It’s the end of a long day and you just can’t wait to hit the sack. Come bedtime, and you set the alarm and slip under the sheets. Without further ado, you shut your eyes, expecting to drift off into dreamland instantly…only to find, to your utter annoyance, that the sandman has decided to give you a miss tonight. Endless hours of tossing and turning later, you slide into a vague oblivion, only to be rudely awakened by the alarm. What! Morning already?

If this is your regular bed-time story, you might just have a case of mild insomnia. While there is no need to hit the panic button yet, it may be an indication that your body is not getting enough rest. About one third of our life is spent asleep, and the number of hours required to rejuvenate fully varies individually.

So how do you make sure you get a good night’s sleep?

It’s all about ambiance!

Choose soothing shades of colour for your bedroom. Decorate it with soft cushions, thick drapes and other sleep-inducing elements. Banish the TV, ipod, and laptop to the living room, and install sound-proof windows if you are particularly sensitive to noise. Trade in those harsh tubelights for adjustable lampshades. Keep a set of ear plugs and a sleep mask in your bedside drawer. Clear the room of eatables and other distractions. If you sleep beside another person, ask him/her to co-operate with your efforts. Having another person in the room is also useful in detecting bigger problems like snoring or sleep-walking.

Set a fixed bed-time and stick to it

While “early to bed and early to rise” is the thumb rule, most folks do just fine with a sufficient number of hours of sleep. Find out if you are an owl (late sleeper - late riser) or a lark (early sleeper - early riser). Just like a diet, irregular sleep timings will cause you to binge on weekends to make up for the loss. While eight hours is the accepted average, make sure you get at least five hours of uninterrupted sleep each night. Anything lesser than that will make you cranky and inefficient, and can even be dangerous if you are driving.

Avoid bringing your work to bed

Eating, playing games, and other daytime activities in the bedroom will deter you from sleep. Condition your body to believe that the bedroom is for sleeping. Once in bed, the only activity that may induce sleep is some light reading.

Eat early

Make sure there is a gap of at least a couple of hours between dinner and bed-time. Eat a light meal that is less likely to keep you up with digestive problems. Strictly avoid alcohol, caffeine and cigarettes; they are major sleep killers.

Take any prescribed medication regularly

Take your usual meds, but do not self-medicate with sleeping pills and other drugs without consulting a doctor. However, grandma’s well-meaning home remedies might just have a grain of truth in them!

Skip the nap

If you are in the habit of snoozing in the afternoons or taking a power nap at work, skipping it may increase the duration and quality of your night’s sleep.

Create a personal bed-time routine

Try to perform a fixed set of activities just before you sleep. These may include going to the washroom, changing into pajamas or putting on night-cream. After a while, your body and mind will start preparing for sleep as soon as you begin your nightly chores.

Reducing stress and exercising regularly are other ways to ensure a good night’s sleep. While there is no substitute for a doctor’s intervention if you suffer from major disorders, a few precautions may well stave off the sleep bogeyman for most.

Paradise - The Biryani, which when roughly translated means a rice preparation with spices and vegetables/meat is the most iconic dish of Hyderabad. Over the years, the word Biriyani and Hyderabad have become almost inseparable and athough the Biriyani is almost ubiquitous in the city, there are some Biriyani restaurants that are truly in a league of their own. Paradise, in Secunderabad, can stake claim to being one of the best, if not the best Biriyani eat out not just in Hyderabad, but anywhere in the world. Leaving Hyderabad without tasting the Kebabs (meat barbecues), Biriyani and Irani chai (tea) at Paradise is nothing less than a sin.

Ohri’s Serengeti - Ohri’s has been one of Hyderabad’s most well known and popular restaurant chains for over 25 years. While the food and service at virtually every Ohri’s restaurant is good, Ohri’s Serengeti, which offers authentic Punjabi fare, is truly outstanding. In fact, the standing joke on Ohri’s Serengeti is that, it is simply not an ideal place for a romantic outing, for, you’ll end up paying too much attention on the delicacies and very little on your date! With a unique Serengeti Jungle ambience, lip smacking north-west frontier food and exceptional service, Ohri’s Serengeti is one restaurant you simply can’t afford to miss.

