'Lighten Up' With Canola Oil, This Diwali...

Diwali is not just about the festive fervor that influences everyone, the lit-up premises, the gifting frenzy, the ethnic wear that everyone roots for, and the traditional connect that calls out.

In a grand way, the festival of lights is also about food - primarily sweets, but also savories. :)

It came as no surprise then, that Canola and Chef Surjan Singh "Jolly" decided to host a Diwali bash for food bloggers and culinary enthusiasts earlier this week at the Indian Women's Press Corps.

Though it is not the first time that my blog is hosting Canola and Chef Jolly, the first tryst with healthy cooking thanks to Canola Oil was in 2014, here.

While Canola Oil was the agenda for the day this time as well, it was supplemented by the festive vibe culminating in a 'Jolly Good Master Class' with delicacies prepared using Canola Oil, decorated with the goodness of authentic अखरोट (Walnut),  नदरू (Lotus Stem) and अन्जीर (Fig) टिक्की and Smoked Chicken cooked in Canola Oil by Chef Jolly and his assistant Chef Vishal. Also, on offer were festive savories from the kitchen such as पनीर टिक्का, शामी कबाब, छोले भठूरे and आलू टिक्की, not to the forget the sweet ending with freshly made जलेबी.

Canola India gave a full-fledged welcome to festive fervor with decked up shamianas, marigold decked trees, Diwali Rangoli and a game of Hoopla for all the attendees.

Canola's neutrality to taste is the attribute that makes it quite suitable for Indian flavors. Thus, Canola gels well with Indian spices. Also, being free of trans fat and cholesterol has made it the third most consumed cooking oil worldwide.

While Chef Jolly applauded the low viscosity, high smoke point and light texture that Canola Oil possesses, thus making it a staple in his kitchen, Mr. Bruce Jowett, Vice President of Market Development, Canola Council of Canada (CCC) was quick to remark that more and more Indian consumers were opting for Canola Oil owing to its versatility, suitability for any cooking technique or cuisine, and its health benefits.

Given the fact that India is burdened with being the host of heart disease and diabetes more than any other illness that plagues the world, Canola is the most well-suited oil of all, to our contemporary urban lifestyle.

Here's wishing my readers an enjoyable and prosperous festive season. If you would, do gift yourself the goodness of Canola Oil and embrace a healthy lifestyle, this Diwali. :)

Feast As You Fast At The Barracks!

Just last month, I had been to 38 Barracks, Connaught Place. This time however, my visit came about as a consequence of their Modern Day Navratri Blogger's Luncheon.

If you haven't read about my great experience here in the past, please do so after you read about this one.

With the motivation to cook something up their sleeve that represents out-of-the-box, Ankur and Chef Gautam Chaudhary have come up with another twist to their progressive cuisine by presenting an exclusive range of cyclic Menu(s) catering to the believed-to-be auspicious time of Navratri.

I believe it to be a concept of 'Feast As You Fast' having savored dishes from one of the three Navratri Menu(s) proposed.

Catch is, they've modernized the concept of a Navratri's fasting meal by not proposing a Thali with minuscule portions of each dish/food item but by preparing and presenting each dish that is a burst of flavors on your palate altogether.

Coming across as a full-fledged four-course meal priced at ₹799++ pp, it is a bang for the buck. If all the courses do not form for your cup of tea, you could also go for the course of your choice or even particular dishes of your liking.

Arrived to the pleasant sight of a full-house and the pleasant sound of a talented artist performing classic melodies and newer tunes.

Begun the meal with their Welcome Drink which was a Virgin Pina Colada, imparting much needed chill in the sweltering heat. It had a pineapple slice topping on its side.

Among the Appetizers, savored Sabudana Aur Prunes Ki Tikki, prunes lending it a sweet touch and otherwise also, the Tikki was melt-in-mouth, and Kurkuri Kamal Kakdi, i.e. fried lotus stem crisps served on a fried Sabudana Poppadom platter.

Also, the Sabudana Aloo Crispies were true to their name and taste - crisp on the outside but soft on the inside.

Missed out on Sweet Potato Crisps, but in place of it, had the Harissa Upma with Cottage Cheese Steaks char-grilled to perfection.

