The city fashion freaks could not have asked for more to satiate their sartorial cravings, to say the least! A global fashion, lifestyle-cum-home décor exhibition is on at Himachal Bhawan in Sector 28.

The exhibition will be on till April 17 from 11 am to 8 pm.

“The unique exhibition is an amalgamation of streaming trends and designs in the fashion domain, with as many as 50 stalls from various corners of the country showcasing their brands and wares,” says Rattandeep Singh Walia, Director and Co-Founder of Global Fashion, while speaking with CityWoofer.

An ecstatic co-founder Aman Walia adds with oodles of optimism, “There is a wide range of lifestyle-related products on display to choose from, which include exquisite jewellery, trendy summer fashion wear, beautiful denims, designer Pakistani suits and saris”.

In this first-of-its-kind lifestyle exhibition, many start-ups have put up their innovative products for the choosey buyers. They are displaying their products under the tag ‘Start-up Accelerator Chamber of Commerce (SACC) of India, which is a well-meaning and top-notch social organisation, forging a stronger start-up ecosystem across the north Indian states.

Some of the young and upcoming start-up presenters at the unique exhibition for fashionistas, include Shreya Pandey, founder of Diva Damm, an inclusive, ethnic Indian clothing brand. Diksha, founder of Fabdrop, a western clothing brand; Amarjeet, Founder of Amrit Dhara; Mehtaab, Founder of Nazakaat India, an engaging accessories brand; Priyanka, Founder of Sashakt Nari Healthcare products, et al.

The exhibition offers something special for the hot summer season, showcasing a range of scintillating designs for women to duck the soaring temperatures. They look so dazzling and trendier that they breeze straight into the hearts of those who often make fashion statement.

Sanjana’s (from Delhi) showcase includes linen, garments conspicuous by the traditional Lucknowi embroidery patterns, gorgeous georgette fabrics, besides the breathtaking linen sets and organza fabric-based designer’s wear on public display at the stall.

Neetu has come up with traditional attires under her own ‘Nari Collections’ tag, a range of Pakistani suits is a hot favourite showcase by Pallavi, which is attracting eyeballs.

Moushami Sen , a textile designer from Delhi has a huge collection of attractive and awe-inspiring Denim outfits and bags bearing elaborate ‘Kantha’ and ‘Lucknowi embroidery’ patterns attracting hordes of buyers. Swati Bhatti Sharma has two labels, under the under ‘Modele’ tagline, of customised Indo-Western outfits and intricately embroidered pieces one would love to grab at first sight. She has a treasure-trove of resin artwork-studded products under the brand name ‘Kazaru’ offering an oomph moment for the choosy female buyers.

Under their brand name ‘Suramya’, Diksha and Ayushi had on offer unique hand-painted jewellery items and ‘sarees’ with spectacular designs and patterns, which were to be seen to be believed.

Apart from designer wears and jewellery on display, the most sought after products were home decor items. ‘Sādhya’ displayed a range of hand-crafted decor curated by some acclaimed craftsmen. The founder Gurman Banga had ensured a range of tempting items for the most demanding few.

Children too have a fair share of entertainment and something to cheer about. Gurnoor Book Cafe here has books from all genres for children, among others.

There are also medical stalls showcasing India’s traditional medicines from our ancient system – Ayurveda – for a healthy and better living, besides a tarot reader available at the venue.

“Such well-meaning exhibitions held from time to time, besides offering a platform for artisans and craftsmen from across the country to showcase the magic of their nimble fingers on a wider spectrum of people, go well with city folks to taste the fragrance of multi-cultural and ethnic affinity. Such gatherings enrich our cultural heritage and enhance our social bonding,” said Neetu Harta, UT Education Department employee and a resident of Panchkula.

(The writer , Ramesh K Dhiman, is a former staffer of The Tribune and freelance writer. He has written extensively for leading newspapers and magazines on art, culture, mythology, besides travelogues.)

Sector 16 Cricket Stadium is the oldest nursery of cricket in Chandigarh. Having produced legends like Kapil Dev, and other cricketers like Yograj Singh, Ashok Malhotra, Chetan Sharma, Dinesh Mongia, VRV Singh, Sidharth Kaul, Tania Bhatt, it trains young cricketers free of cost.

