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Licensed IIT Bombay Ecorsani Tech Is All-Natural Protection Against Covid Virus

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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Stop fretting over having to use alcohol and other chemical based sanitisers multiple times in a day when you are away from the safety of your homes. Here comes a range of certified, all-natural and fragrant protection sprays that are skin and environment friendly, a result of extensive research and testing by IIT Bombay, and manufactured and brought to us by one of its licensees, Life Essentials Personal Care Pvt Ltd., an Indian MSME.

The ‘W2 Protection Spray Range’, which includes apparel protection spray, room protection spray, hand-body protection spray and surface protection spray, is based on EcorsaniTM  technology (patent filed) developed by IIT Bombay, and is priced such that it is well within the reach of the masses. The MRP of a 60 ml bottle of hand-body sanitiser spray is just Rs 35. The price tag on 225 ml and 500 ml bottles of all the other sprays is Rs 199 and Rs 299.

The range is being made available in stores, starting from NCR Delhi, but can also be bought online from anywhere in the country through the company’s website www.w2whywait.com as well as on ecommerce platforms Amazon and Flipkart.

Launching the products in a virtual media conference on Tuesday, Mr Amandeep Singh, Director, Life Essentials Personal Care Pvt Ltd, shared, “It’s an all-natural, No Alcohol-No Bleach protection spray range, which protects against bacteria, viruses (including COVID 19) and fungi.

Explaining the EcorsaniTM technology, developed by IIT Bombay and licensed to Life Essentials Personal Care Pvt Ltd, Dr Rinti Banerjee, Chair Professor, Dept of Biosciences and Bioengineering, IIT Bombay, said, “We had been working on safe and natural products that kill bacteria even before the pandemic. During this period, we modified and fine tuned our technologies to be effective against viruses and fungi also.

“This technology, based on compositions of biopolymers and essential oils, when tested with direct application on swabs of SARS-nCOV2 (COVID 19)-positive patients at government-run COVID facility at Kasturba Hospital Mumbai, proved to completely inactivate the Covid 19 virus. The results of experiments conducted while following international standards were ratified by a certified third party lab,” Dr Rinti asserted.

 Amandeep Singh added, “The efficiency and effectiveness of the W2 protection sprays is analogous to 70% alcohol and 1% hypochlorite based solutions. The alcohol and bleach free products have been formulated with a blend of all natural, biodegradable and safe-to-use compositions that are GRAS (generally recognised as safe) approved (GRAS is a US-FDA designation that certifies ingredients as safe).”

The W2 range is a part of ‘Make in India’ initiative of the Government of India and is supported by its COVID Emergency Credit Line Guarantee (ECLG) Scheme under stimulus package for MSMEs – Made in India, Made for the world. 

Amandeep claimed that the hand-body protection spray has been approved for local application by the AYUSH Ministry. All sprays provide day long protection against viruses, bacteria and fungi.

The company has also developed a solution for indoor and outdoor fumigation based on the EcorsaniTM technology, and is readying to roll it out within the next couple of weeks.

Life Essentials does not foresee any production and distribution challenges because of the pandemic, and is geared to work to full capacity, which currently is 50,000 bottles a day and can be scaled up to 3,00,000 bottles a day depending on the demand. It has plans to invest Rs 30 crore into the development and distribution of its products over the next one year. These investments are to be funded by internal accruals as well as by external investments. 

The W2 Range

Apparel Protection Spray: Good for apparel and clothing, bed and pillow covers, linen, curtains, cushions, etc, kids’ soft toys, towels, bathrobes, upholstery.

Surface Protection Spray: Good for table tops, glass, metal, appliances, vehicle interiors, car handles, lift panels, railings, door knobs, counter tops, floors, bathrooms.

Room Protection Spray: A spray, preferably upwards, good for home, office, schools, hotels, restaurants, clubs, factories, gyms.

LifeInChandigarh.com  by APR Media House is an enjoyable digital reading startup, which keeps you abreast of the latest meaningful happenings of interest to large sections of folks in Chandigarh tricity, and expats from the region. It has been promoted by a public spirited senior journalist and media consultant with a view to encourage good quality and healthy journalism, a dire need of the times.

To keep in touch, drop an email or call :
kochhar.apr@gmail.com
9815617676

Great News For City; TRC Is Among Indias Top 10 Runners™ Clubs!

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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0

The idea of the flagship running event of India’s own HDOR platform, started formally in 2015, is simple – each participant runs minimum 2 kms every day of the 100 consecutive days with no pressure on timing or pace. A HDOR mobile app, with a supported mobile app for activity tracking, like Strava, records a participant’s daily run/walk.

This year, because of the pandemic, the organisers reduced the minimum daily requirement of 2 kms per day run/walk to 1 km, and also minimum activity days to 40 days instead of 100 to qualify a participant as an event finisher.

This year’s performance by TRC members in the challenge has been exceptional. Out of 97 members who registered, 65-odd (70% of them women) actually participated, and all of them completed the challenge, which by itself is an outstanding effort. In all, the members of TRC logged 56,909.6 kms over the 100 days from June 27 to October 4.

