtaking scenery, Goa has all the elements that define a perfect holiday.

With its rich Portuguese past, the

exquisite city has the perfect blend of history and modern times.

Enjoy all the treasures that the vivacious city has in store for you with Grand Mercure Goa Shrem Resort and Novotel Goa Shrem Resort.

Set in the heart of Candolim, Grand Mercure Goa Shrem Resort has been designed with travellers’ passions in mind. Offering the very best of hospitality, the resort aims to delight the shopaholic, the gastronome spa junkie and the nature lover. The 121 rooms and suites at this resort is a haven of space and coziness. With its dramatic architecture, this resort in North Goa was conceptualised as a charming Indo-Portuguese destination.

The Novotel Goa Shrem Resort has 85 beautifully designed rooms that will take care of all your needs.

The resort is a short drive away from the beautiful beaches & popular night spots. La Brise, their sophisticated and sensational beach-facing restaurant, offers an opportunity to relish exotic delicacies. A trip to Goa promises memories that will last forever.

A STEP AHEAD

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n today’s competitive scenario, students are pulling all stops to set themselves apart from others. The high aspirational value sought after careers like engineering has ignited an undying spirit in students to surpass their peers.

Akash Institute helps students by guiding them in the right path towards achieving their JEE dream.

The JEE i.e., the Joint Entrance Examination is one such competitive exam which is conducted for admission into engineering courses, all over India. Thre are two levels namely, JEE Main and JEE Advanced. The JEE entrance exam is carefully-engineered in order to assess the aptitude, analytical, logical and reasoning skills of students. The difficulty level of the JEE exam is far above the standard board examination.

March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

It is common for students to experience examfever and become panicky just before the exam. To avoid such problems, it’s best to start the preparation beforehand and be wellversed with the details of the exam they are going to appear for.

As Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics form the core of the entire syllabus, students should pay careful attention to them. Students should solve at least 15-20 JEE sample papers of last five years in order to get a gist of the pattern and complexity level of the entrance exam. Before appearing in the exam, students must indulge in some fun activities like listening to music or playing mind-bending games, to relieve themselves of stress. This will help them sharpen their mind and be in a relaxed mode.

Above all, it is important to have faith in oneself.

INSIDE SPICEJET

A DAY IN THE LIFE

This month we decided to shadow Jitender Kumar, Officer-Cabin Care in Delhi.

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2 Jitender's day begins with an early morning walk. He picks up the newspaper on his way back.

Enjoying a morning cuppa of tea with his wife.

On entering airport premises, Jitender heads to his base office.

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n his O way to work.

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Jitender keeps a tab on the availability of stock, such as head rest covers, cleaning equipment, etc., across key SpiceJet airport bases in India.

In a discussion with his team members, he chalks out the work for the day.

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8 He instructs the staff before they begin the day's work.

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Jitender keeps a thorough check on the documentation.

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Enjoying a short tea break with colleagues.

At the lineup, post deplaning of passengers, Jitender allocates duties to each team member.

INSIDE SPICEJET

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Jitender supervises the cleaning of the cabin.

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He ensures a hygienic environment of the cabin before boarding begins for the next flight.

At the SpiceJet warehouse, Jitender checks the stock of amenity bags, birthday cards, head rest covers among others.

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Performing duties invisible to passengers, Jitender and his team serve with all their heart.

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Once home, he enjoys playing with his son at the nearby park.

Away from work, Jitender spends quality time reading.

March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

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INSIDE SPICEJET

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SPICEJET OFFERS NEW SCHEDULE FOR DELHIVARANASI ROUTE

HUBLI REJOINS SPICEJET NETWORK, DAILY FLIGHTS TO MUMBAI & BENGALURU

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tarting from March 1, 2015, SpiceJet's new schedule includes two daily return flights on the New Delhi-Varanasi sector. The airline is offering a discounted new schedule fare starting at just `2,437, all inclusive for a limited period. SpiceJet’s new schedule includes morning and evening flights from both cities.

