Heading Out for a Road Trip? 7 Ways to Maximize Fun

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Whether it’s with extended family, your closest friends or your significant other, few things are more exciting to undertake than a fun-filled road trip. 

Fortunately, when it comes to vacationing on the road, it doesn’t even have to be the most exotic or interesting destination because exploration is exciting enough when you do it with those you love!

But, there are still a few ways that you can maximize the fun and really have a road trip worth remembering. 

Heading Out for a Road Trip
Road trip near Sykkylven by TimOve

1. Get Everyone Involved

Especially when you are traveling with your friends, make sure it’s lively and animated in the cabin. 

You can ask them to recite their most memorable moment on their last trip but one by one. That would ensure even the most introvert of the lot speaking out. 

Games like 20 Questions, Name That Tune, Continue with Story-telling, are indeed for kids but how about being a kid for the next 2-3 days? Trust me, nothing’s more fun.

Everyone’s not going to want to do the exact same thing all the time, so asking around to see what tourist sights or food spots can’t be missed is a great way to keep everyone engaged. 

And, it also means that you’ll see or find something you might not have come across otherwise!

2. Get Off the Road

The boon of a road trip might be to see all the amazing sights along the way and really get a feel for the place you’re travelling around. 

But, being in the car for too long can get to anyone, no matter how excited they are about the trip. 

Instead of planning long, drawn-out day travel so that everyone is worn out and tired, make sure there are plenty of pit stops for rest, relaxation and touring local sights. Make your traveling simple. The more easy you are on the way, the better the experience. 

It’s an effective time management tip too. Take frequent breaks to be at your productive best 🙂 

This can make all the difference between a road trip that feels like a job done, and one that feels like a true getaway.

Image – Pixabay

3. Bring In-transit Entertainment

Seeing new places from the window of a moving vehicle can be pretty exciting, but simply because a place is interesting doesn’t mean the scenery always is. 

So, instead of sleeping through the road journey, ensure there is plenty of entertainment for the whole family to be amused by. 

While some vintage upbeat numbers would keep your grandpa going, kids mostly like musical and loud stuff.

You can bring along items like cards, crossword puzzles or travel-sized board games too. 

Try and avoid carrying tablets and smartphones. Kids occupied with Youtube and video games is the last thing you want to see when out on a leisure trip. 

4. Feeling Good Is Important –  

Needless to say, you can only enjoy if you are feeling good from inside. No point gulping cola cans and chips in a jiffy and have a nauseated feeling later.

Any kind of vacation or getaway is often rife with eating choices that are not necessarily good for the body. While burritos and margaritas might feel good in the moment, they rarely have that impact after and can leave you sluggish. 

Instead of binging on only indulgent foods, try bringing some healthy foods along for the ride. 

Whether it’s nuts, dry fruits or granola bars, these will stave off frequent hunger pangs too.

Photographing-your-road-trip
Photo by Vidar Nordli-Mathisen on Unsplash

5. Don’t Aim to Shoot a Million Picture Roll – 

In the era of the selfie, it can be easy to get carried away with picture taking. 

But, when it comes to a trip with your friends or family, photographs are the kind of thing that are really going to make memories…and may even help to create some new ones.

The trick is to capture only special places and moments and not take out camera every single minute. 

Be a little selective with your shots. The light, the pose, background – all matters if you wish to take some great photos. 

Think of it as if you only have 36 photos in your camera and equal number of chances to get it right. Seriously, digital cameras and camera phones have killed it all.

You may even want to create a little competition for best vacation photograph. Try it out. 

6. Collect Souvenirs Along the Way

Whether it’s in the form of a snow globe or a sweater that’s bedecked with the name of a place you’ve never been, souvenirs tend to have a pretty bad reputation. 

Making stops to collect a few unique souvenirs can be a great way to really experience the flavor of the place and make the moment last. 

It can be very much like taking a picture in that you’ll remember the time and the place distinctly. And, when you share souvenirs with your family or friends at home, it will be like living the story twice.

souvenirs from road trip
Image – Pixabay

7. Do Something that Surprises You

Unexpected pit stops are part of the fun when it comes to embarking on a road trip. 