Golden Dragon - Located in the magnificent Taj Krishna is arguably the city’s best Chinese restaurant, Golden Dragon. With its plush interiors, courteous staff and live music, which is played on traditional Chinese musical instruments, Golden Dragon regularly plays host to the who’s who of Hyderabad.  Although every single item on the menu is absolutely top notch, the dim sums and the dry Cooked Minced Chicken with Haricot Beans are absolutely ethereal. So, if you’re in the mood for some delicious Chinese food and some champagne perhaps to go with it, no prizes for guessing where you should be heading!

Chutneys - The lexicon defines chutney as a thick sauce of Indian origin that contains fruits, vinegar, sugar, and spices and is used as a condiment. True to its name, Chutneys, the city’s most well known south Indian restaurant specialises in different varieties of chutneys to go with some superb south Indian snacks such as ‘dosas’ (a type of Indian pancake) and ‘idlis’ (steamed rice cakes) among others. While it is open throughout the day, the best time to grab a bite at Chutneys would be in the morning, for there is no better way to begin a day than with a filling south Indian breakfast.

Rajdhani - The ambience at Rajdhani can at best be described as ordinary. The service is quick but certainly not flattering and with no A La Carte, the entire meal at this speciality Gujarathi/Rajasthani restaurant, shouldn’t last for more than 30-40 minutes. Add to this the fact that this a pure vegetarian restaurant with no mention of even egg anywhere and you may be starting to wonder why in God’s name it is even featured in this list!!? Well, with 22464 mouth watering dishes that form a part of 72 different menus resulting in 26 different items on the thali (a selection of different dishes served on a plate) every single day, the answer to that question lies in the variety and taste of Rajdhani’s food. Suffice to say, the food at Rajdhani is quite simply addictive and the millions of guests it has served all across the country would bear testimony to this fact.

Eat Street - Adjoining the famous Hussain Sagar lake is ‘teenage Hyderabad’s’ favourite hangout, Eat Street. Frequented mostly by students, Eat Street is not so much a restaurant as it is a food court. With more than 10 restaurants serving different cuisines, Eat Street has on offer everything from full fledged main courses to tasty titbits and cotton candies to satiate your appetite. But, truth be told, it’s not really the food that is the USP of this place. It’s the atmosphere- friends and love birds hanging out by the lake with the clear blue sky and the setting sun in the background. Well, you get the picture!! So, if you want to spend some time amidst youngsters of the city, take a trip to Eat Street.

The Waterfront - If you were to pick 100 random natives of Hyderabad and ask them where they would like to go for one romantic dinner where everything from the food to the ambience is simply flawless, the response would be overwhelmingly identical. With fabulous food, wonderful ambience and a spectacular view of the Hussain Sagar Lake, not to mention live music, Waterfront is one restaurant that exemplifies perfection. Thanks to an extensive wine list, a multi cuisine menu and perhaps the best sea food in the city, The Waterfront has something to please everyone. Long story short, a trip to Hyderabad is incomplete without a meal at ‘The Waterfront’.

Indijoe - The cosmopolitan nature of Hyderabad and its growing prominence on the world map is no where better evinced than in the popularity of the city’s favourite continental restaurant, Indijoe. Located not very far from Hyderabad’s business district, Indijoe offers continental fare that would make any European feel right at home. Unsurprisingly, Indijoe is extremely popular with the foreigners and sounds of ‘Bonsoir’, ‘Gracias’ and ‘Buongiorno’ are not very uncommon. So, if you’re from a land far far away and feeling homesick, perhaps, it’s time to escape to Indijoe.

Barbeque Nation - Have you ever visited a restaurant began with the starters and stayed with it till you had absolutely no space left even for one morsel? If you have’nt, then perhaps you should visit Barbeque nation to gorge on starters that are so good that you could go on devouring them at the expense of the main course and the desserts. With 5 vegetarian and 5 Non-vegetarian barbeques on offer every single day in addition to the large main course and dessert spread, Barbeque Nation is the kind of place that would make you go back to it again and again. Visit Barbeque Nation or you’ll miss out on some delectable delicacies.

