Getting dirty with it

Getting dirty with it

The role of bacteriaDifferent bacteria play unique roles in the gastrointestinal tract. There is also evidence that human microbiomes have gotten less diverse over the years, potentially due to the…
Mould it like metal

Mould it like metal

Sleek and sculptural, folded metal jewellery is ready to steal the spotlight. In a stunning interplay of form and fluidity, it flaunts raw elegance. From curves to rippled waves, angular…
It’s time to shine

It’s time to shine

Designer Abhinav Mishra’s current creative expression is lush and luxury. It is synonymous with the rich, textured appeal of winking mirrors, laced with gota and silk threads. His latest collection,…
Pride and patrimony

Pride and patrimony

Is coexistence of man and animal possible when there is a deep-rooted respect for nature? The Maldhari tribe of Gir know the answer. When the Maldhari cattle herders came to…
Packing for a train journey

Packing for a train journey

Perched beside curved glass windows, we spoke with Nitin Lochab, general manager, operations, Aroon Food Services Pvt Ltd — the company which built the restaurant. “This is a discarded rail…
Cane can do anything

Cane can do anything

Cane is classic, and classic is timeless. The naff, low maintenence cost-effective furniture made with microfibre for the masses, has had its mediocre moment, but the eco-movement has made cane…
The pearlescent touch

The pearlescent touch

“They often contain humectants like glycerine or hyaluronic acid, which help in maintaining the skin barrier. Many pearlescent products are marketed as multi-functional as some pearlescent primers or moisturisers can…
Inevitability of impending deluge

Inevitability of impending deluge

Elif Shafak’s There are Rivers in the Sky serves as yet another testament to why the Turkish-British author’s novels are quick to climb the bestselling charts. It is extensive, expansive…
Birthplace of Western philosophy

Birthplace of Western philosophy

Not many people know about the birthplace of Western philosophy and science. This is a territory in Western Anatolia (modern-day Turkey) called Ionia. It took its name from Ion—the legendary king of Athens. In…
What’s for dinner today?

What’s for dinner today?

Two decades ago, furniture designer Jyoti Nautiyal heard the term Bauhaus for the first time. A client told her, “I like to keep things simple, both in communication and design.…
A flair for the glares

A flair for the glares

It’s rare to find a pair of sunglasses that is both functional and fashionable. The handmade acetate frames from Coco Leni’s Sustain ready-to-wear collection, however, measures up rather well. Powered…
Make the move

Make the move

A walk to your neighbourhood market for grocery shopping may save you a visit to the doctor. The human body was designed to move and not blinkit or instamart from…
Wean the teen off heavy-duty skincare

Wean the teen off heavy-duty skincare

Pollution and stress: In today’s world, pollution and stress are major skin villains. They can accelerate ageing and cause skin problems. Minimising chemical exposure can help your skin stay healthier…
The price of pragmatism

The price of pragmatism

The great dilemmas facing our species today are nothing but transformed versions of old grievances. They are consequences of choices made advertently or inadvertently in the face of events, fuelled…
Before memory fades

Before memory fades

On June 4, 1984, Rachpal Singh, the secretary of militant leader Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, was seeking shelter in the Golden Temple with his wife Pritam and their 18-day-old son,…
A house for Ms Pearl S Buck

A house for Ms Pearl S Buck

Manicured gardens and green lawns, historic stone archways, and a rustic greenhouse spread across 68 picturesque acres in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, US, create the backdrop for the 1825 farmhouse that…
The dawn of the sleepmaxxer

The dawn of the sleepmaxxer

It had been months since health and fitness influencer Helen Leland had enjoyed a good night’s sleep. She would wake up exhausted every morning, which increased her stress levels as…
Mastering the art of leadership

Mastering the art of leadership

Leadership is exemplified by the famous poem of Lord Tennyson, ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade,’ in which 600 soldiers of a military platoon were led by their commander into…
Lost lustre of a once shining land

Lost lustre of a once shining land

Woven in, too, are descriptions of the trade with Europe: with the Greeks, and with the Roman Empire, importing everything from “Indian ivory mirrors, boxes and carved furniture”, to wild…
Clutch me if you can

