Flying high

Pigeons fly on over Jama Masjid (above & below), Old Delhi, Indi

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Let the colors of Holi spread the message of peace and happiness.

Mohe Rang de:What’s the most unholy place to play Holi – kichad, mitti, bhang, the works? Campus

Holi re!: Some traditions can sure be weird. Whoever heard of a baraat minus an actual marriage ceremony, or a mud bath to celebrate the festival of colours? But it all happens in our very own Delhi, the occasion being Holi. And the proud keepers of the traditions are none other than the students of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and St Stephen’s College.

Holi hai!:The revelry at JNU kicks off the evening before Holi with a wedding baraat. In the two-decade-old custom, nobody actually gets married but that does not stop it from being a fun-filled affair. The celebration has a name — Chaat Sammelan — complete with a Chaat King.

Sprinkle of spring: May you have the most blessed holi festival than you ever had.The sammelan, attended by more than 1,000 students, faculty members and alumni, is one of the two main functions celebrated at JNU. ‘‘Preparations for this grand sammelan start a week in advance.

Lets change colors for a day : And it is like any other Hindu wedding. Taapti hostel is the groom’s side and Jhelum hostel is bride’s
side. The baraat starts from Taapti after a tilak ceremony by the warden’s wife and the groom, who is selected unanimously, is dressed in weird attire and rides a donkey till the wedding venue. A gulal shop in the heart of city :The previous year’s Chaat King officiates as his ‘‘father’’ and the one of the year before is the groom’s ‘‘grandfather’’. And they all reach the venue on their respective donkeys. The ‘‘baraatis’’ dance, sing and play with colour as the procession progresses towards the venue where the warden of Jhelum hostel greets the bridegroom. What follows is a series of dance performances, poetry sessions, etc

A kid checks his 'weapons' for the festival of colors.

Gujiya-A traditional Indian holi food being prepared in a road side hotel in Patel Nagar, west Delhi .

The most interesting part is the memorial awards, which are named after living people. For example, there is a Dr Karan Singh memorial award, named after the university’s very-muchalive chancellor. The idea is not to run down people, but to have some fun. At St Stephen’s College, the revelry takes the form of mayhem in a ‘‘mud bath’’. Students dig a pit and fill it with colours and water. And everybody has to take a dip in it. ‘‘From the principal to professors to students, everybody is pushed into this pit. Third year students organize it,’’ said Aarushi Bhargava, a final year student.

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Capital heritage: Feroz Shah Kotla

Feroz Shah Kotla: Located near the famous Feroz Shah Kotla Cricket Stadium, off Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, Firuzabad, the fifth city of Delhi, now known as Kotla Firuz Shah, is a large enclosure of high walls, which then lay along the Yamuna river.
With an entrance through a barb caned main gate on the west, it contained palaces, pillared halls, mosques, a pigeon-tower and a baoli (stepped well) some of which are still in good condition.
The main public mosque, Jami'-Masjid, has a spacious courtyard, the whole structure resting on a series of cells. It is, however, a pyramidal structure with a diminishing covered area in each successive storey, on the top of which, within a stone-railing, the Asokan column is planted, that strikes as a unique edifice

Ashoka pillar at Kotla: Features of Ashokan pillars in Delhi The four lions of the Ashokan Pillar in Delhi are the main features of the historic monument. There are also non-religious interpretations to the symbolism of the pillars, describing the four lions as the symbol of Ashoka's rule over the four directions.The wheels at Ashokan Pillar in Delhi are symbols of enlightened rule (Chakravartin), and the four animals as symbols of four surrounding territories of India: -

The Lion of the north. The Elephant of the east. The Bull of the south.The Horse of the west.

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Yoyos

Kids play with lighted yoyos around India Gate, New Delh, India

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Capital Affair- 'Suraj Kund' Fair

Folk dancers at the fair: The Surajkund Crafts is an annual event that highlight some of the finest handloom and handicraft traditions of the country. From 1st to 15th February rural India basks in the warmth of admiration at Surajkund mela village that lies some 8 km from South Delhi. The Mela also celebrates the rhythms of folk theatre- and a theme State that makes each visitor marvel

Rest wait for thier turn: The Mela is organised under the aegis of the Suraj Kund Mela Authority. This comprises of the Department of Tourism Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Governement of India in collaboration with Haryana Tourism,
Development Commissioner for Handlooms, Commissioner Development (Handicrafts)

A foreign national at Suraj Kund 'Mela': The objectives

• To create a rural ambience for the foreign and domestic tourist to see.
• To educate patrons both from abroad, urban centres and educational institutes about the fascinating technique and skills involved in craft creation.
• To introduce crafts and craftspersons directly to the buyers and help them find their patrons.
• To Identify, nurture and preserve languishing crafts of the country and save it for posterity.