Four Seasons - Anyone who is not amazed by the sheer richness and aromatic splendour of authentic Arabic cuisine has not experienced it. And, if there is one restaurant in Hyderabad that does justice to the magic of Middle Eastern food, it is the Four Seasons restaurant in Toli Chowki. From Chicken sheesh touk to the Tabouleh, the Four Seasons restaurant is a treasure chest of exquisite Arabic specialities. Be sure to visit Four Seasons at least once and you’ll realize that there’s more to the Middle East than just oil!

By Arvind Arun

Here’s presenting…

Dark Cherry Cheesecake @ Candies

Chocolate Irish Creme Cake @ 5 Spice

Lemon Tart @ Birdy’s

Chocolate Tart @ The French Loaf

Blueberry Cheesecake @ Pot Pourri

Decadence Cake @ Mia Cucina

Choco Mocha Mousse @ Gloria Jean’s Coffees

Tiramisu @ Thai Ban

Chocolate Ecstasy @ Cafe Basilico

Apple Pie @ Barista

Choco Chip Muffin @ Barista

As if you haven’t had enough! Check out the complete list of dessert shops in your city - Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Kolkata.

Photographs: Vinay Parade

We are familiar with the three variants of chocolate; dark, white and milk each containing varying proportions of cocoa solids and cocoa butter. Components of chocolate liquor i.e. pure chocolate in fluid form. A high energy nibble; not only does chocolate have fats, vegetable proteins and carbohydrates but also potassium and magnesium in large amounts, some calcium and sodium, along with vitamins A1, B1, B2, D, and E.

This infamous confection also contains effective traces of the following stimulants;
•    Theobromine:  Stimulates the central nervous system, facilitates muscular exertion, and acts as a diuretic and appetite stimulant.
•    Caffeine: Increases resistance to fatigue, intellectual activity, and watchfulness. An average size chocolate bar contains approximately 6 mg of caffeine, compared to 100-150 mg in a cup of coffee.
•    Phenylethylamine: The chemical released in our bodies when we fall in love, chemically similar to amphetamines, therefore acting as a psycho-stimulant.
•    Tryptophan:  An essential amino acid that increases the production of serotonin, an anti-depressant and natural stress-reducer. In fact, a decrease in serotonin levels in the brain may trigger chocolate cravings.
•    Endorphins: Natural opiates that are released by the brain in increased amounts when eating chocolate, thereby elevating one’s mood and reducing pain.
•    Phenols: Also found in red wine, tea, fruits and vegetables, reduces the risk of coronary heart disease.
•    Catechins: Antioxidants that may help protect the body against cardiovascular disease and possibly cancer are found in substantially higher quantities in chocolate than in black tea.
•    Anandamide: Mimics the effects of marijuana by acting on the same brain receptors, resulting in a very mild ‘high’. To add to that, chocolate has two ingredients that inhibit the natural breakdown of anandamide and hence prolong the feeling of well-being.

In short/That Means/For Dimwits

Chocolate…that sinful delight improves kidney and digestive functioning; minimizes risks of cancer, heart disease and stroke; improves circulation and counters poor appetite. In literal terms it also keeps you happy and increases endurance for pain.

Quick FAQ

Post-exercise consumption of low fat chocolate milk provides equal or possibly superior muscle recovery compared to a high-carbohydrate recovery beverage with the same amount of calories.

Psycho

Ever wondered why the incessant chocolate cravings before a menstrual cycle? Partially due to its rich magnesium content, a deficiency of this mineral only worsens PMS. In case you’ve been considering an asylum it might do you good to simply satiate those cravings, magnesium is also known to ease menstrual cramps.

Iron it out

Used to cure anaemia, chocolates are found to hinder iron-absorption; you ought to keep a decent gap between meal time and indulgence.