Clutch me if you can

If ‘Stop and Smell the Roses’ had a face, it would probably be bag designer Rachana Reddy. Her latest collection, Take Your Time, turns the spotlight on the zen of the…
‘Don’t interrupt’

‘Don’t interrupt’

KOCHI: Society has always misunderstood and stigmatised people with stuttering. This speech-related issue is a fluency disorder.People who stutter know what they want to say but the trouble is in…
How to thrive under pressure

How to thrive under pressure

KOCHI: Maya is a 28-year-old woman working at a tax firm. She was often required to work night shifts, especially during tax season. These shifts could stretch to 12-14 hours…
Constant that is conflict

Constant that is conflict

The premise of Geetanjali Shree’s 1998 book, which has been translated into English by Daisy Rockwell as Our City, That Year, is something we’ve heard often, in both fact and…
Swachh Sikkim Village

Swachh Sikkim Village

Cleanliness begins at home. In 2017, Dawa Choden Bhutia, the panchayat president of Phadamchen village in Sikkim, assembled 17 women to form a group called Swachhata Sahayogi, a name that…
Fanning innovation

Fanning innovation

Long been household staples, ceiling fans are now spinning off their traditional designs to assume their place as pieces de resistance in modern interiors. They are imaginative, innovative and design-forward.…
Sweet and Shapely

Sweet and Shapely

From Bento modak cakes to lachha rabdi or gulab jamun cheesecake to jalebi caviar the sugar darlings this festive season are flooring tastebuds. Aditi Dugar, founder-director, Urban Gourmet India, is…
Inside a Cell

Inside a Cell

Even with her supportive team at work urging her to switch off from checking her cell phone, Delhi-based communication professional Vandana, couldn’t resist the urge to answer messages, even if…
The Relationship Puzzle

The Relationship Puzzle

In our so-called modern society, vulnerability is often misconstrued as weakness, but it is, in fact, the cornerstone of authentic connections. Because without the willingness to expose our true selves…
Meditation is as precious as gold

Meditation is as precious as gold

Children, real knowledge is learning how to focus the mind. This is possible through meditation. It helps to reduce stress and relieve anxiety. Through meditation, we can enjoy bliss and…
Hospitably Ethnic by the Sea

Hospitably Ethnic by the Sea

In the scenic coastal village of Dombe near Karnataka’s Byndoor, a homestay comes alive in the wee hours of the morning. Greater coucals and Rufous Treepie hop around, alighting high…
Back on the carousel of words

Back on the carousel of words

The tagline reads: Around the world in 101 essays. These essays are an ‘expanded and augmented’ version of Shashi Tharoor’s World of Words column in the Khaleej Times, wherein he…
Lifting the Nefertiti Way

Lifting the Nefertiti Way

How much will a session cost you?The cost of a Nefertiti lift can vary depending on the geographic location and the expertise of the doctor. “On an average, the price…
Open your heart to miracles

Open your heart to miracles

Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our greatest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.We…
Calling on Armenia’s Van Gogh

Calling on Armenia’s Van Gogh

As you sit down with Armenian painter Lusik Aguletsi’s family—the artist was often called the Van Gogh of Armenia—sipping warm mountain tea, the room becomes filled with conversations, memories and…
Trendy Tote-ms

Trendy Tote-ms

When designers Saahil Nandrajog, founder of Tiger Marron and Kunal Kyhaan of KoyToy met, the conversation flowed effortlessly for hours. “It was uncanny how we saw eye to eye on…
Bring the cosmos to the catwalk

Bring the cosmos to the catwalk

The lives of Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna as couturiers is filled with constant movement. There’s always something happening—targets, deliverables, new collections et al. But it’s in the quiet stillness of…
The Water Wellness Morning Methods

The Water Wellness Morning Methods

Dietician and wellness expert Sutirtha Sengupta says, “Moringa is packed with essential vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, C, and E, calcium, potassium, and iron, which support overall health, well-being…
Deliciously vintage

Deliciously vintage

Step into the vibrant world of heirloom tomatoes, where each fruit carries a story as rich as its flavours. Rooted in tradition, farmers select the juiciest, sweetest, and most colourful…
Glow like the goddess

