Hyderabad:

“Dr Ghazal Srinivas is a Legendary singer. He made  his mark in the fied of  Ghazal Culture and  the Hisory of Telugu Iiterature.  Coming Generations wil remember his contribution for Telugu Ghazals and his hard work and commitment will be an inspiration for all budding Singers” said by Padmasree Dr Y Lakshmi Prasad during “Teugu Ghazal book  launching function held in Palakol.

RenownedTelugu Ghazal singer   Dr Ghazal Srinivas written the Book “Telugu Ghazalu” which narrates the Journey of Ghazal from Persin language to Telugu  and also contribution of Dr Dasarathi and Dr Cinarey. The book talks about the role of the  singers ,poets and audince to make ghazal concerts successful.

Dr Ghazal Srinivas dedicated his book to renowned Poet, Critic Late Dr Samala Sadasiva (Adilabad) who is expert in Persian, Arabic, Urdu,Marathi, Hindi and Telugu Languages.

“Telugu Ghazal” book was launched by smt Ratnavali, Kesiraju Narasimha Rao, Parents of Dr Ghazal Srinvas and  first copy was presented to Dr Yarlagadda Lakshmi Prasad.  Ghazal poets  Dr Rentaa, Dr Tatavarthy  and Dr Rasaraju were also present.

Audience paid tribute  to Late Samala Sadasiva and Vemparala Subrahmanyam (Ghazal  poet) those who passed away recently.

Book was published by Ghazal Charitable Trust. Earlier Sri Rayaprolu Bhavan welcomed the gathering and Mr Addala Vasu proposed Vote of Thanks.

source: http://www.greaterandhra.com / Home> Articles> Special Articles / December 16th, 2012

Aditi manufactures bags that are functional, comfortable and most importantly, trendy and fashionable.

She is fascinated by anything handmade and is constantly exploring ways to blend crafts with modern lifestyle choices and tastes. She loves to work with Indian textiles and craft techniques to create beautiful handcrafted products that have a perfect amalgamation of traditional and modern outlook. Meet Aditi Prakash the creator of Pure Ghee Designs, a brand of handmade bags.

Made from the softest cotton, synthetic fabrics and even lungi material, Aditi manufactures bags that are functional, comfortable and most importantly, trendy and fashionable. Now based in New Delhi, this Hyderabad-born designer describes her brand as chic, bold, unexpected, fearless and sophisticated.

Pure Ghee began with the concept of approaching handbags as if they are clothing. Experimentation with shapes form an integral part to the designing of the bags. This juxtaposition is something that is constantly challenged in the brand as a whole. As a designer, Aditi finds inspiration in nature, history and technology.

Aditi’s bags celebrate the diversity of Indian design, whether it’s with ajrak fabric or kitschy sarongs. “After having worked in the crafts sector for over seven years as a consultant, I felt the need to get involved in a more comprehensive way. I started Pure Ghee Designs to have a greater stake in the product cycle from concept to end user stage,” says Aditi adding, “I always use craft as a starting point in my designs but I combine it with new materials wherever required to make the product more functional and in tune with contemporary requirements.”

Aditi went on to study Industrial Design from NID (National School of Design). “At NID, I learnt the whole process of how a product is conceived and how it reaches the market. After I passed out I worked with traditional craft communities across the country. I realised that whatever I did, I had to add a handmade element to it,” she says adding, “I developed an indepth knowledge of the field while working under Jaya Jaitley as a designer for Dastkari Haat Samiti.”

The exquisite, hand-painted designs of Aditi are a meticulous fusion of art and fashion. Beautifully constructed and saturated with rich colours, these detailed works of “functional art” are a fresh alternative in a sea of today’s mass produced bags.

Every bag from this brand is in vibrant and cheery colours. Be it the gamcha from the Bihar, unusual patchwork from Jharkhand, lungis from Hyderabad and Kochi, block printed ajrak from Bhuj or the shamiana material, all find a place at Aditi’s workshop.

“I seek to work with craftspeople as collaborators. I discuss the concept with them and then we brainstorm together to explore the idea further. I like the final product to be rooted in their traditional vocabulary and reflect the strengths of their art form. The experience is immensely satisfying when we collaborate as equals in the creation of the product,” says Aditi.

For Aditi, who is passionate about travelling to new places, inspiration stems from observing people’s lives in different cultures. “My inspiration always begins with the fabric itself. I collect various kinds of fabrics and develop new variations all the time,” says Aditi.