Love Me Do

Although there isn’t much proof chocolate has been viewed as an aphrodisiac for centuries. The Aztec’s thought it invigorated men and made women less inhibited. Today it’s what I call a clichéd Valentine present.

Bittersweet

Consuming cocoa in its crudest form is perhaps the healthiest alternative, if that’s a ‘No way!’ for you, then you could stick to dark chocolate, an amalgamation of cocoa paste and minimal sugar. Known to reduce the risk of heart disease, bitter chocolate lowers blood pressure and increases HDL (High-density Lipoprotein) levels in layman’s terms good cholesterol. HDL can remove cholesterol from atheroma within arteries and transport it back to the liver for excretion or re-utilization. Sweet!

Watch it!

While you might have an excuse to binge on your favourite dessert now, it’s advisable rather imperative that you exercise discretion (especially if you don’t exercise). Ultimately, it’s still sugar and fat, size matters be it your ‘not even close’ to beach bod or that bar of chocolate. Eat small quantities for big benefits. Also watch the label, ensure that chocolate is the first ingredient under nutritional facts, healthy dark chocolate should have less sugar grams per serving than fat grams, stay away from hydrogenated fats, preferably stick to chocolates that have no added fat except cocoa butter.

Propaganda

Cocoa farms often treat workers as slaves, hence; grab a bar that reads Fair Trade, guaranteeing that farmers and workers are paid fairly and treated in a humane manner. Surely you could use some good karma along with good health.

Spending the last penny of your salary, maxing out your credit cards and borrowing from your girlfriends; sounds familiar? Well, you needn’t resort to any of them anymore. Here are few simple tips to revamp and manage your wardrobe. The trick is to be a fashionista without being a recessionista. Read on to know more:

Tom Cruise will always be sexy: Yes, no newbie worth his salt can challenge the hunky star. Just like that, some things in your wardrobe will never go out of style. No matter, what the Spring Summer trend is this year, these must haves will always be life savers.

Blue jeans - forget wide bottoms and forget figure-hugging-tough-to-breathe. A straight cut, comfort fit will always stay in style. This way you will avoid the risk of falling flat on your face thanks to the wide bottom, and save yourself from the embarrassment of “butt crack” situation.  Pair it with a T and you are ready to meet your gal pals for coffee; team it with a glitzy glam halter or tube, and no one can stop you from painting the town red.

White shirt - A white shirt has been the talk of the town ever since Audrey Hepburn strutted it with the perfect pair of capris. Till date, it is a big hit in the boardroom. It gives out that no-nonsense je ne sais quois vibe, which is hard to miss. Wear it with your favourite denim or pair it with that sexy black skirt, which leaves just about enough for the imagination.

Sometimes when life gets tough and you have no idea where you are headed, a little black dress (LBD) saves the day. It never fails to rescue you from a no-win wardrobe emergency and it always looks fabulous. Cocktail parties, office dos, or just another Saturday night, LBD lends that confidence and elegance, which is hard to match. Pick the right accessories and you will be the show stopper hands down.

Life doesn’t always have to be complicated; just like that fashion doesn’t always have to be over-the-top-, hair-pulling. Include simple round neck t-shirts, comfortable shorts and sweat pants and semi-formal tops in your wardrobe. Remember it’s not always about looking like a Barbie cut-out; grunge look (don’t take it too far), which oozes comfort and class can make you look like a rock-chic.

Another must have, which can’t be missed out is a well fitting jacket. It can be worn over a plunging neckline, when you plan on attending a soiree directing after work.

There is no guidebook or gospel that has rules to follow to look trendy without burning a hole in your pocket. Ever come across a woman, who is completely unpretentious, minus any bling in her attire? And somehow she still manages to look fab! Makes you want to throw your Choo at her right? Well, the trick is to being effortlessly stylish is also not trying too hard. Knowing your body type and personality and choosing your clothes accordingly is extremely crucial Just because they make something in your size, doesn’t mean that you can pull it off. At the same time, constantly updating your wardrobe, just to have the most “in” things is neither smart nor cost-effective. Sometimes, there can be no joy bigger than shopping in your own closet.