Glow like the goddess

We are in awe of the majestic and radiant Goddess Durga who personifies beauty! In reverence, we offer her with milk, honey, butter, ghee, and fruits. The Puja is also…
Tech Corner

Tech Corner

Garmin Venu 3Venu 3 from Garmin is a feature-rich smartwatch with a range of new-capabilities and advanced health-tracking metrics built in. It has a vibrant 1.4” AMOLED screen and a…
Mastering mistake tolerance

Mastering mistake tolerance

In 1943, a young engineer named Richard James was working on a project to develop springs that could stabilise sensitive equipment on ships. One day, he accidentally knocked a spring…
Quadrobics: low-impact, high-intensity workout

Quadrobics: low-impact, high-intensity workout

Health benefitsQuadrobics is a relatively new exercise practice that hasn’t been studied extensively. However, it may provide physical and mental/emotional health benefits, including:Full-body workout. Quadrobics engages many muscles, including those…
DIY on Asian griddles

DIY on Asian griddles

Going out to eat in Japan is a pantomime. Visit an authentic Japanese okonomiyaki restaurant; here actions speak more than words. An okonomiyaki (Japanese pancake) course begins with asssorted bowls…
A new era in skin hydration, elasticity

A new era in skin hydration, elasticity

Side-effectsAs with all non-surgical aesthetic treatments, there is a risk of side-effects, such as minor bruising or swelling at the injection sites. Dr. Manika Khajuria, Medical Aesthetician at Looks Aesthetics,…
Zen and the Art of Modern Work

Zen and the Art of Modern Work

In an era of rapid technological advancements and ever-evolving business landscapes, companies are increasingly seeking innovative approaches to enhance productivity, foster employee satisfaction, and maintain a competitive edge. Among the…
Calm in a teacup

Calm in a teacup

Sri Lanka is slowly becoming the traveller’s cup of tea again. After Covid-19 hit tourism, it is banking on its signature teas to bring travellers back. The Pekoe Trail, a…
Willy Wonkas on a Roll

Willy Wonkas on a Roll

Creating chocolate is an interesting mix of art and science. Precise temperature management in tempering, and achieving ingredient harmony for texture and taste are crucial. So is artistic flair. A…
Heeding the call of Shiva

Heeding the call of Shiva

“Har har Mahadev...Har Har Mahadev...”Each time you feel it is impossible to take another step forward on the hard road to Rudranath temple, nestled inside dense rhododendron forests and mountain…
Tips to combat screen-induced damage

Tips to combat screen-induced damage

Inflammation: Blue light exposure can trigger inflammation by disrupting your skin’s barrier and causing irritation. This inflammation can exacerbate conditions like acne, rosacea, and eczema.Disruption of skin barrier: Your skin…
Ancient wisdom for modern times

Ancient wisdom for modern times

The Purana’s philosophical discussions, particularly in the third and 11th cantos, explore the nature of the self, the universe, and the Supreme Being. These teachings can be harmonised with contemporary…
Polish Your Silver at Home

Polish Your Silver at Home

Most wearers of silver jewellery polish their pieces with toothpaste when they start looking dull. They squirt the paste on to the jewellery, rub it in with their fingers, and…
The Sweet Smells of Summer

The Sweet Smells of Summer

Once upon a time, Indian homes—particularly those in the east—came alive to the fragrance of frankincense every evening. A brass or earthen fumer carrying incense layered atop slow-burning coconut husk…
All That Glitters is Not Gold

All That Glitters is Not Gold

The Signature Collection tells a clean story in silver and white, with clear zircons set in silver. It’s perfect for people with an affinity, if not the resources, for diamonds.…
Scent into raptures

Scent into raptures

What's sought in 2024Smelling nostalgiaPerfume that helps us be our unapologetic self, reflects on the experience of existence, or even identify with our ‘shadow selves’. This unexpected niche movement is…
You nailed it

You nailed it

Not too long after the craze around milky nails and the classic French mani reigned supreme among manicure lovers, a new nail fad has officially sailed into the beauty dock…
Awaiting a golden moment