However, there are those places that pop up along the way on any road journey that are often passed by because they don’t fit with the schedule. 

But, it’s these very things that can make for some of the best road trip stories out there. 

Instead of forgetting about what’s passing by, be aware of interesting parks, cottages, or even roller coasters that come up along the way. 

They just might end up being the most memorable part of the journey.

Mumbai Marathon – Chala Jaata Hun!!

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Author – Shristi Rai

Mumbai Marathon

Many people wonder why so many normal people sign up to run serious distance races? Why do we run a gruelling, energy sapping, mind numbing race of 42 km? Why do so many people run marathon, making it the most participated sport on earth?

Running a marathon has been one of the most memorable experiences of my life. Last year, the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon 2014 was held on 19 January 2014. Having participated twice earlier in other marathons, this was my first attempt in the 21 km category. To be honest, I had not trained at all and thus after the first 7 km, I was extremely tired. The race started at Bandra and the route went over the Bandra Sea Link, followed by Worli Sea Face and then on to Marine Drive.

Mumbai Marathon-1While the sea breeze helped us in our running, it was nothing compared to the motivation received from fellow participants who would continuously crack jokes and call out funny phrases making it much easier for us along the path. Right from the beginning till the end of 21 km, massive crowds of people gathered on the road side, many of whom offered oranges, dates, biscuits, water and juices for us. They made us feel like a winner, like you were running for them and if you stopped you would be letting them down.

In fact as I slowed down at Pedder Road to climb the slope, a lady came running from behind to say that she’d been following me throughout the run, that I was her pace-setter, and if I stopped, what would happen to her! And I was doing the same thing to a man running in the front!

Around 40,000 people ran the Mumbai Marathon race in various categories and in its 11 editions. The sponsors claimed that they collected crores of rupees for charity. That is the official reason – the consequence – Mumbai sees a new dimension to the word “train”. Yes, the lifeline of Mumbaikars, quite literally in their hands.

So every Sunday morning, you will see Marine Drive flooded with corporate employees with their high-tech gadgets informing them about their pace, calorie burnout count and what not, their bottles, their iPods, their florescent shoes running for kilometres together, in sync with the Aam Aadmi in their modest shorts and t-shirt sharing the same experience of pushing their mind and body through unbound limits and to surprise themselves with the result!

Mumbai Marathon

At the 2014 Mumbai Marathon, the girl who won the women’s race for 21 km ran barefoot. Coming from humble beginnings, she ran to win the prize money for her father, a farmer in the interiors of Maharashtra. The African athletes who win the marathon each year, run in herds; their aim is to take the prize money to their country. The senior citizens run to feel young. The Dream Run participants who run for 6 km run for their Facebook pictures. My boss runs to better his timing, to challenge himself.

When I look back, I do not really know why I registered. However, during the last 500 m of the race when my feet refused to go any further and all I wanted to do is go home and sleep, I saw a man with one foot, reaching for the finish-line and on his face was the happiest, most content smile I had ever seen. Then I knew that I had to run just to feel this beautiful spirit.

Image sources –
Mumbai Marathon via Flickr
marathon-photos.com

Factfile –
http://scmm.procamrunning.in

Jobsora – The Best Site for Job Search in India

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Are you going to make your fresh start in India? It might be the greatest experience in your life. For sure, you’ll fall in love with this country! Marvelous nature, welcoming people, rich history and culture, interesting traditions and customs… The list of worthwhile things in India may be endless.

Why online searching is the best?

India’s economy is developing and growing but it hasn’t reached its highest point yet. Hence, there are a lot of difficulties to overcome. Good news, they do need qualified employees in India! So, there is a chance to gain important experience working abroad and make a great career.

But first, let’s find the right position for you. If you don’t have a contract with a company in India, then you need some help. And there is a perfect assistant for you! Visit a job site https://in.jobsora.com.

Why Jobsora?

Because the purpose of their work is to find a perfect position for you! Jobsora claims this aim as principal one and maintains its quality. This site guarantees that you’ll find a job quickly if using it. And that’s true! You no longer need to spend hours and days surfing the Internet and seeking vacancies. Because Jobsora provides links to all positions posted on job boards. Everything you need is registering on the site and applying for jobs.