Power-packed performance: Swati Mittal

The top performer for the club was Swati Mittal from Panchkula who finished 9th overall on the leader board across all categories, 3rd overall among women and 2nd in her age category (30-40 years) among women. The gutsy runner logged a total of 5082.1 kms during the 100 days at an average speed of 8 min and 35 sec per km. She capped her performance on the final day of the challenge with a 109 km run at a stretch.

Logged 3351 kms : Aayush Singh

Aayush Singh, a student from Panchkula, finished 25th on the overall leader board, 20th among men, and 2nd in his age category (19-29 years) among men, logging 3351.2 kms during the 100 days with an average speed of 8 min and 18 sec per km. On the last day of the challenge he ran 100 kms.

Astonishing pace : Anmol Chandan

But the one to get noticed at the national level, for the average speed at which he ran the challenge, was Anmol Chandan, a lawyer. Though he finished 56th overall across all categories, in his age group (19 to 29 years) among men, he stood at No. 4.  Logging 2452.3 kms over the 100 days, he clocked an average of 6 min and 11 sec per km, attracting attention of runners around the country.

Such achievements are invariably a result of collective effort, but members credit Paveela Prashar Bali, whom they fondly call “Captain”, for nurturing the group from a handful of casual runners to a 300-plus strong and one of the country’s top running clubs. In her middle ages, Paveela, who wears many hats – apart from being a passionate runner, she is a philanthropist, environmental activist and adventurer, makes light of their assertion that she helped them on their feet and changed the running culture of the city.

“When you are part of a group, the motivation remains high. Everyone pushes and prods the others to stretch that extra mile, resulting in new challenges being thrown up and new landmarks achieved,” she shares enthusiastically during a conversation with LifeInChandgiarh.com. 

Describing TRC’s journey through this year’s 100 Days of Running amid the pandemic, she says, “Many restrictions this year made it very difficult for so many of us to compete in the challenge, but nonetheless they did, real champions!

“Captain” Paveela Prashar Bali

“Right through the 100 days there was passion, pain, sweat and grime, running in extreme temperatures to overcome our bodily discomfort to perform to the best of our ability. No one ever thought of giving up, from running 2 kms a day to 100-plus kms a day, we saw it all. Pain and gain were both ours. We ran in the heat, in the rain, and in pain….”

Paveela herself logged 1660 kms during the 100 days challenge, improving her personal best both in terms of timing and distance, and was placed 6th on TRC’s own leader board. On her 46th birthday she ran 46 kms to celebrate.

Says Ashwin Mohan, an active member, about her, “With that kind of positive, indomitable and dogged spirit, she is our eternal support for whatever we want, and whenever we want. She never says no, and she doesn’t like to hear no either. This trait of hers has taken TRC to dizzying heights in the last few years from a small group of casual runners to currently one of the top running clubs of the country,” 

Apart from the top 10 on the TRC leader board for the 100 Days of Running, Paveela has a word of praise for “an awesome bunch of runners who ran every day for 100 days come what may!

“On the last day (Oct 4), we had 16 of our fabulous runners who ran a wonderful half marathon (21.0975 kms), some of them for the first time in their lives.”

Navya Jain, not a regular runner, came in for special mention by Paveela. She started with 2 kms and eventually ended up doing 12-15 kms and three half marathons during the course of the 100 days. Battling injuries, Poonam Rao also upped the ante, constantly raising the bar from 2 kms to 15-17 kms a day. Monika Bhola improved her running distance from 200 kms last year to 500 kms during the 100 day event.

Senior citizens have also been a great motivation for the younger runners. Into her 66th year, champ Karuna Sharma made good progress over her last year’s total distance of 406 km to log 626 kms this year. Col (retd) Gurmeet Singh (68), who has been running since he was a child, also encourages the group with his enthusiasm and positivity, and his daily runs.

Then there are those who back the performers by supporting them with hydration, energy and encouragement. Among these Paveela does not fail to acknowledge the invaluable contribution of people like Rajeev Sood, Amit Ahuja, Aprajita Lobana and Ashok Sharma.

Paveela does not agree with the general public perception that running is difficult. “It is the simplest form of physical activity. You don’t need any equipment. Just put on your running shoes (you can also run barefoot, if you are comfortable with that) and off you go.”

She also challenges the doctors who claim that running has an adverse impact on the knees. “All our runners are super fit. In fact, many have been able to resolve their long standing physical and mental issues to a large extent just by starting to run,” she asserts.

So, don’t hesitate, and start running, from tomorrow!

LifeInChandigarh.com  by APR Media House is an enjoyable digital reading startup, which keeps you abreast of the latest meaningful happenings of interest to large sections of folks in Chandigarh tricity, and expats from the region. It has been promoted by a public spirited senior journalist and media consultant with a view to encourage good quality and healthy journalism, a dire need of the times.

To keep in touch, drop an email or call :
kochhar.apr@gmail.com
9815617676

Cushioning The Gold Burden For Marriage-Bound Families!

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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0

With the price of gold shooting through the roof, I am sure many a family will be in a dilemma over buying jewellery for this festive and wedding season! India’s trusted jewellery brand Tanishq, from the House of Tatas, claims to have an answer. Its annual festive jewellery collection for this year Ekatvam has cut down on the weight of 160-odd products in the range by 20-30% while maintaining the volume, exquisiteness and quality of the elaborate festive jewellery pieces.