“We are very happy to announce the new schedule for the New Delhi-Varanasi route with better timings and enhanced same day return option. Currently, train is the preferred choice of people travelling on this route, but I am sure that customers would now opt for air travel as we are offering not only affordable fares, but better timing options too,” said Kaneswaran Avili, Chief Commercial Officer.

The new flights are part of SpiceJet’s enhanced schedule that was announced recently.

n order to expand its network, SpiceJet resumes its service to Hubli.

The new schedule with daily flights will connect the city with Bengaluru and Mumbai.

The airline is offering fares starting at just `2,673 on both Hubli-Bengaluru and Hubli –Mumbai sectors, and the 78-seater Bombardier Q-400 aircraft will be operated on these routes.

SpiceJet had earlier suspended its Hubli operations as the runway was under maintenance since August last year. The airline resumes its services from the city after the runway has been declared completely functional.

5,000 PLUS AND GROWING...

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esigned to address the needs of business travellers from the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector, SpiceJet's SME Traveller tool witnessed a huge success. Over 5,000 SMEs have already registered themselves on SME Traveller link on the SpiceJet website. The registered SME’s have booked and travelled over 2,700 business trips on SpiceJet. The airline had introduced the simple self-booking innovative tool 'SME Traveller', exclusively for the SMEs late last year. This product has been designed to address the needs of business travellers from the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector.

SpiceJet is the first airline in India to introduce a dedicated and seamless travel management platform for SME business travellers, offering flexibility and opportunity to save on every booking.

Spice Points, a new product from March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

SpiceJet, enables the SME Traveller to obtain further discounts on their future travel. Each completed travel accumulates Spice Points, which are then reflected against future booking searches as well as in the traveller’s profile. These Spice Points are as good as cash and can be redeemed against subsequent booking(s).

“It is overwhelming to see that our customers are finding this tool quite convenient and hence acting as a catalyst to our decision to reach

out to them,” said Kaneswaran Avili, Chief Commercial Officer. “According to our statistics, while south has contributed the most, we see other regions too actively registering for this tool. We see a huge demand coming from east in the near future,” he added.

SME tool enables individual business travellers to manage their travel needs, while providing complete transparency to the SME business and travel managers.

INSIDE SPICEJET

LOVE IS IN THE AIR

Known for its warmth and vibrant image, SpiceJet organises fun activities for passengers and employees to make their journey interesting and memorable. We share a glimpse of the Valentine’s Day celebrations that took place last month.

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#ShareTheLove Open for Facebook and Twitter fans, participants had to pose using their ‘with all our heart’ sign, post the image on social media and share a message expressing their love for SpiceJet. Participants could submit their entries between February 13-16, 2015. We share a snapshot of what the passengers posted online.

March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

Saba Rehan Whole heartedly welcoming each and every day with great enthusiasm, in the same way as you serve your customers. #WeLoveUTooSpiceJet

@vikasrai02 #WeLoveUTooSpiceJet I love my life because of the family I got; I love to fly because of SpiceJet.

@sunitakatyal #WeLoveUToo SpiceJet I really love you SpiceJet and have travelled on over 100 flights with you in India! Love!

INSIDE SPICEJET

MUSIC ON BOARD

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

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FOREIGNER Waiting For A Girl Like You Year: 1981 ERIC CLAPTON Wonderful Tonight Year: 1976

STEVIE WONDER I Just Called To Say I Love You Year: 1984 SQUEEZE Loving You Tonight Year: 1993

March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

BEE GEES Rest Your Love On Me Year: 1978 LEO SAYER When I Need You Year: 1977 KENNY ROGERS Lady Year: 1980 CHRIS DE BURGH Lady In Red Year: 1986 THE COMMODORES Three Times A Lady Year: 1978 PERCY SLEDGE When A Man Loves A Woman Year: 1966 LIONEL RICHIE Stuck On You Year: 1984

UB40 I Got You Babe Year: 1985 FOREIGNER I Have Waited So Long Year: 1978 ABBA The Name of The Game Year: 1977