Suraj Kund is a beautiful tourist location of Haryana Tourism and in its lovely setting, folk painters, metal workers, stone and wood carvers, tie dye craftspersons, embroiders, lace makers, textiles printers, carpet and loom weavers, producers of silk fabrics, jewellers and sculptors- execute and display their skills. The entrance to fair: The fortnight long celebrations also come as a food festival. Some of the popular food traditions from Punjab come at the Punjabi 'Rasoi'. South Indian delicacies come in from South Indian Section. Popular Chinese and snack foods also arrive for the event along with a special stalls where patrons are introduced to the traditional foods and sweet meats of the selected theme State. A woman tries the art of heena artist: The Surajkund Crafts Mela has grown equally famous for the rhythms of folk theatre: It resonates with the formal notes of the classical genre: The heady rhythms of percussion instruments: The ballads of singing minstrels: The clebration of the simple joys of rural life and reverence of epic traditions all mingle well. All these colourful events are also presented before the audience in the open-air-theatre named Natyashala. Folk dancers performing at the fair: Some of the most deligtful crafts collections of the Mela arrive from practically all over the country. In wood and cane come inlay work, rose wood carving, sandal wood from Punjab and South India. Chiki wood craft of Kashmir and some very fine cane craft come from West Bengal and North Eastern States. One more: Delcate sholapith and shital patti work come from Assam and West Bengal. The phulkari of Punjab, the Banjara and Banni embroidery of Gujarat and Rajasthan, the Kantha traditions from West Bengal and Tripura, lace and crochet from Goa, the Suzni of Kashmir and Mirror encasing work along with the traditional chikan work of Lucknow delight.Oxidized jewellery, sea shell decorations and agate stone work delight as also do delicate gold work and chunky silver jewellery. Toys in wood and cane, ply and mud make the young thrill with joy. Some of the fine phad paintings of Rajasthan, the kalamkari of Andhra and Karnataka, temple paintings of Orissa, madhubani of Bihar, fascinate. In the metal section tribal dhora work, classical south Indian metal work, glittering brass ware, bell metal and iron craft delight collectors. In the field of woven textiles some of the finest silk work of Orissa, Patola, Bandhini of Gujarat and Rajasthan, Ikat, Kanjeevaram, Dharmavaram and temple silks of South India vie for attention with the most simple cottons of West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and tribal textiles of North East India as also do the handloom of Haryana. The Various Crafts particpated in the Mela every year. The Introduction of some of the Crafts are as follows:
Cane & Bamboo
Embroidery
Metalware
Pottery

THE SURAJKUND Crafts Mela 2009 was unusually vibrant and lively with the ambience full of drumbeats and folk music spreading the festivity all over. The display of exquisite handicrafts and handlooms further added the colour to the mela making it a perfect getaway for the visitors away from the hustle bustle of city life. Varieties of cuisines from all parts of India and foreign countries were relished by the crowd.

The Mela is a paradise for the shoppers’ and one could see an entire spectrum of buyers, with their hands laden with bags.

Among the crafts this year, woodcraft garnered special attention and praise. There has been a tremendous increase in the number of stalls of this craft this year. The craftsmen of this art find the platform of the Surajkund Crafts Mela extremely beneficial, as they get immense publicity and recognition. It also helps them to add to their income, which supports for almost the whole year. The mela provides them an elevated stage, with large number of buyers, wherein they get an opportunity to popularise their age old craft in addition to reaping the benefits of selling their products directly to the consumers.

These craftsmen, to say the least, have emerged as the flag bearers of the dying art of wooden carving. Due to the advent of variety of machines, handmade wood carvings find it difficult to sustain in the present day market but a platform like Surajkund Crafts Mela provides unique opportunity for them to sell these products to those buyers who understand the artistic value of these handicraft. Surajkund Crafts Mela mainly has the craftsmen, who have been the recipients of national or state awards. These master craftsmen are the real ambassadors of India for the foreign tourists, who throng the mela, in large numbers, every year. The craft can easily be seen gaining popularity in foreign countries, especially the Arabian countries, where woodcraft has a special place in the hearts of the people.

Abdul Rehman Siddiqui is one such craftsperson, who hails from Saharanpur, UP, and has been in this business for the past 50 years. He learnt his art and skill from his forefathers. He and his nephew Shahid Siddiqui have already helped more than 150 other youngsters to learn the tricks of this trade. Recipient of national award for his woodcarving, Siddiqui had a chance to hone up his skills in wood carvings by visiting Germany. This exposure to a foreign land has provided him an edge over other craftsmen in this trade. This is for the second time that he has got an opportunity to exhibit his craft at the Surajkund Crafts Mela and he finds it extremely profitable, he confessed.

Basher Ahmed, one of the other craftsmen, also hails from UP. He makes an exclusive use of brass on wood carvings. He makes variety of walking sticks, jewellery boxes, coaster sets and even hair clips with this art. His entire family is devoted to this craft for more than 100 years. He also holds a national award for the year 1984.

Sardar Hussein makes use of block printing art on wooden boxes. From mirror frames to candle stands, one can find beautiful wooden artifacts with intricate designing. He has been bestowed with Shilp Guru Award, in 2006, for his special creations.