But you’d agree that the number one excuse to avoid exercise is lack of time. You’d agree that introducing fitness in your life will benefit your mind and body. And you’d also agree that 10 minutes of exercise never hurt anyone! So stop giving excuses and follow this power-packed workout.

When you don’t have much time to exercise, its important to work out the larger muscle groups like legs, lower body and abdomen. They, in turn, burn maximum calories when developed. This 10-minute circuit workout is designed to do just that! The exercises are done continuously for 10 minutes without taking a break - the idea is to keep the heart rate elevated and burn calories while toning the body.

Warm up by marching or jogging in place for 2-5 minutes. Then start with the first exercise - do one set of 10-15 reps and then immediately move on to the next exercise. At the end of all four exercises, repeat the circuit two more times.

Lunge with Bent-Arm Lateral Raise

- Hold light-medium weights with bent arms (optional)
- Step back with the right leg
- Bend both knees and lower straight down into a lunge, keeping the front knee behind the front toe
- As you lower down, raise your arms to shoulder level, keeping arms bent and forearms parallel to one another
- Lower the arms and push back up, bringing the right leg back to start
- Do all reps with the right leg and then switch sides

Single Leg Lunge Swings

- Take a large step forward with the right leg. Bend both knees, keep right knee inline with ankle and left knee pointing down to the floor.
- Hold the lunge, contracting the abs for balance, maintaining a neutral spine and push the swing forward with your arms and chest
- Push off right front foot and thigh and bring feet back together, repeat alternating legs

T- Position

- Stand tall with your right leg extended behind the body, arms on hips
- Exhale as you contract your abs and hinge forward from the hips. Simultaneously lift the back leg to a T-position body parallel to the floor.
- Hold this position for five seconds
- To add intensity, reach your left hand forward
- Return back to T-position with both hands on hips and hinge the body back to start position.
Tip:  Hold a chair or the wall for support if you have poor balance.

Ab Power Planks

- Place your hands on top of a step (optional). Your hands should be directly underneath the shoulders. Move feet back and extend the body into a plank position, abs are contracted to keep torso supported
- Exhale and draw your right knee to the chest without moving the upper body. Inhale and swing the leg back
- Do all reps and repeat with the other leg
Tip: Lower supporting knee to the ground and gradually lift the knee off the floor as you get stronger. Eventually you can extend the body out in to full plank.

CANDIES

Mac Ronells, 5AA Pali Hill, St. Andrews Road, Near Learners Academy, Pali Hill, Bandra (W)
26424124, 26422324

Located at the queen of the suburbs, Bandra, Candies has been popular for many years, previously only for their delicious victuals and desserts now for so much more. The café has extended in to a chain of four around the suburb, the largest one at Mac Ronells. This branch has both an air-conditioned section and split-level sections under a natural canopy of flora with the highest story known as the terrace garden. It also has a smoking section. Frequented by hip youngsters, office goers, city slickers, tourists and everybody who’s anybody, Candies at Mac Ronells feels like a place in the city away from the city. Inspiring in many ways, one can lounge here for hours together, with just a book for company or a bunch of friends. The service is friendly and absconding, hence preserving the ambient privacy. The only refectory where it appears to be Christmas all year round, the branch at Reclamation, however is much smaller. One can relish a wide variety of meals; Goan, Indian, Chinese and Continental or perhaps snacks, sandwiches and rolls. Desserts are available in ample array as well; tarts, pastries, cookies or mousse.

JUST AROUND THE CORNER

Gr Flr 110 Cyrus House, Opp. St. Theresa School, Junction of 24th and 30th Road, TPS III, Bandra (W)
26006717, 26002665

A neighbourhood eatery located around the corner, JATC as it is fondly called, is everything that it is because of the crowds that frequent the place. The joint offers everything from sandwiches to pasta, salads to desserts and coffee to pizza under one roof, with Café Coffee Day and Pizzeria in coalition with it. It has an air-conditioned seating area and an out door seating section, with a smoking and non-smoking division. One can often spot celebrities and video jockeys here, yet a couple of visits later the familiar faces remain all else but the celebrities. While one cannot classify visitors by age one can definitely recognize them by either a hip or eccentric demeanour. They may be models, tourists or college students perhaps even corporate proprietors out to lunch.