THE BEATLES Don't Let Me Down Year: 1969

PLAIN WHITE T'S Hey There Delilah Year: 2006 JAMES BLUNT Goodbye My Lover Year: 2005 FLEETWOOD MAC As Long As You Follow Year: 1988 ELTON JOHN Your Song Year: 1970 BRYAN ADAMS Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman Year: 1995

UPDATE

COVER STORY

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March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

EXPLORE

TÊTE-À-TÊTE

INDULGE

CELEBRATING

MEN'S DAY

CONCERN

POTPOURRI

Women at SpiceJet are involved in all aspects of the airline. Be it in the sales, engineering or finance departments or even piloting the aircraft, they are an integral part of the organisation.

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INSIDE SPICEJET

BOOKING NOW EASY

FOR SME TRAVELLERS SpiceJet offers innovative travel solutions for the 'SME Traveller’. Read on for a step-by-step insight into the process.

STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO BOOKING SME TOOL: STEP 1

SMEs who wish to register with SpiceJet must first log on to spiceJet.com, click on SME Traveller and register.

STEP 2

On completing the registration formalities, an email with login ID and password will be sent to the registered email id. With these, registered SMEs can start booking tickets through SME Traveller. SMEs can either nominate and preregister employees by uploading employee profiles or get them registered as a part of the booking process.

STEP 3 You are ready to book on SME Traveller. Login with your account information with the Login ID and password, and take advantage of the benefits under this programme.

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PROGRAMME BENEFITS •

Up to 10% discount for SMEs

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Complimentary web check-in Flexibility in rescheduling and cancellations The points to be redeemed will get converted into usable cash post travel. These points can then be used for the next travel for the same pax and be adjusted against the base fare only.

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SPICEJET OFFERS ITS NEW 'SME TRAVELLER' SOLUTION TO FIRMS WITH UP-TO 50 TRAVELLING PASSENGER STRENGTH

March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

NEW 360O

GROUP BOOKING TOOL Experience the joy of travelling in a group with SpiceJet’s new group booking tool that offers end-to-end solutions.

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piceJet is the first airline in India to introduce an online tool that provides an automated end-to-end solution for group travellers.

Individuals and corporates who wish to travel in groups, and even travel agents who deal in group bookings, can register with SpiceJet’s Group Traveller. From requesting for quotes to managing dashboards, it is a DIY (do-it-yourself) tool from SpiceJet. The experience of travelling in a group is one-of-a-kind, and it is true when they say - the more, the merrier.

FOR EASY BOOKING, FOLLOW THE STEPS BELOW:

1. Registration process: Once you enter your agency details, submit the form. An email is sent to the registered email id for validation. Once this is done, the airline staff will get in touch regarding further verification. Post this, the email logins will be provided.

2. Adhoc group request: Enter the various details of your trip, such as one-way, round trip or multi-city, details of departure, baggage and meal preference, and select your flight. Mention the number of passengers.

The airline will revert regarding various flight possibilities, and you can click on them for more details.

3. Update names: Once you reach the payment confirmation page, click on the ‘submit passenger’ button. Select the request for which you would like to make the payment. Once you have reviewed your option, upload passenger information, or add them manually.

4. Print e-ticket: Click on ‘Get Booking’ menu and choose the specific request for which you want an e-ticket. Click on print.

You can even resize the group by clicking on the ‘Request’ button and ‘Request Group Resize’ submenu.

Once all the details are added, the airline will get in touch.

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BENEFITS:

Get prompt response to all your group queries.

End to End automation: From requesting for quotes to entering passengers' names, you can now do everything by yourself.

Dashboard: View and manage all your group bookings.

Easy usage (Short & Crisp booking flow) Accepts all forms of payment – CC/DC/IB.

FROM REQUESTING FOR QUOTES TO MANAGING DASHBOARDS, IT IS A DO-IT-YOURSELF TOOL GIVING YOU THE FREEDOM TO BOOK ACCORDING TO YOUR CONVENIENCE.

