Day: October 24, 2016

Tamannah Bhatia looking ravishing at MAMI festival

When it comes to film stars, what they wear, how they carry themselves is always a topic for discussion. Whether they receive rave reviews or get flak for their costumes, they surely know how to turn heads.


The gorgeous Tamannah Bhatia recently visited the prestigious MAMI festival in Mumbai with her Baahubali 2 team. The makers released the first look of the sequel of the film which is slated to hit the box office in April 2017. The diva Tamannah Bhatia looked ravishing in Basil Soda white and black dress and INTOTO shoes. She was styled by Sanjana Batra, Hair by Madhuri Nakhale, Make up by Aparnah Mitter. This actress is just doing all right when it comes to being the fashionsta! Dont you think?

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Top Apps that help you plan a perfect Diwali this year

The biggest festival Diwali is here, and the festival is another big reason for Indians to celebrate. We have listed out eight interesting Diwali apps for your smartphone that would help you celebrate the festival in a smarter way.


iFaith App


Whether you prefer to enjoy your favourite lilting bhajan, to watch devotional movies or listening to a Laxmi Ji ki Arti on this Diwali, you can now fulfil all your spiritual needs at the touch of a button on this Diwali. iFaith is a spiritual offering from the family of nexGTv. Watch devotional Live TV and video on your mobile.  Through this iFaith app, nexGTv makes you to re-instil your faith and grow devotionally and spiritually with videos/ Live channels specially selected for you.

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Urbanclap


Cleaning your House – Hire professionals who will do the job while you relax and sip your favourite cup of coffee. This way you can also bid goodbye to the endless arguments you have with your roomie or partner over cleaning. You can hire professionals from UrbanClap exclusively for Diwali cleaning and painting.


Saloon at door step – UrbanClap, India’s largest mobile services marketplace, curated beauty service providers for various services such as facial, cleaning, pedicure & manicure etc at your doorstep just a click away. UrbanClap beauty at home are much in demand this festive season.

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Paytm


Diwali seems like one of the biggest shopping festivals in India since it is auspicious for buying new things. Paytm helps you to buy all things under one platform. On the first day of Dhanteras it is considered good to buy gold and silver coins as well as jewellery. Kitchenware like utensils too are considered a good buy on this occasion. Electronics, gadgets, furniture, clothes, etc. people buy for themselves and also for gifting purposes.

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Junglee Teen Patti


Teen Patti online – Flash Card Game by Junglee Games is India’s twist on 3 card poker. Teen Patti, also known as Indian Poker, Flush, Flash or 3 card Brag to be enjoyed in India around the festival of Diwali for good luck and fun. People play Teen Patti for generations now, and it is quite customary to socialize and play the game around Diwali.

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Udio


Don’t be short of cash: Transfer Money Socially while playing cards this Diwali! Are you still planning to bet with cash this Diwali? We all fall short of cash in card parties during Diwali. And it’s always a task to borrow from your fellow players at the table. Probably it’s time for you to move to the next level and go cashless! There are multiple apps nowadays which are offering you options to just send money on social media or just transfer from digital wallet! Download Udio mobile wallet for liquid cash available at just a touch. With transformation of mobile wallets, one can also opt for social gifting which will be much appreciated in the card parties.

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Big Basket


Diwali is known as the festival of lights but the four days of celebrations have become just as popular as the time for giving. Big Basket can help you navigate the interesting options for gifting hampers.

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Fashin


If you’ve ever dreamt of dressing like a Bollywood star, this Diwali is your time to shine. Users can take hold of the fashion trends in Bollywood music, take Katrina’s lehenga or John Abraham’s cool T-shirt for instance. The app will provide users with different options where the exact same or similar outfit is available, compare the prices and make the entire buying process completely effortless for its users.

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Bobble


Shower Greetings with a selfie based sticker app. You can click a selfie, and get unlimited stickers with your face. It’s an Android and iOS app to make mobile conversations more expressive and personal. It’s a Diwali sticker pack to make it more quirky yet trendy.

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Happy Appying 🙂

Reasons Why I Look Forward to Next Season of Asian Hawkers Already..!!

There are many food festivals, then there is Asian Hawkers, probably the best thing ever happened to the category called food festivals. I have been hooked to it ever since I went the last time and this season was bigger and better. With many more restaurants and food chains finding their way into Asian Hawkers, it had all the elements to become nothing but the best food festival ever.

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With acclaimed names like Fatty Bao, Dimcha, The Grand, Le Meridian, Pa Pa Ya, Burma Burma, Bercos, Carls Juniors, and many more, this is a perfect place to find them all under one roof and make it a foodies paradise.

