Lifestyle

31

Aug

By The Press Editor

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Lifestyle

Kochi-Muziris Biennale 2025 | Will curator Nikhil Chopra start a new chapter for the ‘People’s Biennale’?

For two decades now, artist Nikhil Chopra and his personae have walked the planet, eating, dressing, pondering, undressing, and sleeping like the rest of us. Unlike most of us, their habitats have ranged from basements in Ohio and town squares in Havana, parks in Budapest and the meadows of Kashmir, prestigious museums in New York and Berlin to derelict warehouses in Kochi.Yog Raj Chitrakar, Michelle, Black Pearl, Sir Raja and about a dozen more: Chopra has slipped in and out of each character that’s been drafted as carefully, mindfully and luxuriously (complete with elaborate costumes and make-up) as the paintings…

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30

Aug

By The Press Editor

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Lifestyle

Is wearing black in summer always a bad idea? Maybe, wearing black is actually cool!

Have you ever been told not to wear black because it’s too hot outside or to wear white because it’s too hot outside? Well, it’s an interesting notion that has come in that light colours or white help to keep your body cooler. It was in the 1980s that four researchers saw that a particular desert community known as the Boudins had been wearing black woollen outfits despite living in such a hot and harsh climate. ‘Does it not make things worse for them in the desert?’ was a major question that came into their head. Further pushing them to research…

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30

Aug

By The Press Editor

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Lifestyle

Poozhikkunnu in Thiruvananthapuram has been celebrating Onam with floral carpets for 38 years

Pookkalams at Poozhikkunnu in Thiruvananthapuram | Photo Credit: SREEJITH R KUMAR Poozhikunnu, a few kilometres away from the heart of Thiruvananthapuram, has for long been known for its cracker-making units. But the village has another tradition to its credit — residents have been laying huge pookkalams on all 10 days of Onam for 38 years now.This is being done under the auspices of a people’s forum, Poozhikkunnu Pourasamithi. “The practice is actually older than that, probably 45 years or so. Before the Pourasamithi took it up, a group of senior citizens used to conduct pookkalam-laying contests, which saw the participation…

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29

Aug

By The Press Editor

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Lifestyle

How ESG is reshaping luxury real estate

The world of luxury real estate is undergoing a profound transformation as developers increasingly embrace Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles. These guiding frameworks, far from being restrictive, open up new avenues for creativity and innovation. They emphasise sustainability, social responsibility, and ethical business practices, which are essential for designing homes that not only exude opulence but also contribute positively to the environment and surrounding communities. As the desire for responsible living intensifies, the integration of ESG principles is reshaping the high-end housing market into one that prioritises both luxury and sustainability.Luxury real estate is at the forefront of adopting…

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29

Aug

By The Press Editor

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Entertainment, Lifestyle

Neil Bhoopalam on theatre, comedy and performing The Horse at Kamani Auditorium

A still from The Horse | Photo Credit: Neville Sukhia Neil Bhoopalam is one of those actors who has always managed to make his presence felt on stage. Whether it was as the endearing Kaffee in A Few Good Men or as Alexander Ivanov, the dissident who speaks against the regime in the dark, yet funny Every Good Boy Deserves Favour. After regaling the Mumbai audience with The Horse, a political farce which is part of Aadyam Theatre, Neil hopes to recreate the same magic in the capital as well.Directed by Sunil Shanbag, The Horse has been adapted from a…

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28

Aug

By The Press Editor

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Lifestyle

The Nilgiris story: A showcase of curated line of shawls, scarves, home textiles, and linen saris, handcrafted by Toda artisans

Seated on the grasslands in remote hamlets, usually under the shade of a large tree, the Toda women of the Nilgiris engage in their art — a distinctive, Geotagged black and red embroidery — singing full-throated songs that talk of damp grass, warm sunlight, and mountain air. Deeply inspired by Nature, this intricate pukhoor (motif) embroidery meticulously follows the warp and weft of the base cloth, creating a stunning visual effect. Artisans count threads purely by touch, gently stretching the fabric as they stitch — a testament to their extraordinary skill and intuition. Ramya Reddy, author of the book Soul…

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28

Aug

By The Press Editor

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Lifestyle

Tree-free stationery brands convert agri waste to paper

Bluecat Paper @ BengaluruGrowing up amidst Coorg’s natural beauty, Kavya Madappa’s professional life has been rooted in sustainability. After launching the eco-friendly Amanvana Spa Resort in Coorg in 2009, Kavya moved onto the sustainable manufacturing of tree-free paper with Bluecat Paper in 2018. “I launched the label with the belief that alternate solutions of paper have to be explored in order to reduce the burden on trees,” says the 47-year-old.  Wine holders at Bluecat Paper | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement During her research, Kavya discovered that India cuts down “millions of trees annually for paper production despite abundant agricultural and…

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27

Aug

By The Press Editor

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Lifestyle

Why Ganesh Chaturthi is more than modak: Exploring Maharashtra’s culinary traditions, rituals and recipes

On the first morning of Ganesh Chaturthi, the 10-day festival that marks the arrival of Lord Ganesha into people’s homes and community mandals, kitchens come alive before the crack of dawn. Steam curls up from freshly ground rice flour, jaggery bubbles into a sticky syrup, and women gather around to coax delicate pleats into the steamed version of the modak or ukadiche modak. In most homes in Maharashtra, and Goa, the scent of sandalwood incense and marigolds hangs in the air, while children run in and out, waiting to pounce on the sweet dumplings once the aarti ends. The thali…

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26

Aug

By The Press Editor

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Lifestyle

The Manganiyars all set to seduce Bengaluru

Roysten Abel’s The Manganiyar Seduction | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement It has been nearly two decades since Roysten Abel’s iconic musical production, The Manganiyar Seduction, premiered. But the noted playwright and theatre director, known for a range of critically and commercially acclaimed works, such as Flowers, Othello in Black and White, A Hundred Charmers, and The Kitchen, still is not tired of the music. “I should have had enough of it, but I just don’t. There is something very special about it. It still manages to mesmerise me,” insists Roysten, who is all set to bring The Manganiyar Seduction to…

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26

Aug

By The Press Editor

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Lifestyle

In the quiet idyll of Saligao in North Goa, Lento, is redefining the soul and texture of slow living

In a fast-paced world, Lento, which means slow in Portuguese, allows you to pause and bask in the glory of all things natural, detailed and made from scratch An age-old banyan tree taking root through the concrete of a house. Dense, mauve hazes of wisteria blooms spilling out of the crevices of an old stone castle. And, the sightings of wild animals on city roads during the lockdown. Nature takes over in quiet rebellion, when human intervention decreases. And, in that rewilding, there is a strange kind of beauty. This was pretty much the story of how Lento — a…

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