Launching the collection in a virtual press conference on Monday, the top management of Tanishq assured customers that 22-carat gold has been used in the jewellery, inspired by the theme of ‘Oneness’, as the nation, in a spirit of togetherness, prepares to get back on track to recovery from the jolt given by Covid-19 pandemic. 

The collection, starting from Rs 40,000, has already reached the Tanishq stores across the country, which the company maintains are meticulously following a “gold standard of safety protocols”.

However the company is giving its customers different options of virtually bringing its stores to the comfort of their homes. Among them is a virtual replication of a physical visit to the store. Families gather before a smart TV to review and choose from a wide variety of jewellery pieces being presented live from the nearest Tanishq store.

The company said it had made arrangement for seamless and safe handover of the products at the doorstep of the customer.

The collection is also available on Tanishq’s e-commerce platform http://www.tanishq.co.in

Speaking on the launch of Ekatvam collection, Revathi Kant, Chief Design Officer, Titan Co. Ltd., said, “Ekatvam is an ode to the rich artistry of some of the India’s best karigars who have come together in spirit of togetherness from around the country. The splendor of this collection lies in the integration of various regions across India featuring 15 different art forms, bound together as one masterpiece in each piece of jewellery.

This magnificent neckpiece is a confluence of layered Jali work closely intertwined with Rawa-inspired borders that signify the strength of togetherness. The trickling accents of rubies tie all styles into one. This piece brings together diverse moments into one artistic creation.

“The exquisite collection features stunning designs where elegance merges with solidity and modernity with use of various unique karigari techniques like Nakkashi, Rawa work, Kit-Kita work and Chandak layering. The delicate patterns and effortless artistry highlight the rich origin of these karigari techniques. In Tanishq’s festive collection, craftsmanship is combined with the finest Indian art forms signifying the vision of togetherness that resides in the core thought of Ekatvam.”

Revathi shared that “while designing the collection both aesthetics and affordability were kept in mind. Layers were used to give the jewellery a spread-out look while at the same time keeping the jewellery pieces low on weight.”

This piece features fine balance of artistic craftsmanship with a Veni-inspired pendant that stunningly ties together Chandak and Kundan art forms. It matches the brightness of being surrounded by loved ones.

Arun Narayan, Vice President, Category, Marketing & Retail, Tanishq, Titan Co. Ltd., told media persons that the company stood by the thousands of karigars (90% of them migrants from West Bengal) associated with it through channel partners by ensuring that they were paid adequately through the lockdown to help them sustain themselves and their families and did not remain idle.

The company also did not cut back on investment, and right through the lockdown, initiated steps to generate demand so that when the migrants returned, there was work for them, he said, adding that Tanishq as a brand had resorted to high decibel visibility by extending its promotional campaigns to the Indian Premier League (IPL), besides the usual online and offline media platforms.

The lustrous confluence of Rajasthan and Bengal, the splendor of Kundan interwoven with the grace of Filigree and grandiose blending with intricacy, the result is this striking piece. This pair of bangles reflects the beauty of togetherness in one dazzling piece.

Ajoy Chawla, CEO, Jewellery Division, Titan Co. Ltd., quoted a recent survey conducted by the company among its customers to express optimism about the collection doing well and overall jewellery sales remaining robust during the festive and wedding season. He said 70% of customers reached were open to buying jewellery, and out of them half were keen on buying it.

Dwelling on some trends in gold jewellery sales as the unlocking of the economy progresses, he shared, “people have not stopped buying gold jewellery to celebrate their special days like birthdays, marriage anniversaries, etc. because unlike other indulgences like accessories, consumer goods, etc, gold is not considered wasteful expenditure because its value will never diminish and will only appreciate in the long run.”

The Rs 1-3 lakh price range of gold and studded jewellery is still in demand, though the sub Rs 1 lakh and the very high end jewellery segments are definitely subdued, he added.  

Does the brand expect a 100% recovery in Q3? To this Chawla says, “We don’t know. In fact nobody can predict what is going to happen in the future. We are only hopeful for a better Q3 and an even better Q4. The signs are positive and we are positive too, and prepared.”

People are looking forward to a festive cheer after months of lockdown. They are ready to step out and reclaim their lives. With the deferred weddings coming through, the pent up demand for jewellery is also likely to be unlocked. The jewellery brand’s optimism is based on this scenario playing out.

LifeInChandigarh.com  by APR Media House is an enjoyable digital reading startup, which keeps you abreast of the latest meaningful happenings of interest to large sections of folks in Chandigarh tricity, and expats from the region. It has been promoted by a public spirited senior journalist and media consultant with a view to encourage good quality and healthy journalism, a dire need of the times.

To keep in touch, drop an email or call :
kochhar.apr@gmail.com
9815617676

Say Hello! To Newest Takeaway On Famous Gheri Route

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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0

An initiative of Amardeep Singh, who has shifted his focus to India after successfully running a chain of restaurants, including one of the biggest, a 350-cover award-winning restaurant, in New Zealand, the new outlet promises foodies a memorable experience with its very own signature gravies, butter gravies and curry masala.

