One a bright sunny June morning, Ajay Bhatia awoke at daybreak and decided to stroll around the streets of Paris, capturing the beauty of the city through his camera lens. The result of this is now on display at Alliance Francaise – a photographic record of Paris over one day, from morning to night.

What  : City of Light: A Photography Exhibition by Ajay Bhatia
When : Mar 23 – Apr 7, 2018 | 9AM – 7PM
Where: Alliance Francaise, Chandigarh

In Bhatia’s own words, “It was… Perfect weather for walking and perfect light for photography. I passed by café’s and patisseries preparing to open for the day. I gradually made my way towards the Musée Picasso. The streets and architecture were imbued with an old world charm. People smiled or nodded when you glanced at them. I felt good and at peace with the world.”

A documentary photographer based in Chandigarh, Ajay likes to indulge his passion for travel, event, and architecture photography. Inspired by the quintessential charm of historical towns, cities, and villages, Bhatia chooses to capture the cultural and traditional flavours of such settlements. And at the same time, the contemporary flavour and progressive lifestyles of modern cities also find their way into his work. His photographic interests vary from the rhythmic dances to the colourful vibrancy of folk art in India.

Ajay has extensively worked on the architectural and natural wonders of Chandigarh. His very first photography exhibition was titled “The Hidden Beauty of the City Beautiful” and was organised in collaboration with Government Museum & Art Gallery, Chandigarh. His second exhibition titled “Straight Lines, Open Spaces” (The Legacy of Le Corbusier) was also hosted by Alliance Francaise, Chandigarh. A third exhibition series entitled “Le Corbusier – The Play of Light” has travelled extensively across India, including cities like Hyderabad and Pune, which are known for their love for the arts.

Ajay is motivated by the belief that it will take him several lifetimes to exhaust the infinite photographic possibilities that the world offers on a daily basis. And yet, he continues to capture as many regions as he is able to visit in this singular lifetime. A strict connoisseur of natural photography, new age techniques like photoshop and editing are an absolute no no for this lover of light and shadows. Be sure to catch his work and frames at this ongoing exhibition at Alliance Francaise before it moves on to its next destination.

India has a richly thriving startup ecosystem today, and is only paving the way for more to crop up and become the next leaders of the economy. Startups need entrepreneurial risks, or better, risk-taking entrepreneurs with a vision that demarcates their venture from the rest. Here is a talk for those on the lookout for what separates the winning ideas from the losers.

What : Geetika Dayal in Conversation with Sumeer Walia
When : Mar 26, 2018 | 4PM – 5:30PM
Where : Chitkara Innovation Incubator Foundation, MDC-4, Panchkula

Centre for Entrepreneurship Education & Development (CEED), Chitkara University has cordially invited Geetika Dayal, Executive Director of TiE Delhi-NCR for a conversation with Director of CEED, Sumeer Walia for an insight into the world of entrepreneurship and the enabling of startups in the current ecosystem of corporates.

TiE or The Indus Entrepreneurs is a not-for-profit organisation that was set up in Silicon Valley, USA in 1992 by a group of successful entrepreneurs, corporate executives, and senior professionals with roots in the Indus region to foster entrepreneurship at a global scale through mentorship, networking, and education. To this day, their aim continues to be the nurturing of the next generation of entrepreneurs. As Executive Director of TiE Delhi-NCR Chapter, Geetika Dayal has played a key role in giving the Indian entrepreneurial system a megaboost.

Under Ms Dayal’s leadership, TiE Delhi-NCR has been a five time winner of the TiE Global Award for being the Best TiE Chapter globally and was also awarded at the World SME Conference 2016 for Exemplary Work in Building the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem for Small Businesses in India.  Moreover, Geetika Dayal herself was felicitated as an Enabler of the Ecosystem for Startups by CNBC Young Turks. She has previously been conferred the Best Executive Director Globally by TiE and has received the Chairman’s Award for her exceptional contribution and service to the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Geetika’s leadership has seen TiE Delhi-NCR working relentlessly towards organising special interest focused group events for startups, women entrepreneurs, social entrepreneurs, youth, and early stage entrepreneurs. Their effort remains to create a bridge between startups and policy makers, academicians, corporates, and investors. She joined TiE in 2001, when it was in the early stage of its inception in India, and has been the guiding factor of TiE making a mark on the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Join her in conversation on March 26 to understand the finer nuances of how to make an impact in the thriving startup ecosystem of today’s economic sector.