The mela provides a perfect blend of cultural heritage of various states of India. The cultural events showcase the various aspects like with ethnicity, environment and prosperity of various regions of our country. Khalil Mohammed Kalwal, a craftsman from Kashmir, was demonstrating the art of walnut wood carving in the Surajkund Mela, grounds at stall No.281. He has already exhibited his craft in various countries like Dubai and Romania. The beauty of his art lies in the fact that walnut wood is exclusively used for his creations. He finds this platform very lucrative for his business where he earned name, fame and his livelihood.

This mela is a perfect platform for direct sales as the chances of traders and middlemen to reap benefits out of the creations of the craftsmen is completely shelved, commented Kahlil Kalwal. It also gives them a chance to provide authentic handmade wood craft to their customers as per their own choice. Surajkund Crafts Mela has craftsmen participating from far flung areas like Leh and Ladakh also, who have caught the attention of the buyers. Tsering Namgyar makes use of special wood of Leh and Ladakh region and carves them out to make beautiful tables and boxes. These are matchless, commented one of the foreigners visiting the mela.
Nafisa Begum, a recipient of national award makes sure that she employs economically poor so that they can learn the art of wood carving and become self dependent. Women from extremely poor households, widows and young girls, are also taught the art of woodcraft to alleviate the problem of poverty to some extent. It was heartening to see that these struggling crafts-persons play an active role in the society as a whole.

The Surajkund Crafts Mela authority this year decided to promote this almost dying craft to make it self-sustainable. Fifteen work huts were offered to various craftsmen, belonging to this field, and the response at theses stalls was overwhelming

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Cool Campus: New age 'guru-shishya' relationship

DU’s kewl gurus...…is how Novy Kapadia of Khalsa College and NK Jain of Hansraj College are known among students, for they connect with students beyond classrooms On a spree to locate a few unconventionally cool teachers of the campus, , and there were quite a few lecturers comprising the cool gang of teachers.
To select a few of them, Novy Kapadia and Naveen Kr Jain from Sri Teg Bahadur Khalsa College and Hansraj College respectively came across as the coolest teachers. They are the ones who are known for their flexi hours, playing on the ground, allowing mobiles, watching movies and sharing their hobbies with the students.
So if you thought all that goes in to making some of the best lecturers in the University is just their diverse knowledge of the subject and their ability to convey it well, then you need to rethink, revalue and review. .Teachers like Novy Kapadia and NK Jain just set an entirely diverse benchmark for other lecturers. It’s not just about how well they conduct their classroom lectures and studies; it’s their easy going attitude that brings about the connect factor with the students. They make the students remember them not just for the classroom lectures but the lessons outside class too.
Talk to the Khalsa College students about the most approachable teacher, one name that comes out in unison is that of Deputy Proctor, Novy Kapadia. So what is it that makes him so popular among the students across various courses in the college?
“Well it’s the way he shows trust in us and makes us do work without even making us realise it,” says Megha Makhija from Khalsa College.
When the lecturer was asked about the same, he had a very different view to offer. “I have never done anything to gain students’ faith; I have tried to make sure that students feel comfortable here, especially the outstation students. I understand the capital’s traffic and hence let the students enter my class even after five to 10 minutes,” says Kapadia.
So is that it! Nopes, this cool teacher prefers to catch up with the latest flicks with his students too.Makhija says, “Whenever sir asks us to do something, he gives us a deadline and till that time he never asks us for the same. This makes us feel responsible.”Equally favourite on the popularity chart is Naveen Kr Jain from the Commerce Department. For him learning doesn’t stop in the classrooms; he prefers to take his students to the playground as well. Ask the mentor and he says,
“It all starts from the classroom. If I don’t take my classes seriously and do not make my students understand the situation then how will my students share their interests with me. And playing cricket is, I guess, the best connecting factor.” Well this is not all! Till sometime back, Jain had even conducted some wild life photography expeditions.
“There I used to take the students to a place where they could watch the birds and practice their interest. Though I am no more into photography, but cricket continues to be a common ground where we meet,” shares Jain.
And in order to connect with his group of students, Jain prefers to keep himself updated and not just rely on the age-old knowledge of the text books. When asked about what is that one thing that he has learnt from his students, he quips, “It’s their ability to live with multiple risks in life. They aren’t afraid to experiment and believe in their potential. They are open to move out for better options with no feeling of insecurity. The mutual learning process bridges the student-teacher gap,” opines Jain.
Cheers to this new age guru-shishya relationship! Hoping this spirit never dies

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Capital Trend: Tea Lounges

The Tea Lounge, Lajpat Nagar: If you are meeting up with old friends partying late into the night is inevitable. Before the gang returned to their respective permanent addas in Maharashtra, we did some partying here in Delhi. A lot was cooked but only a little was photographed. I was too rushed at times, and the fact that my ‘food photography’ was the source of some amusement to the lot was not lost on me. All in good humor, of course.

Masala Chai, Kidwai Nagar: It may seem to some, who don’t live to eat, that tender ginger, giant cucumbers, and cups of tea, are not the best subjects for photography. Obviously they have forgotten all the art appreciation classes we had as undergraduates students of architecture. Food and drink are very suitable still-life subjects.