Amardeep, a member of famous satirist and comedian Jaspal Bhatti’s original team who opened his first restaurant in the beautiful South Pacific country in 2007 and later added five more by 2015, had also opened a fine dining restaurant Ethnic Coriander’s Mint and a lounge and bar Angels & Grail at Bestech Square Mall Mohali a few months before the lockdown.

Besides offering an elaborate menu of veg and non-veg main course and starters from the chef’s wok and tandoor, the outlet boasts of a variety of breads, rice/noodles, rice dishes, sides, desserts, drinks and soups. Also available are a good nine types of reasonably priced (Rs 110-Rs 189) Express Combos, including rajma-chawal,  cheese naan with gravy, keema naan with gravy and mutton rogan josh with chawal.

Amardeep, who also has plans to open Coridander’s Express outlets at other locations across the tricity and is open to giving franchise in other cities, tells LifeInChandigarh.com, “the first choice for opening this small format outlet was very obvious; Sector 8 inner market is the busiest food hub in the tricity and there is always scope for another quality food joint to pick up a sizable customer base fairly quickly.”

Reacting to the timing of the opening, the passionate self-trained chef who designs all menus and recipes himself, says, “I am not sure how justified, but people still have this in their minds about not going to dine out especially in a mall despite restaurants following stringent safety protocols, but takeaways and deliveries have started to get back some momentum. The sentiment is bound to get positive with each passing week,” he asserts.

Among Coriander’s Express’ signature items, the ones which are already receiving repeat orders is Chicken Madras, a north Indian version without cream and coconut. “It’s a dish for those who enjoy a hot curry and is made from diced chicken cooked in lamb gravy with onion, herbs and spices, garlic and ginger,” Amardeep explains.

Jaspal Bhatti with family visiting Amardeep at Coriander’s in New Zealand

Other popular items are Coriander’s Special Kofta Curry, a signature preparation of cottage cheese in flavourful vegetable gravy and spinach juliennes (cut into long, thin strips); Crispy Chicken, with chicken pieces dipped in a paste of garlic, celery, lemon and co flour, deep fried and served with creamy sauce; and Thai Crispy Soya Chaap tossed in Chinese sauce.

Prince Charles and Camilla also visited Coriander’s in New Zealand

Tandoori Chicken Wings and Coriander’s Special Tikka, which has fillers of chicken marinated in yoghurt, fenugreek and fresh ground spices cooked in a tandoor, are also being liked by the customers.

Former New Zealand cricket captain Brandon McCullum is all smiles at Coriander’s

Among the drinks, Mango Sassy Lassi, which became a rage among locals and tourists alike back in New Zealand, is also a sure hit with the foodies. No meal is complete without a sweet, and Coriander’s special gulab jamuns and phirni fill in perfectly.

Jonathan S (2nd from left), owner of Hello Sunday Cafe, Christchurch, with his team visited Coriander’s in Mohali recently

For a vegetarian like me, mushroom do pyaza with tandoori missi roti and a glassful of mango sassy lassi, on Amardeep’s recommendation, was a pure delight!

Taking no chances with customers’ safety, Coriander’s Express is offering its own delivery within the tricity. Order can be placed on its website: coriandersexpress.com

Enthused enough to give it a try!

LifeInChandigarh.com  by APR Media House is an enjoyable digital reading startup, which keeps you abreast of the latest meaningful happenings of interest to large sections of folks in Chandigarh tricity, and expats from the region. It has been promoted by a public spirited senior journalist and media consultant with a view to encourage good quality and healthy journalism, a dire need of the times.

To keep in touch, drop an email or call :
kochhar.apr@gmail.com
9815617676

Indian Riders Inspire Bike For World Stage

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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0

It’s an all new bike tailor made in India for Indian bike lovers, and best suited to Indian conditions, but for the world stage. With the global unveiling of ‘Highness – CB350’ in a virtual conference on Wednesday, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. has aggressively entered the mid-size (350-500cc) motorcycle segment in the country to challenge segment leader Royal Enfield.

Built with nine new patent applications, H’ness – CB350 is the 3rd BSVI model in the Honda’s portfolio for BigWing, its exclusive premium bike vertical, which is expected to expand to 50 dealerships by the end of the current financial year. To be available in two variants – Deluxe and Deluxe Pro – the tentative base price of H’ness – CB350 is “around Rs 1.9 lakh” (ex-showroom).

Though bookings for the new motorbike have begun today on the company’s website and existing BigWing dealerships for a token sum of Rs 5,000, the announcement of the actual ex-showroom price will be made coinciding with the beginning of Navratras in mid October, when the bike will also be made available for touch and feel at the dealerships.

Prototype of the mid-size segment bike, however, will be available for review at the Gurgaon BigWing premium dealership from Thursday and subsequently at select dealerships in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kochi and Bhilai.

Speaking on the occasion, Atsushi Ogata, Managing Director, President & CEO, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. said, “It was once again the Indian riders who motivated this development which has taken two years of painstaking hard work by Honda teams in India and Japan. Today, we are proud to usher in a new motorcycling culture in the mid-size segment with this global unveiling of H’ness – CB350.”