Constructed in the late 1950s, it was operational in 1966, when it had a matting wicket initially and got a turf wicket in 1970.

It has hosted one truncated ODI in 1985 against England and another one against Australia in October 2007. It also hosted the only Test match in 1990 where India played Sri Lanka. One may wonder why national and international matches were not held here over decades?

Having got affiliation from the BCCI as recently as 2019, it is taking baby steps now hosting Ranji and other domestic tournaments, however, with a bigger aim to revive its position as a host of national and international matches in future. “Before the PCA, Mohali came into being, the state cricket associations of Haryana and Punjab used to hold their matches here, the players from these states used to play here and only one or two players from Chandigarh were selected to play in the state teams. After the UT Cricket Association (UTCA) got its affiliation, we have our own team now and a lot of domestic cricket is played here,” says Manjit Singh, General Manager, Cricket Operations, UTCA.

How to enroll to play for UTCA

An advertisement is put up on the UTCA website when the registrations open in the month of March when the new cricket season starts.

Players play under different categories: Boys – Senior level, Under 23, Under 19, Under 16

Girls- Senior level, Under 23, Under 19, Under 15

After the players register, their documents are checked and verified.

Then, they are called for the trials, a total of 104 boys are selected who are divided into 8 teams. Matches ae held, Out of these 104, 40 names are selected and sent to the BCCI for registration. These 40 are then divided into 3 teams, league matches are held and 20 are finally selected who represent the UT Chandigarh cricket team in domestic cricket. Camps are held for these 20 players where coaches guide them.

“In the girls’ category, we receive about 60-70 registrations only in all the four categories,” says Manjit.

Fees: All facilities are free. There is no fees at any stage of playing cricket in the Sector 16 stadium.

Free winter/summer/coloured/ white clothing is provided.

Equipment is personal as all players need individual size of bat, gloves, pads, etc according to their physique.

Current players of repute:

Harnoor Pannu, Raj Angad Bawa who played in the U-19 WC

IPL payers from UT Chandigarh team:

Sandeep Sharma plays for Rajasthan Royals

Manan Vohra plays for Lucknow Super Giants

Raj Angad Bawa for Punjab Kings

 

 

Where there is passion, excellence follows. This adage aptly sums up the efforts of a 82-yr-old army officer’s wife, Pali Waraich, who has put up her crochet-inspired collection up for sale at hotel Aroma, Chandigarh.

A whole range of clothes- right from wedding, party, summer wear, casual bags, caps, gowns, pants to plazos – are up for grabs at ‘Crochet in Style Exhibition’ which is on till April 18, 2023 from 11 am to 10 pm daily. Under the label Pali’s Zameen Asmaan,  the intricately woven crochet- woven garments are a must-have for the stylish and sophisticated. Crochet  is a traditional art of  weaving beautiful designs on garments.

Pali’s Zameen Asmaan was established by Pali Waraich who has been working for the empowerment of women from weaker sections of society for the last 30 years. Today, more than 200 poor women are helping her with garment production work.

A well known designer, Pali Waraich’s dresses have been worn by celebrities like Miss Universe 2000 Lara Dutta, MP from Chandigarh and actress Kirron Kher, and she has also made a number of designs for famous designer Tarun Tahiliani.

Empowering and helping the needy has been an integral part of her DNA. Being the wife of an Army officer, she has also done commendable work under the banner of Army Wives’ Welfare Association (AWWA). She is convinced that handicraft which is known to most of our poor and even illiterate women can help ease their plight to some extent. She has also attended design courses during her visit to England.

“I wish to give employment to the maximum number of old and destitute women, who can earn sitting in their homes. I strongly feel that the economic empowerment of women can only be done through giving them employment, so that these women can earn a decent amount every month which gives them dignity and self respect,” said Pali.

Though she has been adjudged as one of the top six designers of Mumbai, she refused to enter the rat race and instead goes from house to house in the lanes and slums and explains the latest sophisticated and elegant designs to her workers, who are mostly old women. These old women make these items with painstaking effort. Pali Waraich markets these items at famous boutiques and outlets such as Saga Stores, Apsara International, Khadi Bhandar Mumbai and Satya Paul.