As responsible citizens of ‘the land of five rivers’, it becomes our duty to ourselves and our nation to pay due attention to the water crisis and pollution that the world is suffering from today. And here is a Walkathon cum Cyclothon that aims to do just that.

What  : UBS & EFSO presents Walkathon and Cyclothon
When : Mar 25, 2018 | 6:30AM – 8:30AM
Where: Gandhi Bhawan, Punjab University

With two manmade lakes in our megalopolis, and an unending stream of rivers flowing through the Punjab-Haryana heartland, we citizens of the tricity may have grown accustomed to abundance of water. Nevertheless, we cannot turn a blind eye to the fact that the world today is dealing with a major water crisis and very little is being done about it.

As the second most populous country in the world, India is a major contributor to planet Earth’s water crisis. A number of India’s rivers are considered holy, and yet due to overuse and abuse of our holy rivers, most rivers have become so polluted that it is impossible to use them for water consumption. Moreover, industrialisation has played a major role in contributing to the water crisis. As a result of biological and industrial waste, over 70% of the nation’s water is polluted in one way or another. Moreover, groundwater reserves have also been significantly contaminated due to industrial waste. Most rivers have been deemed unsuitable for human consumption, thus paving the way for water scarcity problems.

Water scarcity should no longer be ignored. Not only are we facing an impending drought, but even day to day water consumption of the everyday citizen is already at risk. Additionally, water is an important resource for growing crops, i.e. the very food we eat. Water pollution poses an imminent threat to irrigation of crops and that in turn will affect the food that we consume. Food chains of the Earth’s ecosystem are heavily dependent on water for survival. However, water from lakes, rivers, streams, and oceans are getting more and more polluted by the day due to littering and improper waste management.

Recognising the need to increase awareness about India’s water pollution crisis, the Business Club of University Business School (UBS), Chandigarh in association with Eco-Friendly Sports Organisation (EFSO) is organising a walkathon and cyclothon event on World Water Day. The water problem is no longer a problem of the future, but a present day crisis that is affecting the everyday survival of humans, animals, and plants. Come be a part of this event in order to work towards a solution for this impending disaster.

To register yourself for the event, click here.

Imagine a pitch black night sky dotted with a thousand lights – no, not stars, we mean lights, lanterns,
and fire! That’s what this Sunday night is going to be all about. The Chandigarh sky will be lit like a
wedding and we promise you it’s a spectacle you don’t want to miss!

What  : Chandigarh Urban Festival Sky Lantern Evening
When : March 25, 2018 | 4:30PM – 9:30PM
Where: People’s Plaza, Capitol Complex, Sector 1

They call Diwali the festival of lights. True. But nobody said we have to celebrate it only once a year,
right? That’s why Chandigarh Urban Festival is hosting a sky lantern evening as part of its closing
ceremony on Sunday, March 25. An estimated 1000 sky lanterns are going to be released by fellow
Chandigarhians and if you want to be part of this celebration, then you need to head over here and register yourself now!

The Chandigarh Urban Festival has been an ongoing celebration of the cultural diversity and urban
architecture of the city beautiful, for the last two months. It was an endeavour undertaken by the Act!

Chandigarh to create an interactive platform for citizens, academicians, students, politicians, and
bureaucrats to come together and debate, discuss, and celebrate the existence of Le Corbusier’s
visionary city, i.e. Chandigarh!

The Festival will culminate with the Grand Carnival this Sunday, with a variety of programmes lined
up for a truly enriching experience. Starting with the Grand Open Hand March, which will be held at
Jan Marg and will showcase 2400 performers – a mix of professional and amateur folk, classical,
contemporary, and freestyle dancers and musicians. Carnival groups will be dressed up for
masquerade, wearing wigs, masks, funky dresses, and painted faces. Here’s a chance for a truly public
celebration with elements of circusry for tricity residents to come in costumes and masks and join in
the fun.

