#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? 

~~~

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! 

~~~

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. 

Luxurious Comfort In My City...

The first Win of 2016 at IndiB comes around as a gratification from Cleartrip! :)

~~~

Everybody's welcome here 

Everybody welcome to my city 

We ain't got no worries here 

I know you're gonna like it in my city 

You know you got a friend in me 

You ain't gonna wanna leave 

~~~ 

Surprisingly enough, this chorus from Priyanka's single rings true, every time I am prompted by a fellow blogger, or for that matter, any tourist who's exploring my city, Delhi to let them in on the experience of a resident. 

Now is the age of reviews. Categorically for the Travel industry - logistics, experiences, memories - all rely largely on word of mouth. 

The other day, my better half, Mr. J was busy boasting of a new FAM trip he had been invited to. Excitedly, he sat down, listing the regions he had, left to leave a footprint on, encompassing the Indian soil. 

The Seven Sisters,

The Peninsula Focal, 

Western Islands, Noble, 

And, My Ignorant Mister! 

The Seven Sisters of the East, the Central state of Madhya Pradesh and the Western islands of Lakshadweep were those left unexplored. Leave aside the trip in question, he had started day-dreaming of these picturesque locations soon enough. 

~~~ 

Well, it ought to be me to burst his bubble, ain't it? 

I added another city's name, much to his surprise! 

It should not take you long to comprehend that he would be taken aback by the mention of only one such city, and that would be our capital city, and hometown - New Delhi. 

Why, I was quick to question - 'Are you well versed with your own city, leave alone other regions of the country?' 

An even quicker Yes from him prompted me to drag him into the ring. :D 

We embarked on an intellectual city tour of sorts, thereafter. Multiple rapid fire rounds centered around the A to Z of Delhi were discussed. 

Out of the many points of discussion, one of them was about the extensive variety of hotels in and around the city. 

He very conveniently drew a parallel between regions of the country and areas of Delhi. 

Since the Eastern, Western and Central frontiers of the country were untouched, he prompted me to choose my three best hotels, In My City - one from each cardinal direction in the city. 

It wasn't so difficult as I resorted to surfing the ClearTrip App on my smartphone! :) 

It was as easy as choosing the city, and sorting the hotels, basis locality. 

I arrived at my best list and ousted my better half, quite easily. 

• Kempinski Ambience Hotel, Maharaja Surajmal Road
• Taj Palace Hotel, Diplomatic Enclave
• Radisson Blu, Paschim Vihar 

These three hotels located in East, Central and West Delhi, respectively offer that desired amalgamation of comfort and luxury when opting for a stay In My City... 

Luxurious Comfort, as I like to call it is what is #KuchHatke. 

The Taj Palace is my most favorite. If you would wish to let go of yourself, and indulge in some royal pampering for yourself and your loved ones, Taj Palace would be the hotel to put your heart to. 

Classy interiors and a regal ensemble are what imparts that elegance to a premier property in the heart of Delhi. Top-notch location with top-notch amenities, and catering to each guest as one of their own. What else could one wish for? 

I would personally recommend a dining experience at Kafe Fontana, where a burst of colors is an aesthetic treat while the aroma of good food and the edge of live cooking add zing and zest to what satiates your appetite. 

~~~ 

The Kempinski Ambience would be the most preferred choice if putting up in East Delhi. This property has been tastefully set up within close proximity of the Yamuna Sports Complex to provide easy access to the Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple. 

The luxurious recreational facilities at Kempinski Ambience take you on a journey of tranquility and peace. Take some time off to relax in the pool or soothe your senses at the Shanaya Spa, indulging in Asian and European therapies. 

~~~

Radisson Blu, on the other hand, embodies what the perfect location for a hotel should be. It scores on all given parameters - being pocket-friendly, proximity to shopping hubs, boasting of prim and proper facilities, and providing an opportunity for gourmet indulgence, in the form of Cupcakes. 

Yes, surely the edible ones - rather gourmet ones, being offered at the in-house Pastry Shop - sweet and savory delights! 

Moreover, the elegant designs of a Neo-Gothic era, Radisson's majestic decor is a perfect blend of ancient splendour and modern appeal. A harmonious blend of contemporary design and upscale exteriors is what would appeal to the senses, here. 