Jobsora

Use special filters and Advanced Search if you know what exactly you need. If you assign for job alerts you’ll get offers to your email.

Have you decided what region of India you prefer to work in? Then you can search for a job by location.

There is a list of popular positions available. Look through it and perhaps you’ll find something suitable for you.

Jobsora is trying to make the process of job hunting easy and rapid. Surely, you’ll appreciate this site and definitely find the best role for you with the help of Jobsora.

Of course, there are a lot of means of searching a position. Maybe you’ve already tried them. The most popular ways are: consulting recruitment firm, addressing directly to the desired company for the desired position, looking for a job in local newspapers, contacting acquaintances, etc. All these methods of the search might be helpful if you combine them. But, to tell the truth, they are time-consuming and sometimes require investments.

Besides, all employers have gone digital, they post their adds and openings online. So, we must keep up to date and take into account all those factors. Nowadays few employers are advertising something offline, let alone vacancies. That’s why if you don’t perform job hunting, online you won’t be a successful applicant.

To perform online effectively follow the next steps:

  1. Update your resume, make it digital friendly. You can upload your resume to job sites and receive alerts with job offers to your e-mail.
  2. Make sure your social profiles are filled with the necessary information and show your best sides. Don’t forget to eliminate unwanted or weird posts. If an employer decides you are the right candidate, he or she will check all your social networks.
  3. Create an online portfolio. This way your future employer will see your experience and achievements not only in a resume and cover letter.
  4. Create your personal brand. This is the most up-to-date option that makes you stand out and represent yourself to the target audience.

As you can see job hunting online is really beneficial. And if you use efficient job sites like Jobsora, you’ll find an appropriate role very quickly!

We know your search will be successful!

Abundance Syndrome – The Problem of Plenty

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Abundance Syndrome
Image – Jeni Rodger

Consider this – You have fifteen pens and you don’t find even one when you really need. Does that happen to you too? What is the first thing we all do? Since it is “just” a pen, we run to the shop and get another one and forget about the fifteen pens. Don’t you think this example somehow reflects how we have changed over a period of time…

Pen and change? Yes, when things are available in abundance we forget its value. Globalization and the ensuing consumerist culture has resulted in a fascination for excess consumption. Multiple options for people at reasonable prices have resulted in people not attaching any sentimental value to what they have.

Gone are the days when we cherished that beautiful ink pen like a diamond. Why? Because today, we can always buy one and more importantly, we can afford to buy any number. The combination of these is making us, as humankind, lose the important quality of appreciating, cherishing and most importantly treasuring anything. This problem is mainly faced by urban Indians (particularly, upper middle class) who have higher buying power.

When we are unable to cherish or understand the value of anything, how will we ever understand the meaning of failure or of success? How will we understand what is losing and what is gaining? Today when we look at the education scenario of India, we feel shocked. The number of engineering or MBA colleges that have mushroomed in every street of India has pushed down the value of an engineering degree. You don’t need merit to get one; all you need is money. The abundance of colleges plus the ability to pay huge amounts of fees by parents has resulted in hundreds of thousands of engineers graduating every year. How many of them are true “engineers”?

Evidently, the value of engineering has vanished. If only the students had got into the college with merit, they would cherish and value their seat and study hard. Instead, their lax attitude towards studies is the result of the fact that they haven’t gone through any difficulties in getting the seat. They have got it on a platter and unfortunately, they are completely ignorant of the fact. Cut down the number of colleges and automatically the value of the degree will increase. Commercialization of education is the sad reality of India.

We see this abundance syndrome affecting our children as well. When my child loses his umpteenth pencil/eraser, he coolly asks to buy a new one and he loses it again the next day. He simply cannot understand the fact that we need money to buy pencils and erasers. All he knows is that his papa has the money and he can buy it. Basically, the “value” lesson is lost right from the beginning. When we were young , we cherished our first pencil/eraser, because we knew that once we lose it, we are not going to get another one.