Cha Bar, Oxford Book Store: (Cha Bar, Oxford Bookstore, Statesman House, 148 Barakhamba Road, 011-23766084). Most Delhi wallas are tea lovers but only within home. Outside, they talk like coffee connoisseurs. That may be changing. No longer is this humble drink confined to grimy dhabas and JNU addas, or locked behind the counters of 5-star hotel lounges. Chai is becoming cool. Tea bars are the new hotspots. The brewed beverage has started infusing into the milky layer of the Delhi social scene.

App ki Pasand, Daryaganj: Most Delhi wallas are tea lovers but only within home. Outside, they talk like coffee connoisseurs. That may be changing. No longer is this humble drink confined to grimy dhabas and JNU addas, or locked behind the counters of 5-star hotel lounges. Chai is becoming cool. Tea bars are the new hotspots. The brewed beverage has started infusing into the milky layer of the Delhi social scene.

Everest Tea (Everest Bakery Café, G. No. 4591, Dal Mandi, Main Bazar, Paharganj) I sit down on the cane sofa, beside a samovar. Staring wide-eyed at the giant tea caddies, as a Japanese-speaking attendant serves Jasmine in a moderately large glass bowl. He insisted on iced tea but I wanted it warm. Though the chai's heady fragrance is soothing, its faint fruity sweetness playful, I continue to feel lethargic. It is eventually the zesty Neelgiri that lifts me from my afternoon languor.

Crafts House (Craft House, Metropolitan Hotel Nikko, Banglasahib Road (011-42500200)While the Craft House at the nearby Metropolitan Hotel oozes the same character as that of Premier's, here it's not only about the tea. The bar-counter with its cookie tray, and the wooden shelves with their Orange Pekoe and Organic Makabari share the showroom space with spices and silk, perfumes and pashmina. It helps that the place employs two knowledgeable attendants. Try visiting during noon when their work-shift timing clash. As the lady from Imphal prepares the chai, the other explains the art of tea-tasting.

Top 10 Health Benefits of Drinking Tea
There are lots of reasons why I enjoy a hot cup of tea: I love the aroma of various flavors of tea; holding onto a hot tea mug warms my hands on a cold winter morning; sipping tea in front of the fireplace is a great way to relax. And those are just the feel-good reasons. If you're not drinking tea yet, read up on these 10 ways tea does your body good and then see if you're ready to change your Starbucks order!

1. Tea contains antioxidants. Like the Rust-Oleum paint that keeps your outdoor furniture from rusting, tea's antioxidants protect your body from the ravages of aging and the effects of pollution.

2. Tea has less caffeine than coffee. Coffee usually has two to three times the caffeine of tea (unless you're a fan of Morning Thunder, which combines caffeine with mate, an herb that acts like caffeine in our body). An eight-ounce cup of coffee contains around 135 mg caffeine; tea contains only 30 to 40 mg per cup. If drinking coffee gives you the jitters, causes indigestion or headaches or interferes with sleep -- switch to tea.

3. Tea may reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke. Unwanted blood clots formed from cholesterol and blood platelets cause heart attack and stroke. Drinking tea may help keep your arteries smooth and clog-free, the same way a drain keeps your bathroom pipes clear. A 5.6-year study from the Netherlands found a 70 percent lower risk of fatal heart attack in people who drank at least two to three cups of black tea daily compared to non-tea drinkers.

4. Tea protects your bones. It's not just the milk added to tea that builds strong bones. One study that compared tea drinkers with non-drinkers, found that people who drank tea for 10 or more years had the strongest bones, even after adjusting for age, body weight, exercise, smoking and other risk factors. The authors suggest that this may be the work of tea's many beneficial phytochemicals.

5. Tea gives you a sweet smile. One look at the grimy grin of Austin Powers and you may not think drinking tea is good for your teeth, but think again. It's the sugar added to it that's likely to blame for England's bad dental record. Tea itself actually contains fluoride and tannins that may keep plaque at bay. So add unsweetened tea drinking to your daily dental routine of brushing and flossing for healthier teeth and gums.

6. Tea bolsters your immune defenses. Drinking tea may help your body's immune system fight off infection. When 21 volunteers drank either five cups of tea or coffee each day for four weeks, researchers saw higher immune system activity in the blood of the tea drinkers.

7. Tea protects against cancer. Thank the polyphenols, the antioxidants found in tea, once again for their cancer-fighting effects. While the overall research is inconclusive, there are enough studies that show the potential protective effects of drinking tea to make adding tea to your list of daily beverages.

8. Tea helps keep you hydrated. Caffeinated beverages, including tea, used to be on the list of beverages that didn't contribute to our daily fluid needs. Since caffeine is a diuretic and makes us pee more, the thought was that caffeinated beverages couldn't contribute to our overall fluid requirement. However, recent research has shown that the caffeine really doesn't matter -- tea and other caffeinated beverages definitely contribute to our fluid needs. The only time the caffeine becomes a problem as far as fluid is concerned is when you drink more than five or six cups of a caffeinated beverage at one time.