For the Main Course,  the Cottage Cheese Parcels on a bed of Sago Risotto were an absolute delight and Singhaade Aur Aloo Ke Tikde with Chirojee Ki Dal were on point with their spice factor.

The Fresh Fruit Salad was presented with an array of Papaya, Pineapple, Green Apple and Watermelon slices.

Also tried their Watermelon and Orange-base mocktails, presented in a tall glass and bulb on a bed of fuming nitrogen respectively.

The Dessert came plated as Makhana Kheer with a surprise factor of Mango and Almond Crisps, relished to the end.

This experience at 38 Barracks was as good as the first one, and I hope that Ankur, Chef Gautam and Team 38 Barracks have many more Navratri(s) to look forward to, year after year, this being their successful first! :)

#HoppingoBeforeShoppingo With See-Commerce!

Hoppingo is soon going to emerge as the new digital haven for shoppers. E-commerce is a blessing for all online shoppers. There are many reasons behind such popularity. Online shopping is available to you 24x7 with no store opening and closing timings. Therefore, despite all your hectic schedules, you can manage your shopping schedules at your ease and comfort, even on-the-go or at your leisure time thus not impacting your work or important tasks. Visiting a store and sparing enough time to explore has really become difficult. 

Imagine if there was no online shopping available, it would have been a real pain in the neck to visit a store squeezing such a requirement amid all the chaotic timelines. And on top of it a physical visit to a store is not always fruitful. Sometimes the sales guys are not that instinctive to pay attention and understand what you need exactly. At times it happens that you select an item, pay the bill, pick up your packet and when you reach home, you find it is a wrong piece packed, not the one you finalized. It also happens that you realize later the purchase you made was not worth the amount you paid.

That is where Hoppingo comes into picture as a shopper’s paradise for such and many more reasons. The digital haven called Hoppingo is India’s first platform on the innovative concept known as “See-Commerce”. It is not like any other e-commerce portal just showcasing a number of products in various categories for you to pick and choose from. Hoppingo is unlike other e-commerce sites that expontiate the confusion as you go on browsing. It is a logical interface between the seller and the buyer. You get millions and millions of products showcased by a number of e-stores in their prime. Hoppingo dives into these plethora of e-stores most intelligently. All you have to do is – See. And you can set your eyes on a range of products – all at one place! 

We fancy a certain delight in visiting e-stores, having saved ourselves from the physical fatigue of visiting their brick and mortar counterparts, blissfully ignoring the mental fatigue we’ve bargained for, instead. Lured by the creative visuals and designs of such platforms on the Web, we end up harassing ourselves to no end. At times, selecting and adding products to one’s wishlist may seem promising but those products end up as only being ‘wished’ for, thanks to one’s moodiness and lethargy. 

Hoppingo’s USP is the fact that they help save time when it comes to e-shopping. From classy and corporate to funky and festive, Hoppingo showcases products in the most organised and detailed fashion. 

Their expert product curators don’t just help navigate through products sourced from a heap of e-stores, but also offer invaluable advice on the finer nuances of shopping online. See it, to believe it. There’s always #HoppingoBeforeShoppingo as India’s First See-Commerce Experience! 

#TraditionMyWay This Diwali!

Diwali is the festival of bliss, goodness, and lights. Celebrations are at its peak during this festive tenure during each calendar year. The festival lends a certain inexplicable cheer to the mood and we all express our goodwill, love and a unique style in our own way by the means of a customary revamp of the wardrobe to usher in the festive spirit. After all, this Indian festive extravaganza brings with it a great opportunity to lighten the pocket, which must not be let gone, at any cost! ;)

I decided to paint my world festive with my own palette and brush in hand. To craft a #TraditionMyWay Diwali look for me was my aim. To express my festive style, I decided to choose complementary rather than contrast. After all, this is the time when fashion dons a new definition as the tradition meets individuality. 

The decorative lights outside must not only adorn the facade of one's house but also the light within must emanate to uphold the celebratory temperament and thus lead us on to discovering a better 'us' each year. 