Elaborating on H’ness – CB350, Yadvinder Singh Guleria, Director – Sales & Marketing, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. shared, “With its authentic Honda roar, upright road presence and a wide range of new values, H’ness – CB350 delivers an unmatched riding performance. H’ness – CB350 proudly takes forward the rich legacy of Honda’s CB DNA and provides the joy of riding through a wide range of situations like daily use in the city or long road trips. Ride the bike, and I am certain, you’ll fall in love with it.”

The company officials shared that since H’ness – CB 350 had been designed in India inspired by Indian bike lovers, “we will look to generate volumes for the offering in India before making a pitch for exports to other potential markets for the 350 cc bike.” The company is confident that with the first in class features and the proven CB lineage, the bike is going to do well in the domestic market. “The 40 million Honda two-wheeler owners in the country are a testimony to the trust and confidence reposed by the people of India in the company.”

The CB350, to be manufactured at Honda’s first plant in the country at Manesar (Haryana), will come with close to 90% localisation, and with a couple of more launches coming up, this percentage could well increase further as the company engages more closely with its vendors.

Launching a “Ride Club” in the country is also very much on the agenda as the company engages at multiple levels with Indian motorcycle lovers.

 

Features & Specifications 

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  • Big powerful 350cc, air-cooled 4-stroke OHC single-cylinder engine equipped with PGM-FI technology.

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  • Delivers category leading max torque of 30 Nm@3000 rpm

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  • Main shaft coaxial balancer placed on the cylinder eliminates both primary & secondary vibrations

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  • Dual channel ABS 

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  • 310mm disc brake up front and 240mm rear disc

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  • Large section front suspension & pressurized nitrogen charged rear suspension

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  • Engine Start/Stop Switch gives the convenience of turning-off the engine on brief stops with flick of a switch

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  • Ensuring safety of riders in low visibility conditions is the Hazard Switch feature.

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  • Stunning 7 Y-shaped spoke alloy wheels

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  • Chrome-plated exhaust, mirrors and fenders

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  • Large tailpipe of 45mm optimizes balance with the muffler capacity, producing a bold low-pitched sound

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  • Single one-chamber structure in expansion chamber helps deliver a rich thumping exhaust note when you wind on the throttle

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  • Chrome plated dual horn (available in DLX Pro variant) not only adds to rider’s convenience but also amplifies the premium look

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  • 19-inch front tyre & 18-inch 130 section rear tyre

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  •  Dual seat with superior cushioning

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  • Fuel tank capacity of 15 litres

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 Segment Firsts 

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  • Turn-on turn-off Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) helps maintain rear wheel traction

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  • World’s first-ever Honda Smartphone Voice Control system (HSVCS) developed in-house (available in DLX Pro variant)

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  • Assist and Slipper Clutch makes gear shifts smoother

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  • Advanced Digital Analogue Speedometer presents intelligent information on the go. It integrates details like HSTC, ABS, side stand indicator with engine inhibitor, ECO indicator, mileage features, HSVCS, gear position indicator and battery voltage meter. The ride experience is further enriched with fuel efficiency details displayed in 3 modes – real time mileage, average mileage and distance to empty

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  • Full LED Setup (both front & back) allows rider to banish the darkness and light up the darkest of paths, also adding oomph to the style quotient

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Honda will also be offering a special 6-year warranty package (3 years standard + 3 years optional extended warranty) on H’ness – CB350.

For more details, visit HondaBigWing.in

LifeInChandigarh.com  by APR Media House is an enjoyable digital reading startup, which keeps you abreast of the latest meaningful happenings of interest to large sections of folks in Chandigarh tricity, and expats from the region. It has been promoted by a public spirited senior journalist and media consultant with a view to encourage good quality and healthy journalism, a dire need of the times.

To keep in touch, drop an email or call :
kochhar.apr@gmail.com
9815617676

 

Its On-Your-Marks For Events; Wedlocks Set To Be First Off The Blocks

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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0

The elaborate thermal screening, sanitisation measures, safety masks and social distancing norms apart, the mood in the sub-100 gathering was upbeat as the national and regional industry leaders emphasised the need to responsibly and strictly comply with the SOPs, painstakingly framed by EEMA, and convince the government about opening up the sector further.

Though EEMA had been pushing the government to allow events with a ceiling of 200 people, the industry has expressed satisfaction over the breather provided under Unlock 4.0 of allowing gatherings with a maximum 100 people for social, religious, cultural and corporate events with effect from September 21 in most parts of the country.

Speaking to LifeInChandgiarh.com, Ankur Kalra, one of the founding members of EEMA, said he expected marriage ceremonies to be among the first events to get going. “Marriages are an essential activity and cannot be put off indefinitely, and with the festive season approaching, marriage planners can look forward to early revival of their business. “Other events which are considered avoidable, like exhibitions, large conferences, music festivals, etc will also slowly but surely make a comeback,” he shared.

EEMA has divided the entire industry into eight broad categories for the purpose of framing SOPs specific to each of them. These categories are weddings and other social events, corporate events, corporate activations, large conferences, government and large scale public and political events, rural marketing, religious events and musical festivals or concerts.