We load our children with so many toys from the day he/she is born, that they simply don’t get the point of buying toys for an occasion. We go out and we buy a toy/chocolate/drink whatever they ask for. The number of toy shops/malls have increased manifold, along with our ability to buy goodies. Particularly, the post-millennium kids are facing this issue. This vicious combination is creating havoc for parents. Who is to blame for this? Why do our children not understand the value of things?

We can quote numerous other examples of abundance. Massive wastage of resources like water, power, food are evident all around us. The whole point is that we are lost in a sea of abundance and are eternally living in a confused state of mind. We are spending half the time in choosing and acquiring things and not actually doing anything productive with them. We are buying things left, right and centre and most of the time, we don’t even need them! Our cupboards are full of clothes we hardly wear and we possess electronic gadgets that we use, maybe once a year. We switch on TV to watch TV and not a particular programme. The reason is there are too many TV channels to choose. Yes, we realise what is the problem we face, but what about the solution?

There is a change in our value system and the way we view “things”, it is not always a bad thing to have many choices before us. But what really matters is that we need to choose the most essential one among these umpteen choices. Moreover, our choice can promote a change that is a natural process and the harbinger for new things. We can try and preserve our core value systems, our Indian culture and at the same time absorb anything new that enhances our lives.

Factfile –
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Paradox_of_Choice

Indian Youth – A Generation of Culture-Wreckers?

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Author – Harika Bantupalli

Kiss of Love protests | Courtesy: HT-PTI
Kiss of Love protests | Courtesy: HT-PTI

In recent times, voices have been raised against the younger generation’s ideology and obsession for taking things in control or trying to bring about a change. Bragging – as they would call it, is supposedly what we always do. And social networking is adding to us like what a fuel would do to the fire that sets things ablaze. Are we really a generation of selfie-obsessed windbags and culture-wreckers?

To begin with, there’s more to the youth of this age than just a status message on social media or a 144-character tweet. There’s an undying passion for a better world and an unshakable faith that pushes us to give the best in what we do. As far is Indian culture is concerned, it shall be preserved as long as one is proud enough to live with it.

Life as we know it, is very complicated. It changes every second and so does our culture and lifestyle. If it weren’t so, we would still be in the age of Harappa and Mohenjodaro rather than being a part of this global village!

We have adopted numerous traditions from different civilisations and religions over the last many centuries. Hadn’t there been rebels with a vision for change back then, India wouldn’t have been what it is today. If the consequences of a past rebellion is accepted today and preached as culture, then why not now?

Culture is not meant to be preserved, but shared, learned and developed. With the advancement of technology and breakdown of the barriers that stood between countries of late, this culture-sharing practice has gone international and radical. But it doesn’t mean that our very own culture is sabotaged.

youth-power-india
Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

This young generation is not really oblivious to our culture, but it is paving way for certain changes by breaking down the taboos. Public Displays of Affection (PDA) and protest campaigns like Kiss of Love, Gay Pride Marchs and Slutwalks may have created outrage among the culture-lovers, considering them to against Indian culture. But are the reasons behind why they started seem good enough to be considered culture?

Sensual depictions and figurines can be publicly displayed without any objection, but PDA is strongly opposed. A woman who is considered as the ultimate power can be disrespected in the name of culture, but campaigns taken to prevent it is considered an unforgivable sin. Where are we going with this attitude?

Our country is a magnificent piece of land with incredible culture. However, like every other thing, it is subject to numerous changes with the passage of time and generations. The youth culture of every generation is meant to be rebellious and bring in much needed change. So do we, like any other generation, bringing in what we can while trying to preserve what already exists.

We the Indian youth might have been off path many a time, but to err is human. And we do learn from our mistakes. We are the upgraded version of what our previous generations, a little more upbeat and much more impatient. We have been called names and had our voices crumpled, but all we do is to eliminate the taboos, while still maintaining the essence of a good life. Today, as we celebrate the National Youth Day, I would like to reiterate that we are not wreckers, but amateur builders trying to repair what needs to be mended.

