What could be better than that your legacy getting passed to the heir, people of your ilk and the rest of humanity and to the world. The only literary festival on the name of an individual, Khushwant Singh Lit Fest celebrates human thought and the freedom to exhibit it. The 11th edition of the three-day Khushwant Singh Literary is dwelling on a lot of varied topics.

Khushwant Singh’s son and KSLF Director Rahul Singh gave a call for improving Indo-Pak relations so that the cultural ties between the two countries keep thriving.

One of Khushwant Singh’s key concerns was that India and Pakistan retain the warmth in their people-to-people relations. Khushwant Singh was born in Hadali, Khushab district, Punjab (now in Pakistan), in a Sikh family. He was the younger son of Sir Sobha Singh, who was a prominent builder in Lutyen’s Delhi who designed theConnaught Place. He was a lawyer in the Lahore High Court for a good eight years, he joined the Indian Administrative Service post independenvce in 1947.

A large number of Pakistani personalities could take part in the first few editions of the KSLF and had vibrant discussions on the matters that concerned both the nations. “The sessions would not only draw packed houses but would also have scintillating debates and discussions”, said Rahul making an appeal to both the government to relax visa rules for cultural and literary ambassadors of both the sides. There should be more flights and more personal contact between the people of the two countries.

The tone of the festival was set by celebrated author Amitav Ghosh who took up the theme of the festival, “The Climate of Change: Still Sprightly @ 75” and expressed his grave concern at the constant ravaging of Nature by humans.

In another session, the  much-acclaimed writer Rajmohan Gandhi said that  India needed another kind of greatness not just what is reflected through the Hindu majoritarianism. In conversation with Mahua Moitra, MP, he regretted how for centuries the Indian society suffered discrimination. Sharing his thoughts on the topic “Reflections on a 75-year Legacy” Rajmohan said the legacy of the country since Independence was onerous and challenging and it is time that we had more equitable and homogenous society.

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Student leaders of today, national leaders of tomorrow

Chandigarh: Panjab University campus is abuzz with energy, political tamasha, sloganeering, littering and all the other nuances associated with electioneering. In a way, it is a mirror-image of politics at the national level.

PU has produced the likes of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Sushma Swaraj, Kumari Sejla, Sukhbir Singh Badal, Rajiv Pratap Rudy though all of them were not part of students politics then.

University elections are the breeding grounds of national leadership and springboards for young leaders to initiate into politics.

Outsiders are entering the campus freely, loitering around having fun, traffic around the area has gone for a toss, but nobody is complaining. Ofcourse, the police is vigilant and students from outside are being detained and questioned.

Let us have a look at the presidential candidates of various student organisations.

On World Egg Day, can we change ‘an apple a day’ idiom to ‘an egg a day keeps the doctor away?’
And interestingly, City Beautiful Chandigarh takes the lead in egg consumption, with a sale of over two lakh eggs every day in winter.
The all-time favourite, easily available complete power food is the best option for breakfast, what other way to relish it and recall its benefits on world egg today (Oct 14).

All the supply to the Tricity comes from Barwala in Haryana, apart from commercial poultry farms, CPDO (Central poultry development organization) northern range and backyard poultry.
According to the national nutrition council, 1 egg is equivalent to 4 eggs.

What are its benefits

Good cholesterol: Eating eggs leads to elevated levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), also known as the “good” cholesterol. People who have higher HDL levels have a lower risk of heart disease, stroke, and other health issues. According to a study, eating two eggs a day for six weeks increased HDL levels by 10%.

Good for eyes: As we get older, we need to take better care of our eyes. Egg yolks contain large amounts of lutein and zeaxanthin, helpful antioxidants. Eggs are also high in vitamin A, which is beneficial for eye health.
Protein source: Eggs are are considered a complete source of high quality protein because they contain all nine essential amino acids. Getting enough protein is very important for building bones and muscle, as well as maintaining good overall health.

One large boiled egg has about 77 calories and contains:
• Vitamins A, B5, B12, D, E, K, B6
• Folate
• Phosphorus
• Selenium
• Calcium
• Zinc
• Six grams of protein
• Five grams of healthy fats

Namita Satija, Owner, Bettr Eggs, Chandigarh, has a word of caution for regular egg-eaters

1. Labelling them as organic, some poultry farmers use synthetic pigment to give an orange tinge to egg yolk (considered a sign of enriched eggs), you need to be wary of the orange yolk, all eggs with orange yolk may not be truly organic.

2. When we peel the shell of a boiled egg, the more difficult it is to peel it, the fresher the egg. The more easily the crust comes off, means the older the egg is.

3. Sometimes, we come across a tinge of blood spots in the egg yolk when we break it on the pan or a container, it is because of a ruptured blood vessel because of some kind of trauma to the hen while laying it. It might appear unpalatable, so remove that bit, rest of the egg is good to eat.

4. There is a requirement of 30-40 pc proteins to make up the body tissue. An egg is the next best thing after mother’s milk to fulfill a child’s dietary needs.