Though most SOPs may be common to all categories, there are many which are specific to different categories. Apart from following the usual safety protocols like sanitisation of venues, social distancing, wearing of masks and thermal screening, each organiser/event agency will have to do risk assessment of the venue and location in terms of space available, ventilation, sanitisation and seat distancing (6ft distance between two people and 4 sq metres of venue space per person).

The SOPs also encourage allowing entry of only guests who are pre-registered. There are strict guidelines regarding hygiene and other safety protocols to be followed by vendors and crew; waste disposal, including disposable gloves, face masks and caps (which should be treated as hazardous waste) and post event sanitisation.

Another important SOP is, every event should have a four-member mitigation committee known as Covid Risk – Mitigation, Audit, Compliance Committee (CR-MACC), which will have an event planner representative, a venue rep, a host/client rep and a third-party safety officer. This committee will ensure that all the protocols are followed and practiced in letter and spirit.

Ankur Kalra, while admitting that implementing the SOPs is not going to be easy, as it would involve devoting excess time, effort and resources, and will consequently add to the costs, asserted that the organisers/event agencies have no other option but to diligently plan and execute the SOPs to ensure zero incidence.

“Even a single reverse can prove disastrous for the industry. On the other hand, if we are able to convince the government that we can handle large gatherings without any risk of spreading the disease, it will only help open up the sector even more,” he emphasised.

While EEMA is holding a series of workshops across the country to sensitise the organisers/event agencies about the SOPs, it is also seriously emphasising on what it is calling as ‘guest social responsibility’. “Guests are equal partners in ensuring the safety of any event. We are telling organisers/event agencies to spread awareness about the SOPs among guests at all events and we expect them to act responsibly in their interests and those of others around them,” Kalra added.    

Punjab’s Minister for Sports, Youth & NRI Affairs Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, while formally releasing EEMA’s SOPs for the events and entertainment industry, commended the UT Chandigarh administration for increasing the maximum limit of people participating in an event from 50 to 100 and expressed confidence that Punjab too would follow suit.

Later, EEMA’s local representatives Binay Pal Singh, Bharat Dhiman, Daman Preet Singh, Vikramjit Singh, Angat Walia and Deepak Kumar, besides representatives of the hospitality and tourism industry, took a Covid Prevention Pledge to embrace EEMA’s safety protocols.

SOPs are available for download on eemaindia.com

LifeInChandigarh.com  by APR Media House is an enjoyable digital reading startup, which keeps you abreast of the latest meaningful happenings of interest to large sections of folks in Chandigarh tricity, and expats from the region. It has been promoted by a public spirited senior journalist and media consultant with a view to encourage good quality and healthy journalism, a dire need of the times.

To keep in touch, drop an email or call :
kochhar.apr@gmail.com
9815617676 

SBI Yono Users Can Now Pay With Just Flick Of The Wrist

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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Wearing a Titan on your wrist was always a cool fashion statement. Now that stylish watch will become a medium for contactless payments as well, literally with just a flick of the wrist.

Here comes, for the first time in India, a range of Titan’s contactless payment watches with an embedded chip in association with another titan, SBI, to enable registered users of its mobile banking app, Yono, to exclusively avail this facility.

The facility, till now available on smart watches in select countries worldwide, can now be availed by a huge community of registered users of Yono, currently 26 million strong and growing at a fast clip. This exclusive collection of watches, in three styles for men and two for women, from the 5th largest watch brand in the world, is attractively priced between INR 2995 and INR 5995.

With this launch, registered Yono users can tap their Titan Pay watch on contactless payment POS machine without the need for swiping or inserting their SBI bank card. Payments under INR 2000 can be made without entering a PIN, beyond which PIN will be required. A secure certified Near-Field Communication (NFC) chip embedded in the watch strap by Tappy Technologies enables all the functionalities of a standard contactless SBI debit card.

The payment feature on these watches will be accessible on over 2 million contactless MasterCard-enabled Point-of-Sale (POS) machines in the country.

The collection of tap-and-pay watches is exclusively available on www.titan.co.in and comes with an offer of free shipping anywhere in India. The watches have 11.2 mm thick metal case with option of black and tan coloured strap and come with 24 months warranty on the movement and 12 months warranty on the battery. 

Lauding the timing of the launch, SBI Chairman Rajnish Kumar told media persons during a virtual media conference, said, “The time is right for contactless (payments). We believe that this innovative offering will redefine the shopping experience for our customers with tap and pay technology. The opportunities are endless because we have seen an explosion in digital transactions in recent times.”

Speaking on the occasion, Titan Company Limited Managing Director CK Venkataraman said, “Titan has always been at the pinnacle of design and innovation. We have always launched products to cater to the changing needs of our consumers. SBI is the perfect partner to introduce a payment solution for the new normal that is fast, secure and seamless. This product will not only satisfy the consumer’s banking needs but will also serve today’s evolving consumers with its classic and sophisticated designs.”

LifeInChandigarh.com  by APR Media House is an enjoyable digital reading startup, which keeps you abreast of the latest meaningful happenings of interest to large sections of folks in Chandigarh tricity, and expats from the region. It has been promoted by a public spirited senior journalist and media consultant with a view to encourage good quality and healthy journalism, a dire need of the times.