~~~ 

Who would possibly miss to applaud such tasteful selections in keeping with the modern yet archaic outlook of the city of New Delhi? Given a chance, I too would want to plan a day's escapade to these Luxuriously Comfortable Hotels In My City... 

Mr. J was clearly amazed when I had opted the best of Three Worlds while matching up to the tasteful exuberance of luxurious, yet comfortable properties In My City... 

So, when are you visiting? :) 

Everybody's welcome here 

Everybody welcome to my city 

We ain't got no worries here 

I know you're gonna like it in my city 

You know you got a friend in me 

You ain't gonna wanna leave 

~~~ 

It's All About You, Says DP!

What?

Launch of 'All About You', by Deepika Padukone and Myntra.

When?

Tuesday, October 20.

Where?

The Claridges, New Delhi.

Tuesday afternoon was All About You. Kidding you, not!

It was the perfect setting for the launch of an apparel line, conceptualized and designed by a diva - an actress who has been impressing the Indian audience with her impeccable personality ever since 2007.

None other than Deepika Padukone had flown down to Delhi in order to launch her own fashion brand All About You in association with leading e-commerce giant, Myntra.

All About You from Deepika Padukone celebrates the beautiful actress's elegant yet unique style. It was a pleasure to witness the actress carrying off her stylish best self while bejewling her creations with adjectives of the likes of 'comfort, romamtic, feminine, and fun'.

~~~ 

Boasting of floral prints and pastel hues, the pleasant, charming and aesthetically crafted silhouttes were exhibited by some professional models over a ramp-walk session.

Doesn't she dazzle the ramp, once and for all? 

Deepika Padukone! 

~~~ 

Deepika candidly let members of the audience know how she had spent nine months designing and perfecting the collection in collaboration with French design agency, Carlin and Myntra's in-house team. 

She effortlessly shared her experience: 

"It was a pleasure working with the design team to create a collection that is simple, elegant & comfortable, with styles that match my sensibilities. All About You aims at enabling girls to showcase their personal style." 

Mr. Ananth Narayanan, CEO, Myntra was elated and remarked that All About You lived up to its promise of being a collection that connects with young women. The brand will widen our reach and the secret ingredient of its success would be the brand philosophy of simple designs that were easy to wear. 

~~~ 

Yours Truly had her minute of fame with the lady of the evening when I was handed the mic during the QnA with her. She was quick to choose her profession over her passion, i.e. acting over designing when I asked her about what gave her a higher 'high'. 

Also, my knowing that white was her favorite color of sorts made DP quip with a giggle. Afterwards she added to her answer by saying that pastels go well with the concept of All About You. 

~~~ 

Since Myntra has since long, gone app-only, All About You has been launched exclusively on the Myntra app. 

All About You has been rolled out at a well-within-reach price point of ₹1500 onward. 

~~~ 

Well, that's not all that the evening had to offer, though. Knowing that it had upset my daughter to compulsarily choose attending college over meeting (atleast seeing) Deepika in person, I made sure that I obtained a surprise for her from DP. 

What do I receive for her? 

With this, I close the piece for the day. :) 

Redeem Them From Doom...

Lady Lua's her name,
Who now, isn't the same!
Something amiss in her homely Ranthambore,
Which has to be brought to the fore!

The day her kin started to disappear,
Was when she was engulfed by thoughts of fear!
Where have all the tigers gone?
She kept thinking on and on!