Folk art, festivals, traditions, artistes, craftsmen—are all a forgettable lot in the 21 st century. With people addicted to social media, who cares for the original piece of works whether it is handicrafts or live artistes. At the Craft mela in Kalagram, there was a chance to feel the spirit of live performances amidst the milling crowd itself. Behrupiyas, artistes who don different roles or modern characters like Lord Shiva, Lord Rama, Hanuman, etc to give people some fun-filled moments.

You may be taken for a ride by man in ‘Khaki’, who may even grill you for a while, reason or no reason. You may come across a person posing as a faith healer or charismatic conman, who may press you hard to follow him without any rhyme or reason, resorting to all kinds of tricks of the trade.

You tend to lose your cool or composure dealing with such a squeaky character you come across. But, never get scared of them. They are the people who give a reason to rejoice amid mundane stresses and strains. They may give you some troublesome moments, but leave you entertained with their unique art of impersonation. They are known Behrupiyas, who are born to entertain the world around them, assuming all kinds of characters under the sky.

They are basically entertainers, like our tik-tok stars of today. Earlier a widely appreciated art form, it is now on the verge of extinction, with performers forced to live a life of penury. They are hired to perform at social gatherings and weddings. Their role is to bring in an element of surprise initially and some light moments once their identity is revealed. They make a dramatic entry at the designated venue or other festivities dressed as a policeman, priest, or other prominent figures and create a situation disrupting the ongoing ceremony.

Behurupias are so perfect in their art that people tend to take them seriously. They play their part as an artiste to entertain others without causing any harm to anyone or accepting anything in cash and kind. Their idea is to create a farcical situation simply to entertain.

However, if a behrupiya succeeds in convincing the audience of his fake identity, a ‘baksheesh’ makes its way through.

Chandigarh: Five teachers from Bhavan Vidyalaya, Chandigarh, were felicitated with Awards of Excellence by The International Institute of Hotel Management, in association with International Hospitality Council London as part of the IIHM Teachers Initiative.

The Achievers

Ms. Neeta Malhotra, PGT Physics,

Ms. Sushma Pandhi, PGT Maths,

Ms. Ritu Tandon, TGT Science,

Ms. Rimple Kakkar, TGT Computer Science

Ms. Meenakshi Hari, PRT Junior Wing won

IIHM Teachers Day Awards is an initiative by the International Institute of Hotel Management. This year the institute celebrated the dedication and commitment of the nation’s teachers and educationists in association with International Hospitality Council (IHC) London.

Senior Principal & Director (Edu) Ms. Vineeta Arora lauded the contributions of the teachers and wished them the very best for the future.

Chandigarh: After a gap of two years, the buzz in Stu-C and Panjab University campus hostels is back.  Student meetings in canteens and intense campaigning in every nook and corner of the campus has made the atmosphere vivacious.

A wave of student politics could be seen sweeping the whole campus to bring back the election vibe.

With days numbered before going to the polls, students’ political outfits have intensified their campaigning on campus, especially in the hostels. These groups are leaving no stone unturned to gather their supporters and spread their message to all departments.

Security beefed up:

Ahead of the student council polls to be held on October 18, the UT Police beefed up security arrangements at Panjab University (PU) and at other educational institutions affiliated to the PU.

At least 85 police personnel including women were deployed at the PU campus. The PU campus has been divided into four zones.

Barricades have been installed at the entry and exit points to slow down vehicles. There are three entry and exit gates at PU.
According to the officials, late-night checking drives will be carried out at the hostels to check the presence of outsiders. Possession of all kinds of blunt and sharp-edged weapons will be confiscated. Instructions have been issued to ensure students do not indulge in hooliganism.

Good news for Tricity denizens, now travel time from Chandigarh to Delhi will reduce to just 3 hours. You don’t have to wait for months, come Oct 19 and the operations begin.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the fourth Vande Bharat train from Amb Andaura railway station at Una in Himachal Pradesh which will halt only at Anandpur Sahib, Chandigarh, Ambala Cantt before it reaches its destination Delhi.

What You Need To Know

• Timings: N Delhi 5:50 am- Chandigarh 8:40 am

Chandigarh 3:25pm –Delhi 6:25 pm

•  The Vande Bharat will halt at Chandigarh for 5 minutes strictly and and the other stations for 2 minutes by the watch  
• No Delhi-Una Vande Bharat Express from on Wednesday
• Its half an hour quicker than Shatabdi
• CCTV cameras and wifi facility available

• 16 coaches
• Fourth Vande Bharat train in India, an advanced version compared to the earlier ones
• It is the first high-speed luxury train to start from Himachal

Jalebi with rabri … A mouth-watering delicacy and that too in your own city. If you are in Chandigarh, you can’t miss the sizzling hot jalebi with rabri, prepared from pure Amul desi ghee in Sector 32.

CHANDIGARH: After the rainy welcome of the artistes, artisans and craftsmen to ‘City Beautiful’ from different parts of the country, they are finally making the most of the pleasant autumn weather with foot-fall picking up.  Their soaring spirits were visible at the 10-day-long Chandigarh National Crafts Mela, a joint venture of North Zone Cultural Centre (NZCC) and Chandigarh Administration, which went off to a colourful start at Kalagram, Manimajra (Chandigarh) on October 7.