I decided to go all the way to create my own world of vivid hues. I decided to gift a new look for my wardrobe to house as a keepsake this Diwali to bring a new styling with a twist. This Diwali had to be #TraditionMyWay. 

A customary gesture in the family has been to choose one of my Grandma's many exquisitely crafted Silk Lehengas paired with well-to-go-along and 'handled with care' jewelry sets. Though the entire ensemble may sound heavy to carry, the grace it imparts is unparalleled

This time around, instead of donning a look from the familial heirloom, I decided to look the 'light' way thanks to companionship offered by Jabong. I decided to select an elegant designer Saree and work around my Diwali look, #TraditionMyWay.

While I progressed browsing through the e-catalog, it became increasingly difficult for me to choose one, as I smitten by the vibrant hues of all Sarees. Selecting only one of the many was a time-consuming task. Yet, I knew when I had found the perfect one. I zeroed in on a graceful, gorgeous yellow saree from Hypnotex. My aesthetic designer Georgette Saree is fabulous, don't you think? 

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Stilettos are the way to go ALWAYS, to be paired with those six yards of feminity - and that is a rule embossed in gold, in the Style Bible. After narrowing down on the color of the footwear and the occasion, it was meant to be worn to - thanks to the Color and Occasion filters on Jabong - I decided to opt for these Golden Stilettos by Shuz Touch. Classy, elegant and game on point!

~~~

The time then came to choose a classic timepiece, for me to flaunt. What could be more classic than black pearls? More so, when being proposed by timeless Titan Raga? This one wrist watch had aimed for my heart, hands down! 

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To accentuate my look further and in keeping with the Indian tradition of wearing gold ornaments but with a twist, since it had to be #TraditionMyWay, I opted for trendy 18-kt black gold! Both the pendant and the studs from the house of Sparkles made sure that I sparkled my way through the family get-together. See the fabulous shimmer, which dazzles for yourself! 

~~~

The jewelry pieces were exquisitely crafted to lend the perfect amount of glamor pixie-dust to my ensemble! However, the two pieces of the Style Jigsaw left to place, were a complementary clutch and the perfect makeup kit. 

Well, if I was talking of pearls on my wrist, then I must possess an oyster too, from where to source those black beauties, ain't it? This sleek and spacious black polyurethane clutch from Dice caught my fancy and I fell in love with it. It has a voguish make, is waterproof and would thus last long. 

~~~

L’Oréal Paris has always been my one-stop-shop for all my makeup needs and thus this wonderful five-piece Go-Glam Pink Makeup Kit was chosen without a doubt. It has my five subtle items - Compact, Kajal, Liner, Lipstick, Blush-On and would be well-equipped to endow me with my minimalistic look this Diwali, with #TraditionMyWay, thanks to ‘http://www.Jabong.com/’. 

~~~ 

The entire ensemble made sure that I donned my stylish best, especially because it was #TraditionMyWay. It earned me the customary compliments from the better half too and made me realize that a subtle spin in the tale could also equate with the age-old fairytale. :) 

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Happy Diwali, Dear Readers! :) 

Have a prosperous year ahead. 

~~~ 

P.S.: This post is written for #traditionmyway in association with Jabong. 

Please click on the images to visit the landing page of the respective products on the website. 

The Diwali That Was, Is, And Will Be...

Diwali.

Deepawali.

One Festival.

Two Salutations.

A Million Aspirations.

Infinite Celebrations.

The Festival.

Of Lights.

The festival of Diwali, was one exciting celebration for me, since years The lights adorning my house, plethora of relatives to visit, celebrate. The customary Diwali Puja, with the blissful chants, temple bells. The up-and-down of it, to arrange those lights aesthetically.  The up-and-down of it, for fascinating crackers, as kids. The retelling of the parable, the epic Ramayana.  The excitement of revamping the wardrobe. Of untying the glossy gift - wrap.  Of enjoying Diwali presents!
~~~
That was how my Diwali was, as a kid.
And, that's how, it is, even today.
Why, didn't you notice the Dia above, adorning my blog-post, even?
~~~
A line of Dias.
The literal meaning of Diwali, isn't it?
That's how my house, donned a new hat, for Diwali celebrations too, every single year.
Dias and those electronic lights, too, adorned every nook and corner of my house.
Not one single spot remain unlit! ^_^

The Diwali Of 2012.