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Here are my top picks from the season


Pa Pa Ya- From the house of Massive Restaurants that includes big names like Masala Library by Jiggs Kalra and Farzi Cafe, this Asian Kitchen is something to watch out for. Pa Pa Ya hosted a preview of their menu at Asian Hawkers as they are yet to open their restaurant in Delhi and now I am sure it will be one of the most awaited ones. Pa Pa Ya redefines your imagination of Asian Cuisine, it takes you on a gastronomic experience that is superlative in all regards. The Butayakitori Apple and Betel Leaf Tartare, which was pork belly skewers chargrilled with sichimi, mirin and soyal was delectable. The flavours that were infused in the tender pork belly were mind-blowing. The Hoisin Chilli Duck Pa Pa Ya Dog was one of the most talked about dishes at Asian Hawkers. Words alone can’t describe this delicacy.. you have to try this out once the restaurant opens and just do mmm..mmm..mmm.. its that orgasmic. Yak Udon was great to taste, it had a bowl of steamed Sudan noodles topped with tossed chicken. Worth trying. Even the vegetarians had a delightful time at Pa Pa Ya, Red Curry Infused Wild Mushroom Rangoons were a popular pick, these were deep fried Burmese dumplings that were stuffed with mushrooms and cream cheese. The presentation was just awesome, the best and the most unique things about these dumplings was that they were open from the top, unlike the all sides closed dumplings that we are used to seeing. Edamame and Chick Pea Sliders were another hit. Lotus flour buns with chick pea and edamame patties were drool worthy.

Tuna Pizza
Tuna Pizza
Pa Pa Ya Dog
Pa Pa Ya Dog
Pork Belly
Pork Belly
Chik Pea Sliders
Chik Pea Sliders
Mushroom Rangoons
Mushroom Rangoons

Wok Tok by the Grand– Wok Tok by The Grand, was my next halt and I can say that I was extremely happy to have chosen it. I ordered Sarawak Pepper Chicken, tender chicken pieces tossed in pepper sauce, this was an amazing dish and made for a perfect starter. I next ordered Sichuan Dumplings, and going by the popular belief, I was expecting dumplings as in like dim sums, but this was different, It was a dry chicken tossed in Sichuan sauce, but nevertheless it was very tasty and hence I wasn’t complaining. For the main course I ordered Sliced Chicken in Black Pepper Sauce with Noodles and this too was very very tasty. Wok Tok carries the legacy of the grand and hence you can expect nothing but the best from here. I was really satisfied with my culinary experience at Wok Tok.

Chicken in Black Bean Sauce + Noodles
Chicken in Black Bean Sauce + Noodles
Sichuan Dimsums
Sarawak Pepper Chicken
Sichuan Dumplings
Sichuan Dumplings

Bombaykery– Ok now being a baker myself, this comes difficult to me, but also most naturally, I don’t have enough words to praise this amazing bakery. They are just too good, extremely addictive I must say. I normally don’t but bakery stuff from outside, but just a look at their stall and I could not resist and I ended up buying not just one but quite a few things. Their travel cakes are to die for and you have to order to believe. You should check out their Zomato page and place an order as soon as you can, you will love it. And while you are placing order for travel cakes, don’t forget to add some chocolate fudge. I tried the milk chocolate fudge and I polished away all 6 pieces by myself within a day, they are so damn addictive. Their cupcakes, macaroons and dessert jars should also not be missed. All I can say is order anything and everything and you will enjoy for sure.

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Milk Chocolate Fudge
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Milk Chocolate Fudge
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Nutty Chocolate Travel Cake
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Nutty Chocolate Travel Cake

So if you have missed the excitement this time, watch out for the next Asian Hawkers to be held in February and enjoy feasting..Till then try these yummy outlets individually and have a merry time..!!

Artisera ; an online marketplace that is redefining boundaries..!!

Artisera is an online destination for ‘artistic luxury’ where one can discover and buy unique pieces of fine art, collectibles, home décor, and furniture from India and around the world
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People often associate the word ‘art’ with paintings, but we’re redefining those boundaries. To us, art means to fill up a space in a beautiful way. Our emphasis is to promote ‘fine art’ as a whole, including contemporary and modern art as well as traditional art forms, sculpture, and photography. And we believe art should extend to other elements of our home and personal spaces as well, such as furniture, tableware, rugs, décor and more” Says the co-founder of Artisera, Lisa Jain. She and her husband Varun Bakliwal launched www.artisera.com in October 2015. Since then, through their ‘invite-only’ market place model, they have managed to partner with over thirty of the most trusted and reputed stores, galleries, designers and artists across the country to house a mix of contemporary and traditional pieces for the discerning client.

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Every piece on the website is either one of a kind or limited edition. The fine art ranges from traditional tanjores to photography and sculptures. There are rare vintage collatables and curios along with porcelean pieces, tableware and lighting. Accent chairs and tables, consoles and cabinets with their unique flair are also part of the collcection.