PRITHVI CAFÉ

Janki Kutir Society, Juhu Road, Juhu, Vile Parle (W)
26174118, 9821031063

Dim lights and sounds of a pleasant flute, intellectuals longing for a serene ambience or visitors simply keen on quietude, this open air café is a sojourn for artists. Through script narrations or rehearsals, performers and writers alike unwind here. The fare dished-out is both reasonably priced and delicious. A lazy afternoon hangout, an escape from the city hustle, a romantic venue for a date or a ‘me-time’ spot, located in the Prithvi Theatre complex, truly unique, this café deserves a stop over.

MOCHA

Ground Floor, 7 Chateau Marine, Opp. Natraj Hotel, Marine Drive
66336070

Located around the city, Mocha outlets are vintage in décor, with wooden furnishings and dim lights. They have both air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned sections. A coffee shop that serves a large variety of coffees and shakes, unlike any offered across the city. Popular for its chocolate based desserts and flavoured hookahs, this café is frequented by the youth and hookah enthusiasts. They also serve decent food and a wine menu, though in comparison with other cafes, this one is pricey.

LEOPOLD CAFÉ

Colaba Causeway, Bhagat Singh Road, Next To Regal Cinema, Colaba
22828185, 22020131

Founded by the Iranis in 1871 as a wholesale oil store which subsequently became today’s multi-cuisine restaurant; Leopold Café serves Continental, Chinese and Indian fare on the bustling Colaba Causeway. Frequented more so by tourists and the youth of Mumbai; it has a bar on the first level with drinks that are fairly priced. In the past year its popularity has risen as the spot where the 2008 terrorist attack took place. Perhaps mediocre in taste yet this bistro has an unmatched charm. And of course it’s absolutely safe!

BRITANNIA AND COMPANY RESTAURANT

Wakefield House, 11 Sprott Road, 16 Ballard Estate, Colaba
22615264

Britannia is renowned for its Parsi cuisine is an old iconic eatery in Colaba. Despite flaking walls and ceilings, regulars cannot be deterred. The chicken berry pulao and the caramel custard have many raving. Open only in the afternoon and closed on Sundays; visitors include tourists, office goers and staunch fans of Parsi food.

SARDAR PAV BHAJI

166A, Tardeo Road Junction, Tardeo
23530208

This purely vegetarian joint located in Tardeo is of course famous for its inexpensive pav bhaji. Regulars claim to never have tasted pav bhaji like this before. Yet the meal is incomplete without copious amounts of butter, if on a diet do avoid this place. The service is courteous nonetheless, the eatery is small and not air-conditioned, possibly a better option for a take-away or a late night snack since it’s one of the few places open until 2:00 in the morning.

MOSHE’S

7 Minoo Manor, Badhwar Park, Cuffe Parade
22161226

Chef Moshe Shek’s Mediterranean cafes spread across South Bombay, popular for their cosy ambience and menu of Italian, Lebanese and Moroccan cuisines are undeniably the best spots in the city for a romantic date. The flagship located at Cuffe Parade, has a posh air-conditioned seating area indoors yet nothing can match up to the al-fresco section, in the exterior, lit up with flickering lanterns complete with soft music and wooden furnishings. The service is non-intrusive only accentuating the personal tone of the café. It also makes for a wine and dine option. A large delicatessen counter displays delectable cakes, pies and fresh bakes; the salads, pastas and fondue are surely commendable. Moshe’s has a hearty breakfast menu with Middle-Eastern preparations as well. Parties that visit comprise socialites, families, businessmen and couples of course.

Surely there are many cult eateries around town, to get your taste buds tingling although some will disappoint the haughty, drop all qualms at the door if you truly wish to savour the essence of Mumbai city. Diverse in classes, the city caters to the masses offering both humble joints and finer options.

