Nine women in Thiruvananthapuram curate gift hampers with handmade products to welcome the New Year

Nine women in Thiruvananthapuram curate gift hampers with handmade products to welcome the New Year

The She Made 2024 hamper. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRAGEMENT Nine women have come together with curated handmade, homemade products that can go into hampers for gifting in the New Year. Anna Varghese, who runs Rose Shop and has been curating hampers every year, says, “Usually, while putting together the hamper, I purchase the products […]

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Muslin, Motifs and Mystery: Paola Manfredi traces the origins of chikankari

Muslin, Motifs and Mystery: Paola Manfredi traces the origins of chikankari

Paola Manfredi | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Chikankari’s origins remain mysterious, even though the embroidery is synonymous with the city of Lucknow. The delicate (mostly white) embroidery (on mostly white fabric) draws up images of elite Awadh, where garments adorned by noblemen carry with them a sense of prestige. Ethnologist Paola Manfredi would argue however, […]

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Women power Nilakottai’s flower export companies that ship jasmine across the world

Women power Nilakottai’s flower export companies that ship jasmine across the world

We first hear the tinkle of glass bangles. And then it hits us: the overpowering scent of jasmine. About 30 women are stringing the flowers inside a nondescript building in a bylane in Nilakottai, Dindigul district, 45 kilometres from Madurai. Songs from a mobile phone play in the background as their fingers work swiftly. Each […]

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My hopes for 2024: What Chennai personalities look forward to in the New Year

My hopes for 2024: What Chennai personalities look forward to in the New Year

Asal Kolaar, Rapper and musician With every year, I strive to be better. This was a year that I could see some growth in myself. My visibility increased twofold. My recent songs in the latter half of the year, ‘Naa Ready’ from Leo and ‘Kotha Raja’ from King of Kotha wrapped up the year on […]

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What were Thiruvananthapuram’s food trends in 2023

What were Thiruvananthapuram’s food trends in 2023

Eating out has never been so exciting. There is something to suit every taste and every pocket at all times of the day. From all-day outlets and fine dining restaurants to tiny chayakkadas, with out-of-the-box names and some without even a sign board, there is a wide spread to choose from. Let us take you […]

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A session on millets and a self-reflective walk at The Nilgiris Earth Festival

A session on millets and a self-reflective walk at The Nilgiris Earth Festival

Traditional grains and pulses | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement What is Ginkgo walk? “The Ginkgo stroll is traditionally held for haiku writers,” explains Shobhana Kumar, author and poet, adding that it is frequently held with the change of seasons. “In haiku, one usually pulls inspiration from Nature and attempts to construct a bridge between Nature […]

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The buzz behind ‘rizz’: Exploring Oxford’s 2023 Word of the Year

The buzz behind ‘rizz’: Exploring Oxford’s 2023 Word of the Year

Group of happy students having chat with talking each other while sitting on college campus | Photo Credit: Lakshmiprasad S Have you got the ‘rizz’?  Does that sound baffling? We asked a few people to guess the word’s meaning. Here are a few answers we got:  “I am feeling clueless here. What does that even […]

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‘James May: Our Man in India’: Better roads and familiar comedic sensibilities welcome TV show host to India

‘James May: Our Man in India’: Better roads and familiar comedic sensibilities welcome TV show host to India

Wearing a 15-year-old Fabindia shirt he purchased while vacationing in India, James May was grooving to the tunes of Pasoori on the waterfront as holi colours flew across Lake Pichola on a pleasant morning in Udaipur. The television presenter who shot to fame after his stint on Top Gear alongside Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond […]

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