9. Tea is calorie-free. Tea doesn't have any calories, unless you add sweetener or milk. Consuming even 250 fewer calories per day can result in losing one pound per week. If you're looking for a satisfying, calorie-free beverage, tea is a top choice.

10. Tea increases your metabolism. Lots of people complain about a slow metabolic rate and their inability to lose weight. Green tea has been shown to actually increase metabolic rate so that you can burn 70 to 80 additional calories by drinking just five cups of green tea per day. Over a year's time you could lose eight pounds just by drinking green tea. Of course, taking a 15-minute walk every day will also burn calories.

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Fitness Mantra

STRESSED OUT: They have businesses to run, deadlines to meet and power-packed meetings to attend. Four career women straddled the sometimes uneven balance between their hectic work and an equally busy home life that left them with little time for themselves. But the need to not just look but also feel good about themselves saw them carving out some me-time.
Each had their own special fitness mantra. Like 31-year-old Avisha Goswamy who hits the road in her running shoes every day or 34-year-old Neha Lidder Ganju who turns to Pilates.

Follow a portable diet when hard-pressed for time “Spending long hours at work and neglecting meals is a sign of trouble. I munch on fruits and drink a lot of juice at regular intervals when I am travelling. It’s important to keep the body fuelled at all times,” says Goswami.Pick an exercise that works for you

TIP: It’s very easy to have a rum and coke or smoke to ease the stress. But following a regular regime instead is beneficial.“I am used to being on my toes 24X7 and being hyperactive is second nature to me. An exercise that gives an instant adrenaline rush keeps me going, whereas forms like yoga, personally don’t work for me, as opposed to others,” adds Goswami, who believes that one shouldn’t forcefully take up a regime. Passion for wellness should be the key.

Following a regulated diet and regime became inherent,” adds Ganju, who does Pilates and strength-building exercises at a gym, four times a week for two hours. “I don’t depend on a trainer. I pick up moves from different forms of exercise and add it my routine to make things interesting,” she adds. She isn’t one to hit the treadmill only after putting on weight, “I think strength and stamina are built over the years,”

Know your stress points “Everyone has different stress points like the lower back and shoulders. Don’t strain them to the level that they give away,” says Ganju, who concentrates on exercises like stretches, shoulder rotations to release the pressure.

Go the Arnold way “My husband and I treat Arnold Schwarzenegger’s book on body building like the Bible. It explains everything one needs to know about fitness. I pick out exercises that I find suitable for my body type and create a regime for myself,” says Ganju, who doesn’t believe in following a trainer blindly. “It’s imperative to understand the importance and focus of each exercise, and change is good to kill the monotony,” she adds.

Dieting is emotionally starving “Constantly stopping yourself from eating or mentally debating the kilo and calorie ratio will leave you exhausted. Rather than punishing yourself, eat everything in moderation,” says Ganju.TIP: Can’t get yourself to eat green vegetables all the time? Just pick up a carton of juice instead. It’s healthy and refreshing during summer.With two businesses to run, clients to meet and battling Delhi's traffic, Bhavna Jasra’s day is tightly packed. But despite the demands of her work, she chalks out time, thrice a week, to stay in shape. “I’ve always been on the slim side, but after my pregnancy, I put on seven kilos. I thought I’d lose the weight, but I got comfortable with it,” says the mother of six-yearold Tia. But it was while flipping through old photographs that Jasra decided she wanted to get back in shape. This was also the time when her business was getting off the ground and pressures were high. Jasra started going to the gym, but the monotony saw her switching first to swimming and later, Pilates. When the business began to franchise out of Mumbai, her stress levels hit a high and she decided to try Tai Chi. “Its holistic approach to well-being helped put my mind and body in sync and did wonders for my concentration,” she says. And it’s helped her go beyond just getting the right muscle tone to feeling good. She shares her tips on staying fit.Tuck into a big breakfast “A healthy breakfast that’s high on the nutrition count keeps energy levels running high,” says Jasra, who keeps it interesting with an omelette made of egg white, sprouts, cereal or a whole grain sandwich.Don’t deny a hunger pang, just keep it healthy “A fruit goes a long way in tackling a hunger pang and is low on the calorie count,” says Jasra, who carries fruit to work. She also warns against exercising on an empty stomach, suggesting a glass of juice or milk.Don’t do anything you’re forced to but not comfortable with “A sure fire way to feel let-down is on a diet that has you craving for that square of chocolate,” she says. Jasra allows herself the occasional indulgence, but keeps a mental track of what she’s eating without being obsessive.TIP: Take breaks from work for a long weekend or to spend time with the family. It’s the best way to rejuvenate and will reflect on your productivity.Nandini Sawhny has always been conscious of her weight. “I’ve been on the heavy side all my life and it’s made me keep tabs on the weighing scale,” she says. After her pregnancy, it became more of a challenge, when she put on 12 kg and was bordering on being overweight. Choosing yoga to shed the wobbly bits, she avoided the usual gym routines that she felt were hard on the knees and back. “I lost five inches and it’s also helped my sinusitis, allowing me to go off medication completely,” says Sawhny, who does yoga five times a week, for an hour every morning.She is also particular about what is cooked at home, additionally so because her father-in-law is a heart patient and her elder son is a few kilos too heavy. “I am a foodie but while I don’t obsess over what I eat, I know I have to work at staying a certain size and it helps me stay disciplined,” she says.Focus on the internal as much as surface good looks “Being able to cut off from everyday pressures and clear my head is more valuable than losing inches,” says Sawhny, who does a combination of breathing exercises and cardio to stay on her toes. And there’s the additional psychological boost of being able to fit into clothes she couldn’t earlier.Eat healthy and you don’t need to crash diet Sawhny doesn’t frequent dieticians or deny herself the odd cookie or ice cream. “I’ve swapped white rice for brown, rotis are made of bajra or jowar and fried foods are a treat for the children when we go the movies, but not lying around at home,” says the mother of Advaye, 10, and Arush, 8.