Did you know that Le Corbusier had designed Jan Marg as a 100m wide ceremonial street for the
purpose of parades, carnivals, and grand ceremonies? Only that it was never used for its intended
purpose and has simply remained a common street to this day. Thus, for the very first time, by way of
the Open Hand March, the Chandigarh Urban Festival will put this street to its actual use.

The March will be followed by a coordinated release of sky lanterns at dusk by tricity citizens at the
People’s Plaza in Capitol Complex. Participants are free to tie a written message with their sky lantern
and each lantern will be released by two people. Sky lanterns are traditionally a part of various Asian
cultures, launched at festivals and carnivals. This Sunday will be a true celebration of the UNESCO
World Heritage Site!

Food fests are one of the happiest of all, that take in one and all in its embrace, barring no one from being absorbed in its cheerfulness and gaiety. Any equivalents of this jubilant festival are too hard to be found anywhere else in the world. Marked by the food cravings that are beyond anyone’s control, it invokes a whirlwind of emotions, from delight and eagerness to a tinge of worry of being able to gulp all the mouth watering food around.

Ours is an incredible country with each state relishing the delicacies of its own. Bringing them together equals festivities that brighten the entire range of vision for the food lovers. Our very own tricity, where food is not only something that satiates our appetite, but a meaningful amalgamation of varied traditions that satiate our soul, is all set to witness the high-spirited and pompous food festival, at the most loved place on the weekends, VR Punjab.

Enjoy the lip smacking cuisines at the Times Tadka Food Fest to be hosted by VR Punjab mall, Chandigarh Kharar Road on 17th & 18th March, 11:30 AM onwards. Bid adieu to the winters and welcome the season of renewal, dancing to the foot tapping numbers played by your favourite bands who will set the mood right for an amazing weekend.

The whole list of long line up includes Haqiqat Band, DJ Nikhil, Hungama Band, Music Hammers, Saadhak Band and Black Hawk Band, promising a wonderful musical celebration and adding to the cheerful atmosphere with their scintillating rhythms.

The presence of food and music at one place make it an event, so irresistible and worth attending, indeed. So make the most of the coming weekend with umpteen ways of having fun, amazing music and lip smacking food all at one place. Mark the dates already and make sure you are headed to VR Punjab with your friends and family. Get to know more about the best food festival of the tricity at:- www.citywoofer.com/e/times-tadka-food-fest.

The wedding season may be coming to a close, but the biggest, most awaited wedding event is yet to take place and it’s just the place you need to visit if you have a gala wedding coming up – yours or otherwise. Yup, the most premium wedding exhibition in all of Asia will be in Chandigarh soon and here’s why you don’t want to miss out.

What : Wedding Asia Chandigarh – 2018
When : Mar 24 – Mar 25, 2018 | 11AM onwards
Where: Hyatt Regency, Chandigarh

A splendid shopping affair, Wedding Asia is an exclusive one stop shop for all things wedding. Weddings are the kind of place where everyone wants to stand out – be it with regard to clothing or accessories or even the planning of the big day. But to look beyond ordinary, you need to have access to the extravagant. And that’s exactly what Wedding Asia is all about.

The ultimate guide to an ideal wedding, Wedding Asia caters to the needs of the bride, groom, family, and guests. With a host of verified retailers and boutique owners setting up their stalls, the exhibition will showcase artists, designers, jewellers, and all kinds of vendors in order to provide you with a large variety of options to compare and choose from.

And if you were thinking it’s just about the clothes and jewellery, you’re dead wrong. The stalls on display will include not just clothing and accessories, but also a variety of footwear, bags, beauty products, decorative items, gift options, and trousseau pieces to choose from. An assortment of lehengas, gowns, sarees, and suits on display – it’s a woman’s paradise, if you ask us. But it’s not just about the women. The men are equally taken care of with the sheer diversity of sherwanis, kurta-pajamas, Nehru jackets, tuxedos, dhotis, and pagdis to pick from.