Culturally Diwali is significant as the festival of lights, that old cliché perhaps, while spiritually it signifies an awareness of the inner light. Marked as the home coming celebration of Rama after fourteen whole years of exile, this fete lasts five days. While each celebratory day holds a unique nuance for the most part we remain unaware of the why’s & how’s behind each ritual.

So houses were cleaned and decorated, diyas were lit, new clothes purchased, sweets made rather bought, relatives came over, crackers were delighted in, some sang bhajans, gifts were exchanged but once that was done with few really knew why that was. To make matters worse, commercialization tainted the scene. Possibly as of today a smaller number had time enough to prepare for this event, some even chose to take a flight out of the country, while several decided to do as much as they can to avoid ‘family’.

There’s no need to frown the situation isn’t so grim, there’re still those that worship Diwali, even if it’s only for its monetary illumination. Ji haan Laxmiji seems to be working overtime this festive season.

Spelling good news for marketers and shoppers alike, the season promises sales and discounts on everything from clothing to realty with home loan schemes on offer. Dhanteras boosts the sale of gold, other precious metals and jewellery. Bhaubeej encourages procurement of gift items, not to mention the practice of corporate gifting is now rampant. Our mithaiwalas always had the advantage when it came to Deepavali, now however; chocolate makers share their joy, be it small ventures or more popular ones like Cadbury celebrations. Divas, lights, decorative material, greeting cards, you name it they market it. Despite much protest fireworks seem to have retained their charm; noise pollution, air pollution and child labour (claimed to have been eradicated)…Nah, not as important as my sparkler! Everyone’s capitalizing on the festival, be it tourism or Diwali centric television shows, advertising campaigns, events and parties. But nothing beats the stock market’s muhurta bid post Laxmi puja.

Surely contentious, but it seems to me that the true spirit of Diwali is indeed lost, none the less a celebration is a celebration, perhaps we just do it better and bigger now, perhaps we just indulge our minds and our pockets a little more than was expected, perhaps we could exercise discretion and simply attempt to keep its true spirit alive, just so that a generation or two later Diwali isn’t frowned upon as a ridiculous ceremony or a hackneyed business proposition.

Yes, it’s Deepavali again; the welcome occasion of prosperity, joy, love and the higher self; the festival of lights.

The woman behind all this - Candice Pereira was constantly on her feet, managing the event with flair. Looking pretty in a kurta cinched with a leather belt, the young owner of Candies was gushing about her bazaar. “This is the third event of its kind - the first one was held in December ‘08 and the second one was in Feb ‘09. I think it keeps getting better each year.” I couldn’t agree more! The bazaar this year was at its blingy best.

“The idea was to bring together fresh talent. I have handpicked all the participants who exhibited. I personally went through their works.” Holding an exhibition of this extent at a casual eatery is a rarity in Mumbai. How did this idea come about? Candice explained, “I personally love shopping! I wanted to assemble all the rare and unique knick knacks under one roof. Most of the participants are people who do not sell their stuff anywhere else. So you can be rest assured whatever you pick up from Bazaar & Bling is one of its kinds.” I’m sure, Candice! The stuff was truly impressive.

Dyana Linda is not Indian but she loves Bollywood; her bags and clutches were kitschy filmy! She also had some desi kurtis on display. Namrata, Naomi and Niharika exhibited the most colourful soft bead necklaces. Their brand What D Fuss was in demand. Another busy stall was Beverly’s Bag in a Bag. Finally someone came up with a stylish solution to those leather purse and shoes storage issue! Shruti Chopra’s hand-painted tees and bags under brand Bootika were steeply priced but yummy nonetheless!

Suvidha Dhawan’s line of tops and evening dresses - Ytamin Injection added a lot of bling to the bazaar. Bharat Bulchandani’s  Flots flaunted the cutest little flip-flops. There was a lot out there besides clothing and accessories. Sapna’s Dream Creations displayed glitzy wall hangings and hand-decorated photo frames. Vinay Parade, Vishal and Rahul Sharma’s still photographs were breathtaking! The event revealed myriad shades of the city… a great platform to showcase and avail of the talent within it.