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Attempts to Bring Back NRIs

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Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

Today, 100 years ago, a non-resident Indian lawyer named Mohandas Gandhi arrived from South Africa along with his family to permanently settle down in India. We could emphatically say this incident changed India’s political history forever. 9th January 1915 marks the day when Gandhi returned to India after years of work in South Africa. This event is commemorated as ‘Pravasi Bharatiya Divas’ to mark the contribution of the overseas Indian community and the people of Indian origin.

Khadi and Gandhian philosophy will be the theme for this year’s Pravasi Bharatiya Divas. For the world, Khadi may be just an interesting handloom fabric, but it is a political ideology for India. Similarly, Gandhian philosophy has remained in the spotlight ever since independence, but of late, it has received much wider coverage due to the recent Godse vs. Gandhi controversy. Amidst all this hoopla, the state of non-resident Indians remains in deplorable conditions.

Captain Sunil James | Change.org
Captain Sunil James | Change.org

Our prime minister’s recent flamboyant visit to the US and the awe-inspiring reception offered to him by the Indian Diaspora in New York is fresh in our memory. However, we must also remember the struggle for rescuing the 40 Indians abducted in Iraq by the dreaded terror organisation, ISIS. While the Indian government’s prompt actions to rescue them is surely appreciable, it is sad that it did not take action for other NRIs trapped in similar situations. The sordid tales of Indian sailor Captain Sunil James and Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade seem to have faded away from public memory.

After years of misery and apathy, the government has at last acknowledged the problems faced by NRIs, by extending the visa-on-arrival facility for several countries. Further, the Indian Citizenship Act will be amended to merge the status of People of Indian Origin (PIO) and Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI), so that they can get lifetime visas and own property in India. Click here to know who are PIOs and NRIs!

Hope this will turn the tide for the sentiments of our expatriate brethren and also for the flow of their investment! The most noteworthy aspect about NRIs is their remittances to India. It would be surprising to note that NRI remittances in 2012 matched the total export revenue of the entire Indian IT industry!

Meanwhile, there is a hilarious turn of events at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas event held in Gujarat. Several kiosks set up by the Uttar Pradesh state government have been removed! Uttar Pradesh has eagerly set a website to attract investments by NRIs and PIOs in a state otherwise devoid of any infrastructure development. I think a few assurances would go a long way in promoting India’s largest state’s image among NRIs:

  • No NRI or PIO woman would be raped or molested in the state
  • No communal riot will affect the investments made by NRIs and PIOs
  • No bribes will be asked for setting up a business!

In fact, these assurances would help promote India’s image as well!

Caleidoscope’s infographic on the Indian Diaspora:

India Infographics - NRIs and IPOs

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<p><strong>The Great Indian Diaspora [Infographic] by caleidoscope.in</strong></p><p><img src='https://caleidoscope.in/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/NRI-infographics-caleidoscope.jpg' alt='The Great Indian Diaspora' width='100%' border='0' /></p>

India’s Streetside Coffee and Tea Culture

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Author – Neeraja Sundar

Streetside Tea Shop

Who says men don’t gossip? Come to the little streetside coffee and tea shops scattered across India. As the dawn breaks, they lie in wait on the benches outside. They read newspapers, drink tea, eat vada or bhajji, complain about everything under the sun, drink tea again, smoke for a bit, munch on biscuits, gossip about various topics, occasionally engage in a squabble, drink tea again and then leave as the sun sets.

Be it a metro city or a small town, the quintessential tea shop is found on nearly every street and a couple of regulars for each shop. It is not just the bored jobless men who frequent them, but also the men who work in corporate firms who like enjoy their cigarette break.

The tea shop in my housing colony is a busy hub. The venerable owner, Mr. Ramaswamy, is the most well informed person. He is the hearty ‘grandpa’ whom all children like. He always has a tin of biscuits ready for them. He is great with advice. He can converse with everyone – children, housewives, daily wagers, office goers, everyone. He discusses cricket matches with boys, analyses the characters in the TV serials with middle-aged women, politics with the older men and what not. His non-earning customers maintain a tab and drink tea without immediately worrying about the money, though it is not much.