But don’t be mislead by the focus on clothing and body apparel, for there’s much more available. From wedding planners to wedding photographers to florists, stylists, and caterers – all and sundry who have anything to do with the wedding industry will be there for consultation and guidance, offering their services at competitive prices. You can consult, plan, and hire a service provider on the spot or make long term plans for a wedding in the far future. The point is, if you’re all about weddings, this exhibition is just the place to go. Save the dates.

With International Women’s Day festivities happening all around the tricity all through the month, here’s a meet up organised specially for women to meet and share ideas and experiences, with the aim of propagating women solidarity.

What : Female Bloggers & Photographers Meet
When : Mar 18, 2018 | 11AM – 6PM
Where: Sector 17, Chandigarh

Here’s an open invitation to all female bloggers and photographers in the tricity area. Come and meet fellow colleagues and comrades working in the same fields as yourself. Whether you’re a fashion blogger or a freelancer, a wildlife photographer or a travel photographer, whatever be your area of expertise, whatever be your field of work, you are heartily welcome. From travel to nature to lifestyle to fashion to events to real estate and architecture, if words are your mode of expression or picture frames your weapon of destruction, this is a one of a kind meet for women from different backgrounds to get together and share ideas, experiences, and practical knowledge of skills.

The objective of the meet is to motivate each other, build a circle of solidarity, and learn from one another. New entrants to the world of blogging and photography are also welcome. Women who foresee a career in these fields or who want to embark on a new phase of life but have not yet figured out the demands of the profession are more than welcome. Bring a friend along too, if you’re the shy kinds, or not!

Being a woman in this male dominated world is not easy and often we feel the need to fall back on our female companions who at times like these reiterate the strength that is intrinsically part of our personality. It is our experiences that make us who we are and by sharing these moments with each other, it is not just ourselves that benefit from it, but also those who receive these anecdotes from us. And isn’t that just what the essence of being a woman is? It’s not just a solitary awareness but a shared recounting where not just the one who lived those moments relives it all over again, but all of us somewhere or the other have been through it. Cause, girl, we’re all in this together!

For more details about the meet, contact Aman at +91-94643 33682.

Open mic nights have become a trend in the tricity and we are glad for it! It means more and more people are coming out of their shells to share their work with a listening audience. Here’s the latest in open mic, if you need a place to just relax and absorb the beautiful compositions of fellow Chandigarhians.

What : Haal-E-Dil Silsila Jari Hai
When : Mar 18, 2018 | 4PM – 7PM
Where: Lumos Coco, Industrial Area, Phase 1, Chandigarh

On Feb 25, hardly a few weeks back, Conviction Visuals organised an open mic night at a quaint little co-working cafe in Industrial Area, Phase 1, Chandigarh – a place called Lumos Coco. The idea was that anyone who wanted a platform to share what’s on their mind, a story, an incident, or even a little poem of their own composition could simply step up to the mike and pour their heart out. The only criteria being that it had to be original. The event was aptly titled Haal-E-Dil.

So, Chandigarh answered and how! The event turned out to be such a success that these guys are now back with the next edition – Haal-E-Dil Silsila Jari Hai. The idea remains the same – to have a platform for people who want to share anecdotes, poetry, music, or shayari from the heart without the fear of being judged. And if walking up to the stage and speaking up in front of random strangers is not your thing, fret not. Simply go and find a cozy little spot for yourself and let your heart be filled with the outpour of emotions spilling on stage.

More and more people are finding a voice of expression nowadays and the word is catching on! We’re only glad for it because it means more places to go to and more personal experiences to absorb. The last event witnessed a multitude of people, from a grandpa starting his poem with the lines
Meri zindagi ka aakhri padaav hai
Fir bhi jeene ki chah hai
To a young man reminiscing his childhood days, ending his poem with the lines
Chote chote bacho mein
Ab apna bachpan dhundta hun
The themes of the articulation varied from lost love to martyred soldiers. From the romantic to the nostalgic to the beautifully enigmatic, our fellow Chandigarhians have a lot to express, but only if someone is willing to listen.