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Artisera works closely with its partners to curate the pieces you see on the website. If a client likes something listed on the platform, they can buy from it directly, and the order then gets fulfilled by the partners. They also cater to custom inquiries by clients; for e.g. if you’re looking for a specific style or piece, they will work with their partner network to try and source it. The partners include The Great Eastern Home, Balaji Antiques, Cocoon Fine Rugs, Jaipur Rugs, Sarita Handa, Essajees, PortsideCafé Furniture Studio, Vadehra Art Gallery, Kynkyny Art Gallery, Tasveer, Anemos and Navrathan Antique Arts to name a few.

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Although there are many interesting online ventures in the aspirational or luxury fashion space, there isn’t any single platform that helps individuals discover exquisite, non-mass manufactured, unique art pieces in all its different forms, from the best brands in the business. And that’s what Artisera is doing. They are very clear in their focus, and are catering to a niche, defined audience. Their clients could be young or old, experienced or novice, living in a big city or a smaller town, but they are all looking for high quality pieces, with a story and a history.

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The curation is what really sets them apart. They want the experience on the website to be similar to when you walk into a store or gallery filled with beautiful pieces, admiring every creation, enjoying the sheer process of discovery. At Artesera they understand that the buying experience is critical in the luxury space. And that’s why, even though they are an online store, there is a significant offline element to the Artisera experience. They speak to each client personally, offer advisory services, host gatherings and events to offer a ‘touch and feel’ experience, and help clients with art appreciation. The range of Collectibles is unique and hard to find. Working with some of the most well-respected dealers/stores in this space, they’ve managed to curated some exceptional curios, rare porcelain pieces, and vintage collectibles, which appeal to seasoned collectors as well as those who are just starting out.

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Knowledge and information about different art forms is still limited. And it’s very important for someone to feel comfortable and informed before making a high value purchase. And this is why at Artisera they look beyond selling. Through relevant, high quality, interesting content, they help people develop an appreciation for artistic luxury.

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“We also believe, that a luxury art and lifestyle business cannot be completely online. While many people will discover new ideas and sellers, buy products, and gain access to what is outside their city digitally, the touch and feel aspect will continue to be critical to some. And that’s why, we want to help our Partners not just with sales on Artisera, but also by driving more people to their physical stores, after being discovered online” Says Varun.

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About the founders and their journey

Artisera has been founded by the husband-wife duo Varun Backliwal and Lisa Jain with a vision to create an international art-focused luxury brand.

Varun is the fourth generation of a family that is associated with the fine arts and handicrafts trade since 70+ years. After spending close to a decade in the family business, he completed his MBA from IESE Business School in Barcelona. He then began working in the startup investment ecosystem and mentored retail-focused tech startups. That’s when the idea to marry his two areas of expertise struck him.

Lisa comes with extensive experience across investment banking in London and marketing and strategy in the education sector in India. Alongside Artisera, she also owns a successful education venture. She completed her undergrad at University of Warwick, UK and MBA at the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad. As an outsider to the art trade, Lisa brings a unique and fresh perspective to the business.

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They had understood that the digital landscape is evolving rapidly and the need to have meaningful online visibility cannot be ignored by traditional brick-and-mortar businesses. Although there were many interesting online ventures in the fashion space, there wasn’t any single platform that helped individuals discover exquisite, handcrafted, non-mass manufactured art pieces in all its different forms, such as furniture, fine art, collectibles etc. Here is where the opportunity was percieved.


“We have different personalities, backgrounds, and skillsets, but there is one common factor – both of us come from families with a strong entrepreneurial bent of mind. In fact, we were the first in our respective families to get a job. So after having spent some time successfully in the corporate world, we decided to come together, launch a business, and create jobs instead”


They are passionate about not just helping individuals buy (especially those new to this world), but also help them learn about, and develop an appreciation for different art forms. And that’s why they have a strong emphasis on educating and knowledge sharing at Artisera.


Lastly, having a deep understanding of this trade gives Varun and Lisa an advantage. The art and collectibles trade still operates in a very traditional way. Because of Varun’s background in his family business, they are able to solve very real problems for their partner brands, without asking them to shift their focus from what they know and do best.


So if you are planning to buy exclusive, unique and luxury gifts this festive season, think no more, just log on to  www.artisera.com and see your wish come true.. happy shopping..!!

Give your loved ones the gift of health with Nirvana Being

The festive season is finally here! But what it also brings along is air pollution. The air quality in metro cities worsens and becomes a major concern for the government as well as the citizens. Each year more people are added to the list of patients suffering from breathing issues. You can help change this. This year when the PM2.5 levels become hazardous, you can help your family and friends stay safe by giving them “the gift of health”.

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Nirvana Being brings to a range of very fashionable, yet functional products to help you breathe free, indoors as well as outdoor. After all, what better gift can there be than health and happiness!

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Please promote #breathefree with Nirvana Being #nirvanabeing

 

 

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