The rationale driving their sadism was unknown,
Gradually, to extinction, her species was prone!
Seriatim, she came to observe and understand,
The perpetrator always had a gun in hand!

~~~ 

Lady Lua thus thought to herself, 

What was it, that did overwhelm? 

What was it, that benefited them, 

This fickle-mindedness - where was its stem? 

Why was this happening? 

So much blood was spine-chilling! 

Poaching wasn't good at all, 

Fright-inducing sights were not her call! 

The onus of rescuing them was upon mankind, 

Busy jeopardising her streak were they, she did find! 

She and hers were being pained by barbarity, 

So much so, that she had fostered animosity! 

 ~~~ 

After them for their precious striped fur, 

Cruelty masked by symbolism of power! 

Forest land being encroached for cultivation, 

Reduced them to just 2226 across the nation! 

Unmindful of the disruption to ecological balance, 

A moment to reflect on the storm beneath the silence! 

It's not only about Lady Lua and her streak, 

But also about the entire food chain, to shriek!  

Until we embrace this harsh reality, 

It will lead to their petrifying scarcity! 

A question, it is now, of moral duty, 

To preserve our national integrity! 

~~~ 

Their fates lie in our hands, 

For hope on barren lands!

Extinction for Lua, won't happen, 

Her worries won't deepen! 

~~~ 

These were some stanzas of self-written poetry recited by my eight-year-old niece to an auditorium bustling with parents and teachers, whilst essaying the portrayal of the endangered species that we Indians refer to, as the National Animal of India.

This was in 2010. Coincidentally, the theme for their school's Annual Day Celebrations that year was centered around the International Year of Biodiversity. On being prompted, my niece voluntarily chose to focus on the Panthera Tigris and its plight, while each of her classmates chose to represent a unique creature from the zoological and botanical expanse.

The keen observational skills of a child skip no detail. Well, that's true, of course. What we men and women on the face of our beautiful planet, choose to intentionally ignore, is what caught the eye of tiny tots who hadn't seen enough of the world to fully appreciate its goodness and look down upon its wretchedness.

Why my niece bonded with the regal beast was because she had quite recently that it stood symbolic of a nation's pride. Her excitement to represent an animal that enjoyed such an exclusive privilege was evident in her mannerisms ever since she had begun getting into the 'skin' of her character.

What her innocent mind failed to comprehend was the dismal status quo, as that nation's pride was gradually being visualized as a head hung in shame, instead. It goes without saying, that even today, we are in the grip of a biodiversity crisis. It is not only one species which bears the brunt when subjected to suffering by mankind, but the entire ecological manifestation is tipped off the balance.

However, the tables would turn for the better only when man realizes his folly and resolves to act towards the betterment of all species than only his own.

It all begun with an apple, 

And we continue to grapple! 

He greedily extends his hand to grasp all, 

Which is slowly but surely leading to his fall! 

~~~ 

Specifically for our national animal, the sequence of events haven't been favorable enough, though the situation has bettered over the past year with their statistical figures pointing towards the pedestal of 2,226 across Indian soil. 

There is no better a way to inspire change in others than to do it for ourselves, as a first. For, one must lead by example. Fostering the emotion of mutual respect towards all species and upholding the perception of 'living in harmony' are what will go a long way in sustaining our graceful survival.

Being a teacher, I could as well propose the excursion of school children to various informative Tiger Safaris, which would prove fruitful only when that information is positively acted upon, and not just turned a deaf ear to. To up the awareness quotient of school children towards this endangered species, the curriculum could also incorporate organizing an Eco-Quiz of sorts.

Being a blogger, I would want to believe that the pen is mightier than the sword and would want to blog for this critical cause if it would help raise some red flags. Also, the power and reach of social media channels cannot be overlooked in this regard because it is this perpetual communication which has zeroed in on geographical boundaries, at least.

Come to think of it, the promptness which has been displayed by organizations and media houses on the forefront, of the likes of World Wide Fund for Nature - India (WWF - India) and NDTV-Aircel Save Our Tigers initiative have been commendable.

One such brand, whose efforts have been applause-worthy and that has been actively endorsing the cause of our nation's pride has to be Aircel India. As long as I can go back through the abyss of my gray cells, I vividly recall their endorsements with M.S. Dhoni and Amitabh Bachchan as brand ambassadors. As a consequence of their continual efforts, the four-legged beast has gone from being 1,411 in 2006 to 1,706 in 2010 to 2,226 in 2014.

By rolling out their Strokes For Stripes campaign, they've been able to bring out the creative best among all of us. Their Save Our Tigers merchandise puts the motivating statistics in print for us to flaunt.

Quite recently, on the occasion of World Tiger Day, Aircel had been successful in prompting the masses by means of their adorable Tigojis (which have been incorporated into this post):

Don't Just Talk... 

ROAR! 

#AircelSaveOurTigers now leads the way ahead. 

As a closing note, I would like to remark that we all must realize our responsibility as a species, coexisting with and respecting the way of life of the other species in question. It is thus the key to peaceful and harmonious coexistence.

For, Lady Lua and her kin reach out, 

You must let go of each and every doubt, 

After all, she and hers are counting on thee, 

For, You Are The Power Of We! 