She also arranges exhibitions and fashion shows at various boutiques not only in the Tricity but also in Mumbai. Despite her age she’s still going strong and is working with a lot of passion and zeal.

With digital media breaking all barriers of distance and time, boundaries no longer restrict festivities in today’s global world .  Here’s a Baisakhi celebration with a difference. A virtual poetry symposium, christened ‘International Literary Friends Kavya Goshti’ was held by the International Literary Friends Group on Wednesday. Eminent poets and litterateurs from across the globe, including the US , Dubai, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal and Chandigarh participated in the literary fiesta.

Karma wali Baisakhi aayee ‘e, asin mitran de nal manaee ‘e…”Sudesh Noor from America extended her Baisakhi greetings with this verse of her meaningful composition.

The seminar started with Saraswati Vandana by Vandana Singla from Chicago. This was followed by an evocative ghazal rendered by Acharaya Sagar from Uttar Pradesh Jalao chahe, chahe dafna do mujhko, magar mera kasoor toa batla do mujhko, which set the ball rolling. Renu Abbi from Chandigarh read out her verse in chaste gurmukhi (Punjabi language) Yaadan zindagi da khazana han, zindagi nu mahkavan da bahana han” equating life’s fond memories with precious ‘wealth’.

Krishna Goel from Panchkula in a moving note narrated the value of friends in life.  She rendered Jo tumhare sung sung muskuraye, use dost kehte han…”

Kamal Dogra, from Himachal, was cryptic in comparing the journey of human life with that of the journey of a train, which is fraught with tumultuous twists and turns. He doled out his composition in Punjabi Zindagi ve saadi yaaro, ek chaldi rail hai…

Ms Anu from Dubai recited her composition cautioning the wicked world against exploitation of women, equating the quintessential woman to a free butterfly Mujhe tum bandh loge yeh kabhi hasrat nahin rakhna, ki mein aazad titli hun meri chahat nahin rakhna…” which evoked a full-throated appreciation.  Aruna Dogra was the next to present her powerful poetic composition in a unique style Mere safar mein saaman mera chhut gaya, manjil se pehle savar mera toot gaya…”

Renu Shabadmukhar from Jaipur (Rajasthan) expressed her sentiments in a tongue-in-cheek style which left the participants in splits Abb mein prem nahin karti, likhti hun prem par kavita…

A prominent ghazal singer from Meerut Ritu Aggarwal won hearts of poetry lovers as she read out her verse unfolding the fake and frivolous human psyche“ Pyar ka ab sila nahin milta, har bhale ko bhala nahin milta…”

Dr Pradyuman Bhalla on the occasion presented a spiritual ghazal Guru ki jo raza mein hai, woh gurmat mein dhala banda, sapne sach huye uske, woh begumpur chala banda…” which evoked a thunderous applause from the fellow participants and others in audience.

The two-hour long online poetic seminar witnessed the finest presentations comprising various genres, including literary, spiritual, romantic, material and metaphysical, et al, all rolled into one .

Baisakhi  celebrations at DAV Public school, Sector 39 D

A baisakhi mela was held at DAV Public school, Sector 39 D, Chandigarh, to educate students on the relevance of Baisakhi festival. The chief guest on the occasion was H R Gandhar from DAV CMC, Delhi. School Principal Maninder Vohra  addressed the students and  school Manager, Madhu Bahl, made the children aware of diiferent facets of Baisakhi.

(The writer , Ramesh K Dhiman, is a former staffer of The Tribune and freelance writer. He has written extensively for leading newspapers and magazines on art, culture, mythology, besides travelogues.)

The auditions for India’s MTV Roadies in Chandigarh, as usual saw youngsters queuing up the night before the day of auditions. Enduring the sweltering summer heat, the spirit of the show was quite palpable and visible in the  display of mental strength of contestants with their baby steps to the impending and arduous journey, to bear the roasting by the judges in their final journey. Here’s what the long queues outside the Indradhanush Auditorium in Sector 5, Panchkula, looked like.