UPDATE

COVER STORY

EXPLORE

TÊTE-À-TÊTE

HOLI@ 138

SPICEJET

Here’s a look back at the fond memories of last year, when we celebrated holi with our passengers, spreading warmth and colour with all our heart.

March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

INDULGE

CONCERN

POTPOURRI

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INSIDE SPICEJET

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RS OF SPICEJET I N- F L I G H T S E RV I C E S

ARPITA M C, Dehradun Base Customer feedback: I want to thank Arpita and the entire crew of SG528 that operated from Bengaluru to Guwahati.

You made the experience a pleasant one.

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Experience with SpiceJet: Since 2007, I have been a part of the SpiceJet family and the entire journey has been a wonderful experience. My colleagues and management are a constant source of inspiration and support for me, and I am proud of what I am today. I would like to thank SpiceJet for giving me this wonderful opportunity.

ANISHA MANN, Bengaluru Base

approachable.

Customer feedback: Anisha is a good team player, sensitive to the needs of the passengers. She is very helpful and quite

Experience with SpiceJet: It gives me great honour to be a part of such a prestigious aviation company. I always like to put forward myself as a well groomed SpiceJet member. Not only have I learnt to work professionally here, but my experience in SpiceJet has enriched me in working from within with complete dedication.

It gives me great pleasure to serve the passengers. SpiceJet has blessed me with interesting experiences which make me feel proud to be associated with the airline. I endeavour to work with complete honesty and give my 100 per cent.

March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

YANCHEN MOKTAN DORJEE, Kolkata Base Customer feedback: Putting your recent difficulties aside, I want to thank you and the crew of SG528, who were most gracious of the situation that day. My best wishes to Yanchen for the wonderful journey.

Experience with SpiceJet: I became a part of the SpiceJet family in 2013.

This is my first job and it has been a wonderful journey. SpiceJet has given me the platform to excel and grow professionally. Proud to be a part of the SpiceJet team.

JAYA SHAW, Kolkata Base Customer feedback: Jaya is an extremely friendly and helpful person.

A courteous employee, she receives passengers with a smile, and her service is impeccable.

Experience with SpiceJet: It is indeed an amazing experience working with SpiceJet. I feel privileged in being a part of this organisation and I will continue to serve the passengers to best of my ability. There have been a few moments that turned out to be my most cherished memories. I am grateful to SpiceJet, with all my heart, for giving me this opportunity.

SOFIA BIDANI, Delhi Base

PREETI CHHETRI, Bengaluru Base

Customer feedback: I travelled with SpiceJet from Mumbai to Kochi.

I was delighted to be served by Ms Sofia and her esteemed colleagues. A courteous person, she knew her domain well and served all passengers with a bright smile.

Customer feedback: While I was travelling from Delhi to Bengaluru in January this year, my flight got delayed for more than four hours and departed at 9:30 pm. And, even though we were feeling hungry, SpiceJet could not serve any food & beverage inflight. However, Preeti and her colleague offered me whatever she could. They truely are an asset to SpiceJet.

Experience with SpiceJet: I have had some amazing memories while working here. It's been one year since my association with SpiceJet, as cabin crew, started, and it has been a very rewarding one. To go out and meet new people, see new places and even learn more with such an experienced team.

What more could I have asked for.

I endeavour to work harder each day and learn my way through. I am proud to be here, and will serve all passengers 'with all my heart'.

Experience with SpiceJet: Having started my career with SpiceJet, I feel really proud to be a part of it. This airline celebrates all festivals and other occasions onboard, be it Holi, Diwali, Dusshera, Christmas, Children's Day, etc. I have got a lot of opportunities and exposure here. I sincerely thank the airline for the love and respect given to its employees.

RAPTI DUTTA, Kolkata Base

LAVI CHAUDHARY, Bengaluru Base

SHWETA ARORA, Hyderabad Base

Customer feedback: On our way to Bengaluru, the flight was delayed over three hours. And since SpiceJet does not serve inflight meals at the moment, Rapti and her colleague offered me whatever they could. Thank you SpiceJet.