~~~ 

P.S.: This post has been written in support of #AircelSaveOurTigers. 

The copyright to Tigojis belongs solely to Aircel, whilst any image apart from these bears the blog's copyright. 

~~~ 

About The Blogger: 

Poonam is a parent, teacher, and now, a blogger. She holds an M.Sc. in Anthropology. For the past three decades and counting, she has been the one who teaches not only by curriculum, but by practicality. She aims to invoke a sense of responsibility in her readers by her blog.



The blog also sees poetry, photography, creative writing and her musings on life.

She comes from a family of bloggers, with her husband and daughter, giving her company in the world of blogging.

The author can be reached at poonamkhanduja@gmail.com.

The Little Red Cap...

Have we thought about a little red cap ever? The little red cap that we keep missing in our lives is really missing all the time, everywhere in life. This little red cap has no size and no shape. This is a symbolic cap - a symbol of our emotions, a symbol of our love and care for each other. Do we really have no time these days to express ourselves? Are we so bogged down with the jittery and emotionless lifestyle? Are we really caring? Are we not too engrossed with the mechanical lifestyle right from the moment we open our eyes every morning when we wake up, till the time we go to bed?

We have just become a cog in the rusty robotic mechanism. Each member of a family is so busy in their own mechanized routines that there is no time to look at other members of the family. While I stand in my balcony, I watch other families around and feel that everyone is living in a self-mesmerizing world with no space or place for anyone else. The kids of one of the families, which stays just opposite my house are not seen playing together. One kid is busy with her own puzzle game while the other one is busy in his jigsaw game. An elder one is engrossed in her mobile phone all the time, running her fingers through the keypad in a rapid and confused manner. The eldest, a teenager, is always having a headphone stuffed in his ears, engaged in some music all the time. Their mother is always busy with her smartphone, talking to someone, with her hands moving in various directions as if creating her own world in the air. Their father is always seen leaving early every morning in his car, for his office, with his Bluetooth earphone, talking, giving instructions, or taking instructions. The same happens when he is back home in the evening, rather late evening.

I tried talking to those kids many times, but it seems as if none of them have any time for anyone around them. Even their mother is not interested in talking to anyone in the neighborhood. Probably the digital lifestyle has made us all a body without any heart or soul. None of the families in my colony seem to be aware what is happening in the houses in the vicinity. There is always a wall of silence that is apparently invisible but is having a strong existence.

Do we need a messiah to come and tell us what we are missing? Do we really know that we are not living at all? Rather we are all just killing every precious moment of our lives. Nobody is bothered at all. Nobody cares. Nobody has a heart for listening and talking to each other. All are aloof, entwined in the abyss of life.

Does it interest you to search for that lost little red cap? It could be longing for togetherness, within us.