Tea Shop India

There is just something about that tea which is indescribably delicious. The steaming milk in the boilers, the wafting smell of cardamom, the ground ginger and pepper and the flavour of tea just invites one to indulge in a cup. We operate under the theory that he uses a secret ingredient to make his tea special. He is mum on that subject but an involuntary twinkle lights up his eye. My curious eye tried to find out the secret, but his magician hands created an illusion so fast that I just couldn’t spot the mysterious element. Maybe there is one, maybe there isn’t. This could give Schrodinger’s cat a run for its money!

The hill stations are popular for their tea. In the misty climate, tourists stop often to refresh themselves with a hot beverage. Tea in its multiple avatars is worshipped here. Lemon tea, ginger tea, cardamom tea, mint tea, chamomile tea, chocolate tea, cinnamon tea and fusion of these are available.

Streetside Tea ShopThe tea drinkers of India aren’t as fancy as the coffee sippers. While the tea shops operate within tight space and open air, the coffee shops put out a nice spread. There are Espressos and Lattes, Cappuccinos and Mocha, along with South India’s proud possession – Kaapi. This filter coffee decoction is sold at all fast food joints and dining halls in southern states of India.

Although not a great fan of coffee, I never miss the Kumbhakonam degree coffee – a high quality coffee served in Tamil Nadu. The rich flavour of coffee is unadulterated by chicory or any artificial ingredients. Further, pure cow’s milk is used in the preparation.

In contrast, the Café Coffee Days, Starbucks and Baristas are all about pretention and class. The Indian Coffee House and Kaapi Cheenu are ideal places for delicious and inexpensive coffee and tasty snacks. There is a little shop called Idli Vilas in Chennai, which opens at dawn and caters to early risers like joggers, workers and people who forgot to purchase vegetables the previous night!

I guess other cities in India have equivalent shops. For the students with minimum pocket money in their wallets, these eateries are life savers. It is a place to hang out for hours and eat sumptuously without creating a dent in our meagre savings.

People often raise questions about the hygiene element in these streetside shops. To that I would say, “Get accustomed to India and develop a stronger immune system!” Even the fine dining restaurants that are posh on the outside often maintain their kitchens poorly. You might get sick once, twice and then your stomach strengthens. Enjoy the street life of India!!

Image sources –
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_culture

The Power of Poetry helps us LIVE

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Author – Amit Singh Negi

Gone are the days when we used to queue in front of our English teacher for our recitation exam, memorising the poem in our minds, recollecting the difficult lines time and again, and poking our classmates to prompt the name of the poet. And as our turn arrived, we used to nervously interlock our hands close to our chests and throw up all the lines we’ve mugged. Some were lucky to get away with full recital of their poem, but most used to forget few lines and some rather unfortunate ones used to forget the poem completely! 

Poetry by Rabindranath Tagore

This indicates that we were never taught how to enjoy poetry. For us, poems were just some tricky lines to be learnt by-heart. However, there were few occasions where we actually enjoyed poems without even knowing its meaning. We must all be remembering those early days when an elder used to recite poem to us with all those hand movements and gestures and we watched them with wonder, even trying to copy those movements and expressions. We used to love performing those poems and even practicing them.

In the good old days, we used to find ourselves surrounded by a crowd of relatives prompting us to recite a poem, happily we sang those lines dancing with movements, while everybody clapped and appreciated us. Apart from these childhood performances, we hardly lived poetry. Especially in India, the importance of subjects like Science and Mathematics are so overhyped that a subject like English Poetry never appeared to be charming to us, since both our parents and teachers (except the odd English teacher!) never encourage us to take poetry seriously.

We just passed through school rote learning a few lines of poems without actually knowing the message or understanding the wisdom they contained. We never come across the magnanimous power that poetry contains.

Power of Poetry - The_Road_Not_Taken_-_Robert_Frost

I can recollect a few memorable poems such as –

  • Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost
  • All the World’s a Stage by William Shakespeare
  • Where The Mind Is Without Fear by Rabindranath Tagore
  • Jhansi ki Rani by Subhadra Kumari Chauhan
  • The Casuarina Tree by Toru Dutt
  • Daffodils by William Wordsworth
  • If…. by Rudyard Kipling
    All of these verses contain tons of wisdom and spirit that will not only enlighten our intellect but also stir and touch our heart.