Internal feedback: Even on her day off, Lavi, who had come to the airport for some personal work, volunteered to operate when she saw that there was difficulty in organising a crew for SG228. Her immediate help and support avoided any further delay of SG228. Her immense dedication is commendable.

Customer feedback: I travelled by SpiceJet from Hyderabad to Mangalore, last year. I was overwhelmed by the hospitality of chief cabin crew Shweta as it seemed as if I was in her home and not in an aircraft. She took utmost care of all the passengers. I wish Shweta all the best in life and shall pray for her happiness and success.

Experience with SpiceJet: It’s an immense pleasure to be a part of this journey. It's like a dream come true for me. First job, best managers, lovely collegues, flying wings and association with SpiceJet. What else can one wish for on her first job. It’s always an honour for me to be a crew of SpiceJet, working with all my heart.

Experience with SpiceJet: I am proud to be a member of the SpiceJet family and it inspires me tremendously to work 'with all my heart'. I have had a wonderful experience till now. SpiceJet has truly added spice in my life. I am proud to be called a ‘SpiceJetter’.

KARAN SHARMA, Delhi Base

Experience with SpiceJet: The airline has given me an opportunity to interact with a multitude of passengers and colleagues, while exploring new places. I have become a confident individual and a great team player.

SOHINI MUKHERJEE, Kolkata Base

Customer feedback: Had a comfortable flight from Mumbai to Kochi. The SpiceJet staff was efficient, courteous and cheerful. Kudos to Karan and his colleagues.

Experience with SpiceJet: My journey with SpiceJet has been extremely wonderful. The environment here is friendly with understanding seniors, valuable learning opportunities and immense support from all members. Here, I realised the true meaning of help and courtesy. My seniors have always been very helpful and caring, and it is because of them that everytime I fly, I do so with the utmost enthusiasm.

Customer feedback: I am extremely grateful to Sohini, and her fellow crew members of SG528, for having helped us in need. She is approachable and very helpful by nature.

Experience with SpiceJet: I am delighted to be a part of SpiceJet. This is an amazing organisation, and I am serving my customers with all my heart. Receiving support from the management, co-workers and even passengers, I have grown by leaps and bounds in both my professional as well as personal life.

ANNANYA PUROHIT, Delhi Base

ASHWETA PAWAR, Delhi Base

BHAVNA KANTHARIA, Mumbai Base

Customer feedback: I had a superb flight experience during my journey from Mumbai to Kochi. Annanya was extremely helpful and attentive onboard.

Customer feedback: Had the most amazing flight experience from Mumbai to Kochi. Ashweta along with the SpiceJet staff, all were warm and helpful.

Experience with SpiceJet: I started my career with SpiceJet in February 2013. It has always been my dream of becoming a cabin crew. The senior managment always gives us new ideas and new techniques to improve our knowledge. Everyone is very professional. In simple words, I would say that I love the work environment in this organisation where every employee is made to feel cherished. I love to serve with all my heart.

Experience with SpiceJet: I came onboard SpiceJet four years ago, and have been flying high ever since. Each flight has been an exciting experience, full of fond memories and learning.

I believe SpiceJet is the best place to work with an excellent work culture and a really helpful management to guide through both turbulent and clear skies. SpiceJet has an awesome atmosphere, helpful colleagues and encouraging seniors.

Customer feedback: Even during testing times, excellent and heartwarming service by Bhavna, who made my journey from Mumbai to Thiruvanthapuram wonderful.

Experience with SpiceJet: The experience with SpiceJet has been a long-term career aspiration, and I have been here since nine years. Working with this airline has been an enjoyable one. SpiceJet has given me a platform to combine my passion for service and hospitality. I started my career with SpiceJet as a ground staff. I will continue to serve SpiceJet ‘with all my heart’.

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INSIDE SPICEJET

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March 2015 | www.spiceroutemag.com

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