Awaiting a golden moment

In 1765, Jassa Singh Ahluwalia defeated Afghan invader Ahmad Shah Abdali in the Battle of Amritsar and established the Katra Ahluwalia, a self-sufficient, small neighbourhood. “Such neighbourhoods were a common…
Truly cool clothes

Truly cool clothes

If the heat's got you this time, here's some cool news. A new textile made from fabric, plastic and silver nanowires can keep a person up to 16 degrees cooler…
Unlocking Life’s Mysteries

Unlocking Life’s Mysteries

Metaphysical spirituality is a fascinating journey into the realms of reality, existence, and the spiritual domain, transcending the confines of the material world.Its roots stretch deep into ancient philosophies and…
Getting a sunny outlook

Getting a sunny outlook

Too much of a good thing, anything, hurts. So will sunlight: too much of it and you get sunburn, especially from UV rays. One of the easiest ways to guard…
The Role of SMIM1 Gene

The Role of SMIM1 Gene

Obesity rates have nearly tripled in the past 50 years, and by 2030, more than one billion individuals worldwide are projected to be obese, says Lead author Mattia Frontini, Associate…
Spirituality is a science

Spirituality is a science

Children, spiritual teachers often give more importance to the heart than to the head. Of course, intelligence is necessary; Amma will never say otherwise. In truth, the head and heart…
The revenge of the Mother

The revenge of the Mother

“In the side mirror, a line of red tail-lights snake all the way back to the house where three people are still sleeping.” Sweeney holds the reader close to her…
Eye-cream or not?

Eye-cream or not?

Say eye-cream, and you'll get instant polarisation. There are two distinct factions when it comes to eye creams: the believers and the nonbelievers. Some women and men swear by the…
Relationships: Life’s sacred offering

Relationships: Life’s sacred offering

There are a few contenders to the title of ‘the icon’ of the modern age--jet travel, information superhighway, inter-galactic exploration, genome sequencing and so on. All these represent tremendous advancements…
Beyond scrubs and scalpels

Beyond scrubs and scalpels

What’s the real cost of living and dying in a hospital in India? Well, it’s a thin line between a patient’s luck and the physician’s acumen, where the battle for…
Timeless lessons for mankind

Timeless lessons for mankind

Srimad Bhagwat Katha entails the stories of Lord Krishna, an avatar of Lord Vishnu, inspiring devotees to lead a righteous life. It showcases the Lord’s life when He lived on…
Safeguarding ideals

Safeguarding ideals

Children, the story of Sri Rama has been captivating and uplifting the hearts of millions of people for centuries. Mahatmas act with extraordinary presence of mind, courage and practical intelligence…
Haute and Happening

Haute and Happening

Creating objects that stir people is probably one of the most satisfying endeavours, one that I live for,” says Pune-based Kunaal Kyhaan Seolekar, founder of KOY, a contemporary furniture label…
Beyond the shadows and solitude

Beyond the shadows and solitude

CHENNAI : Stumbling upon the forgotten tale of vengence, the protagonist of writer Devibharathi’s latest translation The Solitude of a Shadow (Nizhalin Thanimai) has to now decide whether to stand…
Taking charge of menstrual weakness

Taking charge of menstrual weakness

Kidney and bone healthKidney-related diseases and bone health issues are other significant factors. Dr Vasundara mentioned, “Conditions affecting kidney function can lead to general weakness, while bone-related problems, particularly in…
Reimagining period essentials

Reimagining period essentials

HYDERABAD: Are you picking the right menstrual product? Are your period supplies safe? Are they menstrual products or menstrual plastics? Is your pad period friendly?Menstrual products, mainly the sanitary pads…
The Jeju rock show

The Jeju rock show

A teenager wearing black shorts and a pink T-shirt is about to start hiking to the peak of the scenic Seongsan Ilchulbong Tuff Cone. Standing at the base, entry ticket…
The secret to radiant glow

The secret to radiant glow

Remember Hollywood diva Salma Hayek’s bare-faced, sun-kissed pictures from her 2023 vacation in Jordan? It broke the internet. That’s the power of the ‘golden hour’ or ‘magic hour’ as they…