However, today in our mad race to achieve big success and fast, we have turned so busy, so materialistic that we have forgotten that we are members of human race. Being a human, we have more needs than just having a fat bank balance, an expensive house, flashy car, branded clothes, etc.

What we basically need is a few genuine moments of peace,
We want to be consumed by love,
Bribed by few phrases of romance,
Cry out heart out in silence of words,
And be motivated every time we fall down.
We want true freedom beyond all the bondages,
We desire to live a different life, in a different world altogether.
A place where money and appearance is not our goal,
Where things are simple and clean is our soul.

dead-poets-society

The power of poetry helps us in achieving it. It can be a great escape from the atrocities of our chaotic world. It’s more of a necessity than a choice which sustains the human element in us. We talk about a standard of living. There are various economic parameters which defines the standard of living in a country. However, data indicates that a person having high per capita income, good health and scoring high in all those parameters may not be happy at all!

For example, take the case of Robert Williams, the recently deceased great artist. He pulled off an awesome character of Mr. Keatings, in the classic “Dead Poets Society”. There he portrays an English teacher who spurs the hearts of young students with the power of poetry and its need in life. His performance was so natural even inspiring me to enter the world of poetry. He taught me “Carpe Diem”. However, it seems like he never meant those dialogues; had he inculcated even some of those lines in real life, he would not have ended into rehabilitation and finally ending his life in a suicide.

We have to remember that no matter how much high we reach, the amount of money we make or fame and power we get, we’ll still remain humans. Poetry is a basic human need just like air, water, clothing, family and education. Poetry is not just about rhyming lines, but it is an Understated Necessity!

Image sources –
Child enacting Rabindranath Tagore | Nagarjun – https://www.flickr.com/photos/nagarjun/
The Road Not Taken – Robert_Frost – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Frost
Dead Poets Society – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Poets_Society
Factfile –
http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/top_poems.html

Chitra Santhe Showcases Affordable Visual Art

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Chitra-santhe

Art binds the eternity into one soul, so without the art present among us, the evolution would be like the lubricating agent that causes friction, making no sense at all. However, fine art is often patronized by the rich and it out of reach for most of us commoners. We could only dream of buying a painting done by an artist, forget eminent one!
Fortunately, there have been attempts made by various organizations to bring art closer to the public in order to make art a part of everyday life. The Indian Art Festival, Indian Art Fair and Kala Ghoda Arts Festival are a few such attempts to introduce affordable visual art to common man. Chitrasanthe is the most prominent event in showcasing both masterpieces of reputed artists and artworks by amateurs.
“Chitra santhe Art For All” is an annual art fair organised by Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath. CKP has been organising this vividly colourful event for the last 12 years. The expo typically spreads out from CKP’s premises onto the Kumara Krupa Road in central Bengaluru. This one-day event not only features prominent artists from across India, but also provides a unique opportunity for amateurs to showcase their art to a larger audience.
The gentle mingling of artists and art enthusiasts in this street side art exhibition is a tribute to the mesmerizing display of talent. Chitra santhe offers a platform for displaying affordable art like paintings, graphic prints, miniature formats, sculptures, photographs, etc. The institute does not charge any commission from artists for selling their artworks. Since too many artists participate every year, the stalls are allotted based on a lottery system.

Chitra santhe

Chitra Santhe

Chitra Santhe 05

Chitra Santhe 03

Top 10 Traditional Indian Fashion Accessories

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Author – Kriti Samidi

Traditional-Indian-Fashion-Accessories

Being a confluence of diverse cultures, India has absorbed different styles of clothing and fashion from across the world. Indians have a unique advantage with regard to fashion accessories. We do not have to worry about whether our accessories go with our dress or keep up with the current trends in the fashion world. All we have to do is adapt our traditional accessories to go with our attire! And ta da! You will be standing out of the crowd.

Here are some traditional Indian fashion accessories that will make you look unique:

1. Bindis

Indian Fashion Accessories - Bindi

A striking red dot on the forehead applied with kumkum, a bindi is an epitome of Indian beauty and tradition. Bindis are a quintessential part of Indian women’s wardrobe. They add beauty to a woman’s face. Traditionally worn by married women, bindis are believed to usher in prosperity and welfare. The bindi comes in all varieties, right from the smallest black dot, to the finest intricate gathering of Swarovski crystals, sparkles, matted shades in various hues. Today, a bindi is a fashion statement more than anything else, and it is amazing how the bindi has been adopted by many women in the West!