With a massive turnout of  aspiring contestants,  the audition for MTV roadies ‘Karm Ya Kaand’ in Chandigarh turned out to be a crowd-puller. The auditions of the much-anticipated season 19 took place on 13th April, 2023 at the Indradhanush Auditorium in Sector 5, Panchkula, attracting youth from all across the Tricity and neighbouring states.

With host Sonu Sood, and the gang leaders Prince Narula, Rhea Chakraborty, and Gautam Gulati, the vibe was electrifying and full of energy. The gang leaders interacted with the contestants and encouraged them to bring out their best. The contestants went through rounds of group discussions, showcasing their strength, stamina, and mental fortitude, and the shortlisted roadies will advance to the personal Interview round!

Before the auditions started, host Sonu Sood, gang leaders Prince Narula and Gautam Gulati attended the press conference, while the other gang leader Rhea Chakraborty was introduced at the auditions itself. Prince Narula also belted out oa Punjabi song for the media.

The auditions in Chandigarh are just the beginning of what promises to be an exciting season of India’s biggest adventure reality television show, MTV Roadies– Karm Ya Kaand. The show has always been known for its high-octane challenges and gruelling tasks, and the contestants selected from the Chandigarh auditions are sure to bring their A-game to the competition.

Mirchia’s Laser Clinic, a unit of Dr Agarwal’s Eye Hospital a leading specialist and state-of-the-art facility in Sector 22, Chandigarh, has now introduced the ultra-wide field and ultra high definition, multimodal imaging facility for detecting different kind of problems in the retina.

The hospital has also started a new chapter in eye care excellence with the high performance ‘Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCTA)’ system from Germany. 

The new ‘Centre of Excellence for Retina’ boasting of Multimodal Imaging Facility and ‘OCT-A’ was unveiled by Dr Suman Singh, Director, Health and Family Welfare, and Mission Director, National Health Mission, Union Territory of Chandigarh.

In reply to a question, Dr Mirchia said that overall, all diseases of the retina can now be correctly diagnosed and adequately treated by the expert team of retina specialists at our hospital.  “The technologies we have introduced will result in deep diagnosis of retinal conditions under one roof,” said  Dr Rajiv Mirchia, Director, Mirchia’s Laser Eye Clinic, a unit of Dr Agarwal’s Eye Hospital.

“Ultra-wide field and ultra high definition, multimodal imaging facility is an advanced imaging technique that produces high-resolution 3-D angiograms of the retinal and choroidal blood vessels, for effective detection of retinal diseases and abnormalities. This enables the doctor to evaluate retinal pathologies from the centre of retina to the extreme periphery,” explained Dr Mirchia.

Dr Mirchia, addressing the media along with his team of retina specialists, Dr Parveen Sen, Dr Shilpa Goyal, and Dr Sahil Jain, said, “This technique provides a 163-degree ultra-wide field image of the retina in a single shot. This provides an enhanced view of the retinal structure and vasculature with unparalleled clarity”.

He also added that it is a great tool to screen the retina of all diabetic patients and detect diabetic retinopathy in early stages. This allows better treatment of patients and prevents irreversible blindness due to diabetes.
“It is an excellent tool whereby the patient can be educated regarding his own disease, thus improving compliance. The eye experts say that it can be useful in conditions like diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, Eales disease and even some childhood retinal problems like retinopathy of prematurity and hereditary retinal conditions.

According to the new Optical Coherence Tomography (OCTA),  it detects eye conditions as it is non-invasive and eliminates the usage of dyes in diagnosing eye diseases; this in turn eliminates the risk of allergic reactions and complications of dye-based testing that are especially seen among the patients of cardiovascular and kidney diseases, advanced diabetes and hypertension, Dr Rajiv Mirchia said further.

This technology is also apt to detect age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy patients who need frequent monthly follow ups and injections. “These conditions can now be completely followed simply by a non-invasive scanning of the eye,” added Dr Mirchia.

 

India’s favourite and biggest adventure reality show MTV Roadies, is all set to commence the battle of Karm ya Kaand. Onto the 19th season, the show synonymous with adventure and adrenaline rush has begun the hunt for enthusiasts who have it in them.

MTV Roadies is starting the auditions from Chandigarh on 13th April at Indradhanush Auditorium in Panchkula.