MAN HEALTH TIPS

Yet it’s obviously important that men of all ages become more proactive about their health. And an easy way to start is to follow these 10 basic steps to maintaining health and vitality.

1. Eliminate "White Foods" from Your Diet. White flour, white sugar and other processed foods are not only devoid of vitamins and minerals, but they’ve also been stripped of their natural fibre. As a result, they rapidly drive up blood sugar levels, which contributes to weight gain, diabetes and a host of other health problems. Avoid breads and baked goods made with white flour, sugar-laden sodas and snack foods. Instead, focus on eating fibre-rich fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains.

2. Stay Away from Dangerous Trans Fats. While it’s important to reduce your overall fat intake, it’s even more important to watch the types of fat you eat. Deep-fried foods and anything made with hydrogenated oils (margarine, peanut butter, shortening, store-bought pastries and cookies) contain trans fats that raise your risk of heart disease. Eat only healthful fats, such as olive oil and the omega-3 oils found in salmon and other cold-water fish, which actually protect against heart disease.

3. Take a Potent Daily Multivitamin and Mineral Supplement. Although there is no substitute for a good diet, I am convinced that for optimal nutrition, you need to take a high-potency multivitamin and mineral supplement. Even if you are eating right, it’s unlikely that your food contains all the nutrients you need. Poor soil quality, storage, processing and cooking deplete our food of vitamins and minerals. Taking a high quality daily supplement is "health insurance" against possible deficiencies.

4. Include Weight Training in Your Exercise Routine. Aerobic exercise is great for cardiovascular conditioning, but it’s vastly inferior to weight training in attacking the "flab factor." Recent research has shown that as little as once-weekly resistance exercise can improve muscle strength. Even the busiest or laziest among us can find the time and energy for that. Join a gym, consult a personal trainer or ask an experienced friend to show you the ropes.

5. Maintain Your Optimal Weight. Current statistics suggest that half of us are losing the battle of the bulge, but maintaining a healthy weight is one of the best things you can do for yourself. You’ll look better, feel better and reduce your risk of heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and other major killers. I know this is easier said than done, but if you just follow the four steps above, you’ll be well on your way.

6. Drink Alcohol Only in Moderation. You’ve probably heard of the "French Paradox," and that drinking wine protects against heart disease. Repeated studies have shown that drinking moderate amounts of alcohol (all kinds) protects not only against heart disease, but also lowers risk of death from all causes. Remember that moderation is key. While one to two drinks a day are protective, excess alcohol consumption is devastating to health. And for some, one drink is too many.

7. Protect Your Prostate. Around the age of 40, the prostate gland begins a growth spurt that results in symptoms such as frequent nighttime urination. The good news is that this condition, known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, can be prevented or reversed by taking extracts of two herbs: saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) and pygeum (Pygeum africanum). Dozens of studies have shown that these herbs work in improving urinary flow without adverse side-effects. Suggested doses are 160 to 320 milligrams of saw palmetto and 40 to 80 mg of pygeum daily.

8. Reduce Your Risk of Prostate Cancer. Experts estimate that 80 per cent of all cancers can be prevented by making healthy lifestyle choices. Avoid saturated and trans fats, which may fuel prostate cancer growth, and incorporate protective foods, such as soy, green tea and tomatoes, into your diet. Soy contains isoflavones with specific anti-cancer activity. Green tea is rich in polyphenols that inhibit the formation of cancer-causing compounds and block the growth of prostate cancer cells. And tomatoes, particularly cooked tomato products, are an excellent source of lycopene, which is linked to a reduced risk of prostate cancer. In addition, make sure your daily nutritional supplement contains high doses of the antioxidant selenium (200 micrograms) and vitamin E (800 IU), which have been shown to dramatically lower the risk of prostate cancer.

9. Maintain Vigorous Sexual Function. Most cases of erectile dysfunction (impotence) have a physical cause: You’re just not getting enough blood to the area in question. To improve overall circulation, follow the diet, exercise and supplement recommendations above. If you’re taking drugs, review them with your doctor, as many can worsen erectile function and impair libido. Smoking also significantly impairs erectile function. Several herbs have been shown to improve sexual function. Ginkgo biloba increases blood flow to the penis, and Panax ginseng, oats, horny goat weed, maca and seroctin improve libido.