To keep in touch, drop an email or call :
kochhar.apr@gmail.com

 

 

Its Back To Pure, Healthy & Delicious Cooking, The Old-fashioned Way!

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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The newest eating joint in the tricity, a fine dining concept cafe called Back To Source, with the tagline ‘cafe well-being’, is all about crafting food and beverages in the old fashioned slow-cooking and healthy style, retaining the flavours and aroma of the ingredients and their vital nutrients while serving that mesmerising taste. No pressure cookers, no aluminium utensils, no pesticides use ingredients, no harmful preservatives and no aerated drinks. It’s handis (traditional earthern pots), cold pressed oils, desi khaand and single source desi cow milk products all the way.

The cafe, which surprisingly opened to customers at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic opposite Taj Hotel on the one side and TDI Jagat Mall on the other in Sector 17 mid July, has already started attracting a fair clientele and creating a word-of-mouth buzz around it. From this week it has also started delivering through local food delivery startup foodclub.

Apart from Back To Source’s elaborate food menu for lunch/dinner and all day dining, its signature coffee blends – Buma Devi, Kaveri Espresso and Neri Malai – with certified coffee beans from the fields of Kerala and Tamil Nadu and uniquely roasted by Marc’s Coffees, Auroville, are a winner. The bakes, including breads like sourdough, focaccia and ciabatta, muffins, twists and biscuits are no less enticing.

Inviting LifeInChandigarh.com to get a feel of the environment, food, beverages and bakes, the service and the safety measures, its promoter Munish shares “I had been majorly into the packaging business, but past few years I had also taken to cooking as a passionate hobby, which turned into a dream of one day opening a food joint which should not be strictly driven by commercialism and conveniences, but by passion of serving safe, healthy and delicious food, beverages and bakes. Thus the seed of Back To Source was sown.

“After initial planning, we got down to work around June 2019 when we chose this property to open shop. The underlying idea was to go back to traditional and healthy ways of cooking with pesticide-free ingredients largely sourced straight from farmers. I and my wife Puja have created the entire menu and recipes. I am the hands-on chef, overseeing the food and beverages section, while my wife is looking after the bakery,” Munish explains.

Adds Deepak Gupta, who is supplying the milk and other dairy products to the fine dining concept cafe from his single source mode dairy farm Himalayan Creamery in Nabha, “It is a very difficult proposition to marry a cafe with fine dining, but I think Munish and Puja have done a wonderful blending job. Another appreciable think is their openness about sharing the entire supply chain for all the ingredients sourced from multiple suppliers, which is a welcome departure from the established secretive practices in the business.”

A tiny signboard fixed to the facade of the first floor balcony is all the indication there is for a visitor that he/she has arrived. Past a swinging door, a guest is instantly impressed with an all wood staircase, a rarity these days (there’s an elevator too).

Enter the cafe, and after a swift regulatory safety protocol, the first thing which catches your eye, and immediately relaxes you, is a fair dose of greenery provided by thick leafy potted plants. The cafe is spacious, the decor simple yet elegant. Traditional wooden tables with wood-cane chairs are spaced out. The narrow but high glass windows on two sides, typical of the original Le Corbusier architecture, ensure abundance of natural light.

A spacious coffee bar serves you a wide range of signature coffee blends and other beverages. For the outdoor lovers, there is enough room on the wide balconies with tables laid out on two sides of the cafe.

All set for an enjoyable visit!

Munish stresses, “We have consciously resolved to distance ourselves from the mode trend of convenience in the food supply chain to maximise profitability, wherein pesticides are used to grow food products, which are then packed with preservatives and chemicals for a boosted shelf life. At Back To Source, we are very particular about sourcing ingredients for our fine dining concept cafe directly from producers who are consciously not using harmful chemicals.

“Our kitchens and processes are inspired by age-old traditions of preparing a meal with a deep sense of compassion, a meal that is flavourful, wholesome and good for the body as well as the soul.”

The cafe is making serious efforts to stay plastic-free and chemical-free in sourcing, packaging and storing. “Even the decorative lamps in the cafe are all made from sustainable materials and have been sourced specially from Oorjaa. Instead of chemicals, we have used pure linseed oil to polish our wooden furniture,” Munish shares proudly.

Among other healthy ingredients, the desi ghee used in the cafe is produced from single source desi cow’s milk using the age old bilona method which promotes healthy fat in the ghee. Desi khaand instead of refined sugar, cold pressed groundnut, sesame, mustard and coconut oils and not refined oils and stone ground flour in place of industrially ground flour are among the other health promoting ingredients being used despite these adding substantially to the costs.

The many signature non-veg dishes Munish lists out include mutton beetroot kosha, goat meat slow cooked in two stages; Afghani butter chicken, slow cooked in blend of cream masala with cold pressed mustard or groundnut oil; and mutton biryani, again slow cooked in two stages the yakhani way so that every grain of rice has that creamy taste of mutton.