Pure Ghee Designs was named after a craftsperson who brought me a gift of homemade ghee from his village. For him, it was the best gift possible as it was pure, homemade, and precious.

Her latest collection—Allika or weave in Telugu is a celebration of handwoven, naturally dyed cotton from Andhra Pradesh.

“It is crucial to study the cultural context and the historical background of a craft form before using it in a design exercise,” says Aditi.The prices of her bags ranges between Rs 1,000 and Rs 3,500.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Magazine / by Swati Sharma / December 02nd, 2012

Hyderabad :

It is that time of the year again when all roads in the city lead to The Times Hyderabad Festival. After its roaring success last year, the cultural carnival is back this winter with a power-packed week of entertainment, complete with upbeat musical concerts, scintillating stage shows and a mouth-wateringly delicious cooking fiesta. And coming to town to take Hyderabadis on this titillating journey, which kickstarts on Sunday, are some of the finest names from the world of music and performing arts in the country.

Giving a heady start to the festival on December 2 will be the much-popular fusion band ‘Colonial Cousins’ featuring musical geniuses Hariharan and Leslie Lewis who have been creating waves the world over for more than a decade now. The duo will perform with the historic Quli Qutub Shahi Tombs in the backdrop. Day 2 of the event (December 3) will see the cast of Lillete Dubey’s English play August Osage County take centrestage at the Shilpakala Vedika. The Pulitzer Prize  winning act, featuring Kitu Gidwani and Sandhya Mridul among a host of others including Dubey herself, have opened to packed houses at various locations since its inception and has been lauded for its sardonic humour element.

The theatrical experience will continue on December 4 with Shabhana Azmi’s Kaifi Aur Main that will bring together the celebrated artist and her acclaimed lyricist husband  Javed Akhtar  on the same manch, again at the Shilpakala Vedika. The narrative of the play that apart from mapping the poetic expedition of the renowned Urdu writer Kaifi Azmi also encompasses the soulful romance between him and his wife Shaukat Azmi, a noted theatre and film actress, is written by Akhtar and premiered in Mumbai in 2006.

There on, the musical journey will resume with some powerful rock, folk and Bollywood performances. Delhi-based ‘Parikrama’, the band known for its original tracks like Till I’m No-One Again and Tears of the Wizard will open the show at the Quli Qutub Shahi Tombs on December 5 and will be followed by Ghazi Khan and Raghu Dixit the next day (December 6). The two stalwarts, who have kept the flag of folk music flying high, will be seen weaving together a perfect evening for music connoisseurs from the city. At Rock Heights on December 7, the band ‘Euphoria’ will make an appearance to belt out some its catchy and hugely popular numbers like Dhoom Pichak Dhoom, Ab Naa Jaa and Aana Meri Gully among many others. The cultural bonanza will draw to a close on December 8 in perfect Bollywood style with a melodious performance by the Mitwa singer  Shafqat Amanat Ali , at the Quli Qutub Shahi Tombs.

Alongside the concerts, the Times Festival will also play host to an array of cooking events beginning December 3 at ITC Kakatiya’s Kebabs & Kurries. Top chefs here will dish out lessons in North Indian food. This will be followed by a quick tip or two on Hyderabadi cuisine at The Golkonda on December 4. Those willing to try their hands at Italian cooking can walk in to Via Milano on December 5. For lessons on whipping up a scrumptious Indian meal, denizens need to look out for the culinary class scheduled for December 7, set to be held at Aish by The Park.

Readers can collect complimentary passes for these events from the Times of India office, Road No. 3, Banjara Hills on a first-come-first serve basis between 10am and 6pm.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> City> Hyderabad / TNN / December 02nd, 2012

Visakhapatnam :

Contrary to the belief that brunches, kitty parties and high tea keep them occupied while their husbands are out at sea for months together guarding the coastline, wives of Navy officers  are busy juggling their own careers with hectic personal and social lives. These group of over 10,000 women also do take out time for their ilk in order to uphold the tradition of Naval Wives’ Welfare Association (NWWA).