10. Maintain Close Relationships. Another thing women seem to do better than men is maintain close relationships. Make a point to strengthen ties with your family and friends. Volunteer work, religious ties, even pets–anything that keeps you involved with others–reduces stress and enhances health. Take charge of your health by incorporating these 10 steps into your life. The rewards of optimal health and well-being will be well worth your efforts.

FOR WOMAN

When you are eating well and exercising daily, one of the last things you want to do is feel as though you are depriving yourself of some of your favorite treats. So, be sure to treat yourself. You may wish to have a small indulgence each day if you wish or a slice of cake as a reward once a week as an example. A small piece of chocolate has about 50 calories. If you choose dark chocolate, it is rich in flavonoids (just like red wine) and they are actually good for you! Cadbury has a 100 calorie thin chocolate bar that is also great. If you choose a once a week treat, then adjust your calories accordingly throughout the day and you should be just fine. Even if you eat more in one sitting such as at a restaurant on Saturday night, this can actually work to your benefit.

When your body is kept guessing each day on the amount of calories you are consuming, it actually tends to burn more fat over the course of the week.I know organic produce, dairy and meat is generally more expensive and harder to find in many cases, however the sooner you start budgeting for this, the better. There are a lot of toxins in our food chain that are making us progressively sicker as a society.

Do a little research and you'll see that this is indeed true. In addition, the moment you try some of the produce for example, you'll start to notice a real difference in quality. Standards vary, so be sure to read labels and become a more educated consumer. The whole foods industry is growing and we will soon see decreases in pricing as demand for these wonderful products increases.Eat berries and more berries. Berries are rich in antioxidants, high in fiber and low in calories. Foods that are rich in antioxidants are highly recommended.

According to Wikipedia.com: "an antioxidant is a molecule capable of slowing or preventing the oxidation of other molecules. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that transfers electrons from a substance to an oxidizing agent. Oxidation reactions can produce free radicals, which start chain reactions that damage cells". Free radicals can lead to cancer.

Try putting those berries in your oatmeal, and not only are you helping ward off cancer but you are also lowering your blood cholesterol levels too!Meditate for the sake of your heart and circulatory system, as well as your overall sense of well-being. Meditation in its simplest form involves closing your eyes and focusing on your breath. When a distraction enters your mind, you simply re-focus on your breath. After a few sessions, you'll find that you are able to go longer and longer without interference. The benefits of meditation have been documented over the past 25 years in leading research studies.

In a nutshell, meditation can: reduce stress, increase energy, increase creativity and intelligence, increase inner calm, promote a younger biological age, improve memory and learning ability, reduce anxiety and depression, reduce insomnia, and increase happiness and self-esteem.

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Random Alphabets 'S' for Style check

Generation X:
Remember "Ye Hai Reshmi Zulfon Ka Andhera Na Ghabraiye Jahan Tak Mahak Hai Mere Kesuon Ki Chale Aiye" - Mumtaz using her dark hair to devastating effect. Or Biswajeet teasing Waheeda Rehman in Bees Saal Baad with "Dekhiye Woh Kaali Kaali Badliyan Zulf Ki Ghata Chura Na Le Kahin." Those were the times when beauty meant black hair or vice-versa. Not any more, the `Zulfon Ki Ghata' has literally been stolen.

Next is what? The only thing is, instead of badliyan, hair colour is the culprit. Gold, copper, iridium are no longer limited to the periodic table of chemistry class, youngsters are learning about them from the shade cards of hairdressers. It's destination India for all the cosmetics majors - L'Oreal, Schwarzkopf, Wella or Keune all are making their presence felt in the Indian hair care industry which stands at around Rs.1,500 crores. "It is a natural progression. India has become a global business brand," says Jawed Habib, the star hair stylist who has recently come up with a book, "Hair Care for All Seasons." Jawed says colouring is not something limited to the elite, it has percolated down to the masses. The Brylcream, V John generation is waning.
"With so much exposure to fashion, people are ready to experiment. And after trying out different hairstyles they move on to hair colour. I have clients who want a change every couple of months. Even kids know what exactly they want."

Who is beautiful of them all? A contestant at Fashion show in the Capital: Delhi is moving from Janpath to Jimmy Choo. No longer do we need to send for a Louis Vuitton bag and wait impatiently for the cousin from California to bring it on her next visit to India. Or jealously watch a Ludhiana aunt flaunting a Bottega Veneta bag from ‘abroad’.

Bring them on, another contestant at a fashion show in FICCI house, Delhi.

Delhi denizens have easy access to the biggest brands and their best lineup and they are making the most of it.Says Delhite Ruchita Sharma Bhardwaj, deputy director, head of luxury and lifestyle at FICCI, “Louis Vuitton and Chanel were here a year ago. But last October the advent of super luxury brands such as Gucci, Hermes, Jimmy Choo, Judith Leiber and Kenzo in Delhi have changed the scenario. Let’s say, around 60 per cent of the international brands have opened shop here. And the market potential is great.