With the host, actor and philanthropist Sonu Sood, gang leaders – reality show Big Boss winners and actors Prince Narula and Gautam Gulati and the controversial Rhea Chakraborty, will shortlist the daring ones for the riveting journey.

Date : 13th April 2023
Time : 8 am onwards
Venue : Indradhanush Auditorium
Sector 5, Panchkula

Moving to a new home or office can be an exciting experience, but it can also be stressful and time-consuming. Thankfully, there are many packers and movers in the Tricity to make the process easier for you. Whether you’re moving within the same city or to a different one, these professionals can help you pack, transport, and unpack your belongings safely and efficiently.

When it comes to hiring packing and moving services, it’s important to do your research and choose a reliable and trustworthy service. Look for companies that have been in business for several years and look out for the customer reviews. You can also ask for recommendations from friends or family members who have recently moved. The  most important aspect of shifting is the charges involved, let’s first discuss that.

Charges of packing/ shifting: One can reach out to individual websites for enquiries and more information on the pricing. It’s wise to go by your requirements and agree on a reasonable fare based on the one that’s pocket-friendly.

To determine the cost of hiring movers and packers in Tricity, it is recommended to contact individual companies and consider your specific needs to agree on a reasonable price.

Before deciding the pricing, keep these things in mind

Packaging Material Used – Is it bubble wrap/ jute rugs/ cloth padded sheets

Goods to be relocated – Give the service providers an overview of the major possessions to be relocated, like the number of double bed boxes, sofa chairs, size of fridge, washing machine,  number of almirahs, etc

Service Required– Mention beforehand whether you want packing and transportation or only transportation or a few delicate things that need to be packaged delicately. Only transportation with labour will have a lower cost than packing plus transportation.

Labor Required– Opting for more labor would reduce the shifting time but can increase the price.

Accessibility– Availability of an elevator and the floor you live on of the place you shift out from and the house you shift in to also alters the charges.

Some shifting solution providers base the average cost on the type of house you are moving out of –1BHK/2 BHk/3BHK/ bungalow

1 BHK goods for within the city – Rs 3,000 to 6,000

Intercity relocation- Rs 5,000 to 26,000

2 BHK goods for within the city – Rs 4,000 to 10,000

Intercity relocation- Rs 7,000 to 30,000

3 BHK goods for within the city – Rs 5,000 to 12,000

Intercity relocation- Rs 9,000 to 45,000

Top Five Packers and Movers in Tricity

Accurate movers

Accurate Movers has a team of skilled professionals who use the latest techniques and equipment to ensure that your belongings are packed and transported safely. They provide a range of services, including packing, loading, unloading, and unpacking. They also offer transportation services for long-distance moves, and have a fleet of trucks and trailers to accommodate any size move for services like intercity relocation, interstate moving services, house shifting, office shifting, warehousing as well as automobile shifting.

USP: Attention to detail. They take the time to understand your specific needs and develop a customized moving plan that meets your requirements. They also use good quality packing materials to protect your belongings during the move, including special packing for fragile items like glassware, artwork, and antiques.

Affordable pricing and flexible scheduling options. They work with you to find a moving solution that fits within your budget and timeline. They also provide transparent pricing, so you know exactly what to expect before the move.

Contact: https://www.accurate-movers.com/

9878410075

Agarwal Packers and Movers

USP: Have been in business for over 30 years.

GPS tracking

They use high-quality packing materials and have a team of experienced professionals to ensure that your belongings are safe and secure during the move with GPS tracking. Not just domestic goods their experts will transport your commercial goods, pets, industrial goods as well as fine art with utmost safety and security

Contact: agarwalpackers.co.in

9300300300

Gati Packers & Movers

USP: They provide insurance options to protect your belongings during the move. They have a well-defined cost calculator and price list.

They offer both domestic and international moving services and specialize in packing and transporting fragile items, such as glassware and electronics. Their services include home shifting ,car and bike transportation, warehousing services ,local shifting, international shifting bsides the regular packing and moving services.