And it’s happening again on the 18th. If you have nothing important keeping you busy, we suggest you head over to Lumos Coco without giving it a second thought. You won’t be disappointed, promise.

An acid attack can change a person’s whole life in a matter of minutes. From medical treatment to social sidelining, an acid attack survivor has to deal with a lot of physical and emotional pain through their lifetime. A fashion show like this one, however, is a bold step in the right direction for acid attack survivors.

What : Kadam- Ek Pehal
When : Mar 17, 2018 | 6PM
Where: Chandigarh Club, Sector 1

You know your country is in a sad state of affairs when the term ‘acid attack’ becomes commonplace. India is said to have the highest number of acid attacks in the world, with upto 307 officially registered cases in 2016. And the number does not seem to be going down. What’s worse is that till 2013, there was simply no provision in the Indian Penal Code that recognised acid attacks as a separate offence. Post the February 2013 amendment, cases are now registered separately but the statistics give no indication of a decrease in the number of acid crimes in India.

Acid attack survivors, however, have to deal with a lot more than just an incompetent judicial system. From being blinded beyond repair to being scarred beyond recognition, an acid attack survivor is robbed of their sense of self and identity in a matter of a few moments. Moreover, society sidelines them to a mere victim, ignoring the potential that lies dormant in each and every survivor. Often, survivors suffer a major hit to their confidence levels, unable to step out of the house for psychological, emotional, as well as security reasons.

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, Chandigarh based NGO – I Am Still Human is taking a commendable step towards the rehabilitation of acid attack survivors by organising Kadam – Ek Pehal, a fashion show that celebrates the confidence and perpetual beauty of acid attack survivors. Often, survivors find it difficult to get employment because of their appearance and are thus unable to support themselves. A fashion show of this nature can help towards changing this attitude of employers and spread awareness about survivor’s stories and experiences.

Acid survivors often have to deal with constant stares and glares from people in public places. Here is an event that will show you that at the end of the day, they are also simply people like you, with similar aspirations, hopes and desires in life. If you are someone who was previously indifferent to this cause, or simply unaware of the plight of acid survivors, then it is imperative that you attend this event.

Over the last few years, the tricity has seen a rise in the number of eateries and restaurants around the city. Every nook and corner is today alive and thriving with foodies venturing to new places to try out new food. It’s high time we started hosting food walks around the city, like they do in the metropolitans, and Sahapedia is here to do just that.

What : A Quirky Food Walk Through the Streets of Chandigarh
When : Mar 17, 2018 | 7PM – 9PM
Where: The streets of Chandigarh!

We Chandigarhians have a limitless love for food, and there’s no doubt about that. We find ourselves stepping out of the house for the sole purpose of eating outside almost on a regular basis. And when already out and about, there’s not a day we don’t come home without having at least spent some time eating at a roadside kiosk – whether it is to gobble down plate after plate of momos or to satiate our chatpata cravings for golgappas.

Sometimes our mood demands the elegant, sophisticated restaurant set up. Other times it’s all about the loud, bustling, noisy roadside carts. Other times still, it’s the cool, chilled out vibe of a cafe, or perhaps even the hip and happening atmosphere of the latest bar or pub in town. Whatever the choice of the day, there’s no dearth of places to go in the tricity. And so Sahapedia decided it’s high time we explored the variety of foodstuffs in and around the tricity. Thus happened, “A Quirky Food Walk Through the Streets of Chandigarh”.

The guided tour is a free tour but requires participants to register beforehand. Link to the registration form: https://goo.gl/zcmRyv
Registration is a must, if you want to attend. If you are unable to attend the walk after having registered, kindly inform Sahapedia over email (walks@sahapedia.org) or text (Avita – 9829064043).

Participants will collect at Sector 8B Market Parking, Near Wokman and head on out from there. Although the food expenses will be borne by the participants, the total bill amount will be shared by everyone equally. We suggest you wear your loose pants and a pair of comfortable shoes to gain the most out of this eating experience. Photography enthusiasts should carry their cameras too for there will be some interesting frames to be captured.