I have and i will flaunt it: ”With the world becoming a global village and travelling becoming a favourite preoccupation of the well-heeled, everyone wants to look uber chic. “The Delhi male’s interest ranges from salons to shoes, the woman understands the value of spending on the crème-de-la-crème (even though they could do with a little more elegance and chic, and less bling),” says Bhardwaj.
The consumer, she says, has a more discerning eye. We are not satisfied with a cheap knock-off of a Judith Leiber clutch from Hong Kong. We would rather splurge on the original from the flagship outlet in Delhi.The message is clear. The next time you feel like laying your hands on that must-have Chanel mini skirt, there’s no need to ask your NRI cousin to ship you one. Go shopping in Delhi, it’s all available right here.

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Humayu Tomb

Humayu Tomb at sunset Delhi

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Random alphabets 'W' for woman

Here’s what happens as a nightbird of advancing age in Delhi- It means that at some point you realise that the mean age of people at night clubs drops by about five years every six months. So in this incredibly evolving nocturnal landscape, where do you fit in? An evening out encompasses time travel of another kind, as you move from one venue to another—partake in conversations as diverse as crumbling urban infrastructure to the latest high-fashion entrant. A conversational dexterity is a must, no matter where you find yourself and in whose midst.That brings me to another factor in nocturnal Delhi endeavours, traffic, the party killer.

In my more exuberant nightlife years, party hopping was de rigueur; everyone had more than one place to be. Needless to mention, many evenings were spent bickering over failed directions in the car than at parties. Hence another quality finds me out of place with Delhi nightlife; I like to be on time.It’s not a bad habit. In most parts of the world it’s even appreciated as a social grace. . But as a wise partywary friend in Delhi advised me on my return to the city, it’s a complete IMAGE BUSTER. Being on time somewhere is as good as gate crashing, when it comes to the Party Rule Book. Always be late, at least by 45 minutes, so that when you enter people converge on you and ask, where you were. If you’re smart enough, you say you were on your way from some place else, as opposed to cooling your heels in the car park, waiting for the right mahurat!I have had friends making the move from more socially accessible cities like Bangalore to Delhi, who agonise over how to crack the social code.

For in Delhi as you grow older, you realise that your social life is not a mosh pit of casual run-ins, but rather a well arranged concentric of fraternal exchange.As a single woman in Delhi, your role evolves constantly, from the friend who was the stand-in so that all her male friends—read ‘stags’— could enter the night club, to the third in couple evenings of dinner and a movie. The city is still not woman-friendly to the extent it needs to be, social and nocturnal freedom is a privilege for the privileged.However most establishments are protective of their female patrons (dare I say more so than in other parts of the world?). But outside and away from the psychedelic lights and the jostling crowds, the ride home can be a lonely, if not a dangerous.

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Random Alphabets: D for dating party

The business of matchmaking has always looked for new ideas. And dating parties, popular in the West, and even in Bangalore, seem to have arrived in the city, sneaking into what’s socially acceptable. Delhiites can now attend these parties and walk out with a hot date. hitchh.com, “India’s premier dating site”, recently set their matchmaking scene in one of Delhi’s best-loved pastimes: a party. Their inaugural ‘padlock party’ had every girl carrying a tiny lock, and every guy carrying a key. The plan was to mingle around, flirt, and test the locks and keys for the right click. In the process, you ended up meeting several singles of the opposite sex, and maybe even establishing that elusive ‘connection’. An outdoor party on a chilly night with great food, free flow of alcohol, and an entry charge of Rs 1,650—all this and the possibility of meeting your perfect match? Too good to pass up. It is very good of you to inform us of these kind of so very sought after events. More so, when there hardly are any! But also, please note that paying 3000 Indian National Rupees for a party is not every one´s cup of tea. We need more choices, and better ones!

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Merry Christmas

Two thousand years ago the King of Kings was born.'
The Lamb of God' later made to feel the thorn,
If his words are accepted and not scorned,
They will make us all reborn.

Though God's grace, Joseph and Mary presented
A gift to the world that day,
which we can all repay,
by living the ten commandments each and every day.

Try to remember and keep in your heart and mind
Jesus's gospel while here on Earth,
Redemption not a life lived in constant mirth.
Peace on Earth, good will toward man
Everyone should try it, whenever they can.

The Lord gave us the option and choice of 'free will,
'Now it's up to us to fit the bill.

So when you’re Christmas shopping for family and friends,

and money is tight at both ends,
Remember that the greatest gift of all,
Is your love of Jesus in the manger stall.

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Delhi Dil Se...

With winer setting in Delhi this kid looks for some warmth in his clothes
DON'T STOP LET ME FLY: While she decides to take some off
A man peeps between the plates at a restra in Delhi
A Bead man at Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi

A kid at Lajpat Nagar market, South Delhi A doll shop at Dilli Haat, South Delhi

Busy chaotic street of Old Delhi

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