2. Jhumkas

Indian Fashion Accessories - Jhumkas

Jhumkas or balis are earrings that make Indian women stand out of the crowd. They enhance the beauty of women in a way no other earrings can. Any woman can carry them with elegance and style. And the best part is, they can be a regular part of your attire. Pair them with a variety of outfits, like skirts, kurtas and palazzos, draw-string pants and tunic, tee and jeans! They absolutely go with anything!

3. Maang tikka

Indian Fashion Accessories - maang tikka

Maang tikka is worn on the central parting of the hair. Mostly made out of gold, semi-precious stones, pearls and diamonds, it is a long-standing Indian bridal tradition. It completes the traditional Indian look in a second. These days, maang tikkas also show up on runways and at other formal occasions.

4. Dupattas

Indian Fashion Accessories - Dupattas

Dupattas complete the traditional look of an Indian girl. Usually, it is worn around both the shoulders. But in modern days, dupattas are multi-purpose. They are used as scarves, draped around the head or even used to cover the face. They have become a fashion statement, worn like stoles with jeans and kurtis.

5. Bangles

Indian Fashion Accessories - Bangles

Bangles are the ultimate Indian signature style. They add tradition to any modern look. They are also an essential part of any wedding costume. Made from a huge range of materials like glass, gold, silver, ivory, shell, wood, etc., they are the symbol of feminity. The sound of the bangles is unique and cannot be replaced by any other sound. You don’t have to wear traditional clothes to wear bangles; they can be worn with any attire!

6. Jholas

Indian Fashion Accessories - Jholas

Traditional Rajasthani jholas are cloth bags that you can carry around with ease. While the whole world is now trying to reduce the usage of plastic bags by using cloth bags, Indians have used these jholas for ages. They come in different colours and will give you a perfect look accompanied by any traditional attire. They can also be worn with skirts and jeans which is an added advantage. These jholas add colour to your personality and they will make you stand out of the crowd!

7. Anklets

Indian Fashion Accessories - Anklets

Worn by Indians for centuries, anklets are light-weight accessories which adorn your ankle. The sound they make when you walk will make you want to dance! They can be worn with sarees and kurtas. In recent times, they have become a style statement. They can be worn on one ankle for a modern look. Anklets go with any look and you can walk around gracefully knowing that these anklets will make your legs look beautiful.

8. Waist chains/ Kamar patta

Indian Fashion Accessories - Waist chains

Traditionally worn with sarees in India, kamar pattas add beauty to your waist. It is worn during festive occasions. It is also a quintessential part of an Indian bride’s wardrobe. No bride’s look is complete without a waist chain. In modern world, it can also be also worn with jeans and skirts.

9. Toe rings / Bichiya

Indian Fashion Accessories - Toe rings

Toe rings are the best accessories for your toes. In India, they are usually worn by married women as it is a symbol of marriage. But toe rings have become a fashion statement and can be worn by any women with perfect grace. They add style to your personality and adorn your toes like no other ornament!

10. Jootis

Indian Fashion Accessories - Jootis

Ethnic hand-made shoes/chappals and hand-embroidered ballet flats are called jootis. They add colour to any attire. Worn with traditional clothes, these jootis have now become very common and worn by almost everyone. They are very comfortable and easy to walk around. If you are a shoe-lover, jootis need to go into your wardrobe to adorn your feet.

11. Nose-rings

Indian Fashion Accessories - Nose rings

Another jewellery worn by an Indian woman is a nose-ring. Apart from creating a traditional look, nose-rings add beauty and charm to a woman’s face. Nose- rings have become pretty common too. They can now go with any attire — jeans and kurtis, skirts and tops, jeans and tees!

Image sources –
Bindhi Jhumkas Maang Tikka Duppatta Bangles Jholas Anklets Waist chains Toe rings Jootis Nose Rings