Over 200 artisans from across India are participating in the fair. Aesthetic and traditionally set up stalls are displaying a range of products like Banarsi silk, cotton textiles from Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, ethnic jewellery from Gujarat and Rajasthan, carpets, terracotta and pottery items, and dried flowers from West Bengal.

There is a wide variety of products on sale like footwear, carpets, home decor, furniture, and eating stalls too.

Artisans from Bihar Bagesh and Nagesh Kumar are showcasing Madhubani paintings, their intricate work based on nature and ancient texts.

People were seen picking up items from a wide range of products like ethnic wear, crockery, cutlery items, artificial jewellery, rugs, etc.

One of the sellers, Shashi Sharma from Karnal (Haryana), says “We have brought artificial jewellery, including bangles, bracelets, earrings, and ‘kainthi’ sets from Karnal, which are hot favourites with ladies of all hues. Customers generally fall for the handmade items of ethnic value”.

In an interaction, Aparna Guha travelling all the way from West Bengal, said “We have brought artificial handmade jewellery, including junk jewellery, a hot favourite in West Bengal, besides kitchen utensils made of expensive wood. Our sales are gradually picking up by the day after being dismal initially”.

A cultural  programmes is also planned for the evening each day. The inaugural ceremony was marked by a mesmerizing musical presentation – ‘Swar Lehiri’, a soul-soothing symphony of 42 musical instruments of various states. This was followed by a hilarious comedy gig ‘Bhopal Ki Train” and Nrityam, a fusion of folk and classical dances drawing a lot of attention from the audience.

Rich tributes were paid to the iconic ghazal maestro Jagjit Singh on his death anniversary on October 10. Dattaprasad Ranade, an accomplished ‘ghazal’ singer from Maharashtra, doled out some of the ‘ghazals’ immortalised by the late ghazal legend.

Among the well-attended stage performances, popular folk singers from various states will continue to entertain during the current week with live performances, including Gurkripal Surapuri and Ms Glory Bawa (Oct 12), Rabbi Folk Band of Punjab (Oct 13), Padma Shri Malini Awasth (Oct 14) , Nizami Brothers – Gulam Sabir and Gulam Waris (Sufi qawwals) on Oct 15, and Flamenco Dance Group from Spain will display its dancing prowess on the concluding day.

Prominent among the folk dances include Bhangra, Malwai Gidha (Pb), Chakri (Raj), Lai Haroba and Pung Cholom’ (Manipur), Karma (Chhattisgarh), Sirmauri Natti (HP), Jhamakra (Kangra) Gatha Gyan (Har) and Geetru (J&K) and Jabro (Ladakh).

Karwa Chauth, a festival for women when its their day out — whether its clothes, jewellery, mehndi , make-up, etc. And then, staying without food and water all day long. And then seemingly endless wait together to see the moon.

What is it that they like the best about Karwa Chauth?  “Getting ready,” chips in Shivani Thakur, a home maker.

Women get together for Karwa Chauth festivities in Sector 43, Chandigarh

Markets in the Tricity are decked up with stalls of bangles, finery, mehndi, makeup essentials.  “Ever festival in India is a business opportunity,” said a male onlooker in the sector 22 market.

“The real flavour of a festival is community feeling, getting together of people,” he said. A real-life example of this was set by Chandigarh Mayor Sarbjit Kaur and other women councillors of Municipal Corporation Chandigarh who celebrated pre-Karwachauth with the women employees of MCC. The Mayor appreciated the women staff members who are balancing time between their professional and personal life during the festivities.

Chandigarh Mayor Sarbjit Kaur (with head covered) and other women councillors of Municipal Corporation Chandigarh celebrating pre-Karwa Chauth with the women employees.

Staying hungry and without water all day long, is it a burden or a blessing?

“Fasting and staying dehydrated the entire day is torturous, but yes it helps detoxify,” says Shivani.

Mehndi in Sector 3B2 Mohali market

Earlier what started as a ritual and tradition to worship men, over the years got corroded and has now become an occasion to celebrate womanhood. “I celebrate Karwa Chauth for myself, not because I want to impress my husband, “says 26–yr Pratima, who works in the IT sector.

On whether she would like to pass it on to her daughters, Shivani says, “ We can’t convince this generation to fast for their husbands.”

Is the festival losing its glory as more and more women in metros, cities do not fast?

“Its practically not possible for working women to fast, some husbands in fact do not appreciate their wives going hungry for the entire day,” says Jatinder Kaur Tur, a journalist.

“We have tweaked traditions and made rituals flexible according to our comfort level, so much so that people are getting engaged and married on online platforms,” adds Tur.

“Husband and wife working in different shifts, locations or even countries draws back working women from celebrating it,” she says.

But yes, come what may, festivals in India are huge crowd gatherers where people make the best of it, so go out there and take your pick.