~~~
Over the years, it does bring back, an adrenaline rush, a requisite nostalgia...
To see the child in me, surface, dusting away the layers of maturity, for that day, that evening of celebration, even now. :)
~~~
To see, how Diwali as a festival, has taken up new meaning, over the years.
For us, on a personal level, it's elating.
However, on the macro level, as a member of the Indian Society, it's disturbing.
You know why, don't you?
~~~
It's the pivotal point of burning crackers.
How, we as a family, have refrained from polluting the environment, and adopted eco-friendly measures.

And, how, with each passing Diwali, the pollution levels of my city, and my Country, are alarming.

Not only the pollution, it pains me to see, how innocent children, are forced to work in such hazardous environments, for the sake of crackers.

It's pleasing however, that I've voiced my opinion and stopped burning my money, for the least! :)

I still remember how my elder brother had burnt his entire hand, very excitedly but also, very negligently, lighting an Anaar upside down, at the age of 10.

From that day on, Crackers were a NO inside the House. :)

So, now you know, that I've never burnt crackers, since age 6!

And, we've never looked back.

~~~
For me, Diwali has already been a familial affair, and never have I stayed away from family, for any of my Celebrations. :D
For me, Diwali always meant spending time with my Mother, taking in her culinary expertise, for, the conventional sweets, which were sold in those sweet shops in the Market across the lane, we used to gleefully replicate at Home...
Sweets + Glee - Humongous Amounts Of Ghee => Joyous Indulgence. ^_^
You say it, and my Mother used to make it.
The Burfis. The Laddoos. The Gulab Jamuns. The Jalebis.
All Home Made! :)
So much so, that the Aunty's from the neighbourhood, too, used to savor them and even request her for a supposed 'Secret Recipe'. ^_^
~~~
Even today, over an entire generation, Diwali, as a festival for Charu, has been an exciting as well as an enriching experience.

From the Dias.

To The Rangolis. To The Greetings. To The Puja. To The Gift Hampers.

The Ganesh Arti

Each Diwali, for her even, has been purely, very blissfully, a #GharWaliDiwali! :)
However, these Diwali's over the years, have been minimally pretentious.
And, maximally heartfelt.
I've stayed away from those people who 'you-know-why', make a public display of how Goddess Lakshmi has blessed them with elaborate riches...
And, for us, it has never been as elaborate. Only as much heartfelt as it could be.
No show - off strings attached! :)
~~~
My Diwali has always been a #GharWaliDiwali.
This time too, it is a #GharWaliDiwali.
And, hopefully, it will always be, a #GharWaliDiwali.
~~~
This post has been written as a part of Indi Happy Hours' #GharWaliDiwali in association with PepsiCo and IndiBlogger.
~~~

The Irre'Zest'ible Five...

~~~

Zest...

Something Exciting...

Something Adventurous...

Something Inspiring...

Something Unique...

Something Extraordinary...

~~~

There Are Some Zestful Activities In My Everyday Life...

Which Aid In Renewing My Vigor And Zeal Towards Life...

~~~

Reminiscing Over My Mother's Many Creations...

Like This One...

Admiring Her Artistic Creations...

Gives Me A Sense Of Fulfillment...

And, Reminds Me Of The Passion And Perseverance...

She Had...

For Her Efforts...

This Year, We'd Be Commemorating Her Fifth Death Anniversary...

But, It Doesn't Feel Like It...

Because, She Lives On In Her Art...

Her Works Adorn My Home...

And, She Lives On...

In Her Art! :)

~~~

Photographing Nature's Beauties...

Like These...

Especially In The Monsoons...

Rainbow Magic!

Notice The Sun And The Peacock, Even Midst The Grey?

The Spray Of Freshness, In The Monotony...

The way Nature's Marvels present us with Life Lessons...

And, present us with special opportunities to look at the Bright of Life and not at the Gray...

Because, There's Always A Silver Lining In Even The Darkest Clouds. :)

~~~

Collecting Memoirs From Vacations...