As simple as it sounds, how many of us actually do a little something for our hair? Er, no boys - mommy caressing your head does not qualify as hair care! There’s slightly more to it. We’ve already spoken about how heat and pollution and pretty much everything urban is ready to assault the hair. You can run, you can hide… and you can also escape! Say goodbye to fly-aways and frizzies. Here’s how…

• Have a balanced, healthy diet. Yep, healthy hair needs healthy food intake. Almonds, for instance, are a boon to the hair. Pop 4-5 almonds a day, and watch your hair growing stronger, shinier…just like they promise in ads - but for real! Green leafy veggies, turnips, carrots and apricots are rich sources of Vitamin A, which strengthens the hair at the roots. Include calcium (milk), iron (red meat, fish, leafy veggies) and protein (milk, soy, fish) in your diet. For silica, eat raw oats.
• If you’re running around all day, especially in hot and humid climate, your hair is bound to get sticky and dirty which in turn could lead to hair damage. Just as you clean your skin, its important to cleanse the scalp. Shampoo your hair using a mild, preferably sulfate-free shampoo. Using herbal shampoo? Make sure its strong enough to cleanse the hair. Work up a lather with the pads of your fingers, don’t scrape the poor scalp with your finger nails!
• Beer is good for the hair! It helps remove residue and dirt. Use 1 cup of warm water with 6 tablespoons beer as the final rinse.
• Conditioning the hair is an indispensable ritual especially if you have dry hair. After shampoo, wring out excess water. Apply conditioner to the mid-section and ends (not the roots)… then run a comb through the hair to spread out the conditioner evenly. Avoid - if you feel you’re losing too much hair at this step. In any case, let the conditioner seep in for 5-10 minutes. Then wash off.
• Been using a lot of conditioner, styling serums and gels or hair spray? Rid your hair of product build-up. Mix 1 tablespoon baking soda with your regular shampoo once a week. Rinse and dry as usual.
• Towel-drying the hair? Avoid rubbing too harshly…Just ’soak’ it dry with a towel.
• Using a blow-dryer? Just blast-dry instead of heat-drying and styling. It will simply take off the extra moisture without ripping your hair off the essential bit.
• Its important to comb and detangle; but gently so. Use a wide-tooth comb in the downward direction (or simply use your fingers!) to even out the hair before running a comb through it.
• Avoid combing when the hair is wet. This is when your hair is at its weakest!
• To cut down on static electricity, dampen your comb with some water. It works
• Avoid using scrunchies or clips on wet or damp hair. Believe it or not, tying up the hair when its damp could cause dandruff!
• Use comfortable bands and scrunchies. Tight ones will only cause hair breakage.
• Regular trimming is necessary. Chop off those split-ends to ensure your hair is growing in a healthy manner. Girls need a trim every 2-4 months. Guys could go in for a trim 1-3 months, all depending on one’s hair growth rate.
• Choose a hairstyle that’s in keeping with your lifestyle. If there’s a lot of leg work involved in your job, it would be best to keep the hair short and sweet and easy to maintain.
• Get 7 to 8 hours of beauty-sleep everyday. It will show, on your crown!
• Dry hair? Take edible oil and honey in a 1:1 ratio, mix and leave it on for 15-20 minutes. Rinse off with cold water. Otherwise, get an olive-oil massage.
• Oily hair? Wash your hair regularly but go easy on the conditioner. Add a tablespoon of malt vinegar and a pinch of salt in a glass of water. Pour out 2-3 tablespoons on your scalp and massage gently. Doing this twice a week will help reduce the oil on your scalp.
• Dandruff? Mix lemon juice and vinegar in 1:2 ratio. Massage it on the scalp and let dry. Rinse off with cold water, using a mild shampoo.
• Hair spa treatments work wonders! Get a special protein, aroma therapy or natural hair spa treatment at least once a month.