There are doctors, lecturers, journalists and IT professionals among wives of several Navy officers in the city. The president of NWWA and wife of Eastern Naval Command chief, Ragini Chopra , herself works with Jet Airways. Then there are daring women like commanding officer Captain Mahesh Singh’s wife Manita Singh, who runs Balwari School, an institution for the underprivileged, and also takes part in daredevil acts like jackstay during combat demos of war ships. “I enjoy moving from one Naval base to another as it’s exciting and offers new experiences. I would like my two children to also join the defence forces,” says Manita Singh.

Kaushalya Suresh, vice-president of NWWA, Kalinga Naval Station, Vizag, adds, “Once married to a Navy officer or sailor, one automatically becomes a member. Here, around 300 wives are active NWWA members and participate in all activities. The hierarchy depends on the husband’s corresponding position.”

NWWA members are used to a hectic life with their husbands usually getting transferred every two-three years. “Accommodation becomes a problem during transfers, and each time we have to start afresh,” says Kaushalya.

And in this on-going Navy Week celebrations, NWWA members have their hands full. At the Kalinga Naval Station, they are involved in over a dozen group activities. These include environment awareness activities through Prakriti group, while Ashirwad caters to the needs of senior citizens and Jagriti deals with educational needs of the underprivileged children. Sparsh or Outreach group reaches out to destitute women, orphans and the underprivileged among civilians in villages around the base.

Sakhi is a counselling group for NWWA members, Sahara on the other hand deals with empowerment and rehabilitation of Navy widows and Arogya addresses health issues, including health cards for all women and compulsory medical check-ups.

There’s also Sankalp, a centre for the spastic and differently-abled children and Pragati Udyogika to help set up cottage industries and empower women with skills, even as Tarangini showcases cultural talents of NWWA women and Shilpika looks after artistic endeavours that eventually find a place in the NWWA shop.

Lachmi Deb Roy, a lecturer and freelancer, feels NWWA offers the right platform for deep bonding and personal growth. “Though frequent transfers can be disturbing, it makes one more adaptable and the community spirit widens ones perspective, social network and boosts confidence. When my husband was away for two years in a foreign country, I single-handedly brought up my little son while managing my job. In such difficult times, bonding with NWWA members through picnics, parties, community service keeps us fully engaged,” she said.

Talking about upcoming activities such as medical camps in nearby villages and opening of NWWA store, NWWA president Ragini Chopra, concludes, “Life is hectic for the wives as well but it’s good to see so many Navy wives coming forward to actively participate in the works of NWWA. There’s a lot of talent that needs to be given the right exposure.”

source:  http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> City> Visakhapatnam / TNN / November 29th, 2012

Nellore :

Devotees  thronged Nellore town on Tuesday to take part in the ‘Rottela Panduga’ as it is considered auspicious to visit the  Barah Shaheed dargah  on the day of gandhotsvam  (chandan mahotsav).

The town was packed with pilgrims who arrived from various parts of the country from early hours and the rush continued till late in the evening.

The chief of Kadapa Ameen Peer dargah Arifulla Hussaini formally launched the gandhotsavam in the early hours.

The dargah committee members brought gandham mixed in vessels in a specially decorated vehicle from Ameenia mosque in Kotamitta in the town around midnight. There was a minor stampede at the dargah as devotees jostled to receive the ‘gandham’ distributed by the dargah authorities.

Police who intervened resorted to mild lathi charge to control the situation. Pilgrims had a holy dip in the Swarnala Cheruvu, a local tank and started exchanging rotis to fulfill their wishes. There was a heavy rush for udyogam rotte (roti of job) and pelli rotte (roti of marriage) on the banks of the Swarnala Cheruvu. With people, irrespective of their religion taking part in the festivities, Nellore town virtually turned into a sea of humanity.

Although, the festivities began two days ago on the day of Muharram, the massive crowd turned up to take part in the event on Tuesday to take gandham from the dargah in addition to accept or leave roti in the tank waters.

District collector B Sridhar was one of the first visitors to the dargah and offer special prayers to the Barah Shaheed. He offered a chadar to the dargah. The entire municipal administration officials including commissioner TSR Anjaneyulu camped on the banks of the Swarnala Cheruvu to oversee the arrangements for the pilgrims for the past two days.

Municipal officials closely monitored the sanitation and drinking water supplies as thousands of devotees have been visiting the dargah since Monday. It took nearly 3-4 hours for darshan as all the queues were packed. SP Ramana Kumar and other senior police officials visited the dargah in the late hours of Monday and offered prayers.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> City> Hyderabad  / TNN / November 28th, 2012