Contact: 8194801831

Leo Packers and Movers

USP: Unique Fine art moving solutions, special moving solutions for students, emergency moving services

Contact: 9815118850

They have a team of skilled professionals who use the latest techniques and equipment to ensure that your belongings are packed and transported safely at very affordable prices They also offer storage solutions for customers who need to store their items during the move.

https://leopackersandmovers.com/

DHL Packers and Movers

USP: Nation wide network, old player in the game

DHL Packers and Movers is a well-known moving company that offers a personalised moving service, including residential moving, office relocation, and industrial moving. They have a team of trained professionals who use advanced techniques and equipment to ensure that your belongings are packed and transported safely. They also offer storage solutions for customers who need to store their items during the move without burning a hole in their pocket.

Contact no:  9392225387

info@dhlmoverspackers.com

 

 

As the sun sets over the tranquil campus of Punjab University, a new energy fills the air. The dull hum of daytime activities fades away and is replaced by the pulsating rhythm of music that echoes in the alleys of Gandhi Bhawan. It is here, in the heart of the PU campus, that a vibrant nightlife springs to life, drawing students from all corners of the university to gather and express themselves through the power of music. Students gather around the main building, the pool area, where musicians gather to tune their instruments and prepare for their performances.

Gandhi Bhawan, which stands tall and majestic against the night sky, has become the hub of this nocturnal culture, where students gather to jam, sing and dance. The building, which serves as a cultural epicentre during the day, transforms into a pulsating nightclub as the night wears on.

“PU Zinda to 24 ghante rehti hai magar saans raat ke 11 baje se le kar 3 baje tak leti hai… Log alag hi duniya se mukhatib hote hain… Sard hawa, shaant mahaul, aur beech mein Gandhi Bhawan ke paas se Guitar ki halki halki awaaz ke saath sureeli awaaz mein gaate log… Is se behtar zindagi kya hogi..? Din bhar ki thakaan, takleef, mushkilat bas un kuchh ghanton mein gayab rehti hai aur sukoon ki saans le paate hain log” says Paramveer, a research scholar from Department of English.

Body building has always been considered a male bastion, we rarely hear of women body builders. Now, slowly but steadily social perception is changing, society is getting open to novel ideas and actions. So, where there were 150-200 competitors for the Mr Chandigarh body building competition 2023 , there were barely six participants in the women’s category.

The 11^th Miss Chandigarh Women Bodybuilding Championship 2023 was won by Mrs Rajneet Kaur who is a food inspector at the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumers Affair Dept in Punjab Government. Her husband works in the same department and she’s also mother to a five–yr old daughter.

CityWoofer caught up with Rajneet Kaur, the winner of the Miss Chandigarh Women Bodybuilding Championship.

Was it the first time you participated in a women body building competition?

I had participated in ICN (I compete Natural), a competition held by an Australian body building federation at Goa in 2022. This was my second time, this event was held by the Chandigarh chapter of the Indian Body Builders Federation recognized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India.

What are the parameters on which the women body builders are judged?

The woman should have slight muscularity and body in proportion. There are 4 mandatory levels in posing which the women contestants participate in.

What motivated you towards body building?

After my daughter’s birth, I joined the gym to get my body back into shape. Meanwhile, I got interested in weight training, I started training under a professional trainer. I have been training for the last  and one a half years at the gym where I spend about 2 and a half hour every day.

What’s the diet you follow?

There is a cycle of alternate diets one has to follow. First you have to gain muscle, and then you need to shred it. The calorie count determines the muscle size, so the diet is planned accordingly by the trainer. My diet only includes chicken, eggs, rice, salads and a cheat meal on Sunday when I can eat whatever I want to.

Do you feel any bias against women in this male-dominated field?  

Of course, if you see the poster, it mentions 11^th Mr Chandigarh contest and somewhere at the bottom, women category is mentioned.  Infact there was no female entry last year, because women did not get to know about the contest.

Did you feel any social stigma associated with wearing a bikni for the poses?

There was some apprehension initially in my mind about what people will say in office, but people knew I was very dedicated and had been working hard at the gym. Yes, there is an open mindedness in Chandigarh so it did not bother me much. The audience at the competition was very supportive which encouraged the women participants more.

How is body building different for men and women?

Men and women are biologically different, women need to work very very hard to gain or shed muscle but for men, it is relatively easier.