Like These...

To Remind Me...

That...

Even The Littlest Of Adventures In Life...

Can Leave A Long - Lasting Impression...

With The Memories, That We Gather. :)

And, Just A Glance...

At Souvenirs Such As These...

Is Enough To Bring About...

The Adrenaline Rush...

Of That Adventurous Vacation...

All That Is Needed...

Is An Excitement...

And, A Spirit...

A Zest...

To Live Life To The Fullest! :)

~~~

Expressing My Artistic Side...

On Festive Occasions...

Expressing My Artistic Best...

Instills A Strong Sense Of Self-Confidence...

And, Of Familial Support...

Celebrating Festivals Together...

Brings Along An Inexplicable Sense Of Exuberance...

Having Kept The Celebrations Of Life...

Zestfully Alive! :)

~~~

Reminiscing Over My Daughter's Awards...

These Awards, Stand Testimony...

To Achievements...

In The Past...

Which, Provides A Path...

To Progress...

These Are All Inspirations...

To Chalking Out...

Newer Achievements In Life...

With A Newer Zest...

And Newer Ambitions. :)

~~~

These Are My Pointers To Looking At Life...

With A Unique Perspective, Each Day!

Because,

All You Need...

Is...

Zeroing In On The Priorities In A Life...

Escaping Those Mundane Monotones...

Shatter That Glass Entrapping The Self...

To Unleash Unexplored Talents, Hidden!

~~~

This post is a part of the #ZestUpYourLife Activity in association with TATA Zest and BlogAdda.com.

Capturing The Essence Of Diwali...

So, The Diwali Fiesta Continues To Make Its Presence Felt!
WOW!'s Here...

~~~

Diwali Or Deepawali - One Festival Has Two Names...

Incorporating Meaning - A Row Of Lights Captured In Numerous Frames!

Well, One Thing They Did Not Know - That They Were Being Watched...

Abhorring Darkness With A Potential Unmatched!

Linking The Festive Fervor Together...

Illuminating Homes Whatever Be The Weather!

~~~

Delighted Faces, Joy & Festivity - Spread All Around...

Inking Memories In Hearts, These Lights - With Relationships New Found!

Well, One Thing They Did Not Know - That They Were Being Watched...

Appealing To Gods & Humans Alike - With Admiration Unmatched!

Liberating Them Of Their Sorrows...

Instilling In Them, A Sense Of Calm Tomorrows!

~~~

Discerning The Dark From The Bright...

Inspiring Everyone's Inner Light!

Well, One Thing They Did Not Know That They Were Being Watched...

Appreciations Pouring In From Millions - Visions Unmatched!

Little Did They Realize - Burning Till The End...

Invigorating Liveliness, Across They, Did Send!

~~~

This post is a part of Write Over The Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda.

BlogAdda gives out a creative writing theme each weekend for Indian bloggers. 

Bidding Farewell To The Ravana

Everyone bids farewell to Ravana on Dussehra. But people living in Tatarpur Village, New Delhi bid farewell to him one day earlier than the others. It is the day when other people take him to their homes or society compounds to burn him on Dussehra.

         Tatarpur is the hub where thousands of effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkarna & Meghnada are prepared. Infact  we, the people residing in its vicinity at Tagore Garden and Rajouri Garden witness the process from day one -  approximately two months before festivity knocks on the door!

Right from their skeleton of bamboo to their first covering by brown paper to their decorative covering with Crepe Paper to the painting of their crowns, mustaches and facial expressions  we witness it all, year after year.

 

 

          Huge heads, torso and limbs are strewn over each and every footpath , lane , garden and even under the running Metro - in between its pillars.

      

Effigies which have transformed from zed black to multicolored hues - yellow , pink , green and even fluorescent are available in various sizes too.

Baby Ravan For Kids

Few unfinished ones are still lying never to reach their ultimate destination.

Today since morning we are jostling with the traffic congestion , diesel pollution and noise pollution of blazing horns as lots of trucks and tempos line up to lift these effigies to take them to their ultimate destination.

           Bye-Bye Ravana -------- to be continued in my next post tomorrow...