Being a vegetarian, I just loved the paneer masala and the standout makhani dal made using the naturally creamy urad dal sourced from Tehri Garhwal which does not require use of cream or milk. The black wheat lachha parantha, which I tried for the first time in my life, was simply amazing. My lunch would have been incomplete without the super delicious signature gulab jamun, made from in-house khoya skimmed from single source desi cow milk, mixed with cottage cheese and all-purpose flour, fried in pure clarified butter and dipped overnight in sugar syrup.

Among other preparations, which Munish strongly recommends, are crispy bhindi, vada pav and grilled chicken wings. Authentic sourdough breads and focaccia and ciabatta white and brown breads from Puja’s oven are also a must try.

From the coffee bar, apart from the signature coffee blends – Buma Devi, Kaveri Espresso and Neri Malai – Kombucha tea, is another showcase. It’s a fermented, lightly effervescent, sweetened black or green tea drink commonly consumed for its supposed health benefits.

If there is one thing which Back To Source does not satisfy, it is the craving for aerated drinks. For the rest, the new cafe appears to tick all the boxes. Check it out!

LifeInChandigarh.com  by APR Media House is an enjoyable digital reading startup, which keeps you abreast of the latest meaningful happenings of interest to large sections of folks in Chandigarh tricity, and expats from the region. It has been promoted by a public spirited senior journalist and media consultant with a view to encourage good quality and healthy journalism, a dire need of the times.

To keep in touch, drop an email or call :
kochhar.apr@gmail.com
9815617676 

A Panga™ During Covid Lockdown Turns Into Hobby, Then Passionate Routine

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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0

She finds the motivation to explore anything and everything that attracts her attention. The spirit of taking a ‘panga’ has already made this girl, major in textile design and master in footwear design, a 2X entrepreneur in cloud kitchens and customised handmade decor products at a very young age.

The extended lockdown on account of the Covid-19 pandemic has now thrown Henna Bajaj, who is also an occasional poet, curious candle-making novice and foster parent to street dogs, into the lap of the contemporary form of mandala art, the traditional Tibetan art of painting with coloured sand. Having achieved a certain amount of proficiency in the art, she has found a way of monetising her artworks and at the same time committed herself to further popularising the art, which already has a sizable following worldwide.

Kalachakra Mandala (Pic Courtesy www.namgyal.org)

Sharing her experience of first exposure to the art form during the course of her graduation in textile designing from the Chheb (Kangra) campus of the National Institute Of Fashion Technology (NIFT) (2009-2013), Henna, who hails from Chandigarh, and is now based out of NCR Delhi, tells LifeInChandigarh.com, “It was during our weekend getaways to nearby Dharamshala and Mcleodganj, that I was exposed to the sand art mandala making practiced at Namgyal Monastery in Exile.

Henna Bajaj With One Of Her Contemporary Mandala Artworks

“It was fascinating to watch millions of grains of sand being painstakingly laid in place on a flat platform over a period of days or weeks before ultimately being dismantled in order to release and disseminate the deity’s blessings into the world to benefit all sentient beings. Contemporary mandala art entails a single motif being recreated hundreds of times in a circle. Several of these concentric circles complete a mandala. The intense focus required is almost meditative, as it takes away one’s mind from all other thoughts. A state of mindfulness is thus induced, which is indeed therapeutic and soothing.”

Graduating from NIFT, and after a little over a year’s stint as strategic designer with Trident Group at Ludhiana, Henna did her masters in footwear design and CAD/CAM from Noida campus of FDDI (Footwear Design and Development Institute) (2014-2016).

During a brief employment with Bata India she convinced herself that she wanted to be an entrepreneur. So a cloud kitchen called Jarfull (www.jarfull.in/) came into being around mid June 2016 and is running successfully. In the latter half of 2019 she plunged full time into freelance graphic designing through her website www.42dc.in. Her second major enterprise called The Zia Collective (www.thezia.in) followed.

Meanwhile, she had started following some zentangle / mandala art pages. “It was through these pages that I discovered the contemporary mandalas. Being instantly reminded of the beautiful sand art mandalas from Dharamshala, I decided to give it a try. It was such a joy to create one. During the lockdown with everything shut, I had a lot of spare time to myself and found a new hobby in Mandala art. I started making mandalas every other day. Now it’s become an essential part of my daily routine,” shares Henna.

She posted her first mandala artwork on Instagram on April 10 this year. “In the month of June, after posting some 30 odd mandalas, I came across a #7MandalasChallenge (similar to the ice bucket challenge, saree challenge, etc but specifically for mandala artists) hosted by a couple of art influencers on Instagram. I felt that it would be great exposure as many amazing artists across the world were going to pour their creativity on the same themes and it seemed like an amazing way to work on my technique and lea from other people,” says Henna.

She adds, “Two of those artworks were shared on one of the most influential mandala and zentangle sharing pages (i.love.sharing.mandala -102k followers) that resulted in mandala enthusiasts and beginners following my handle. But a feedback from one of the most sought after mandala artists on Instagram (saudamini.madra), who commented and liked some of my artworks, and another one of the mandala art influencers (leftbraincreations_ambica), that I diligently followed, following me back was just the motivation I could ask for.

“I participated in some more contests and got features and special mentions by other major art sharing pages (such as zenart.features -90k followers and blxckmandalas – 121k followers).”

Henna also started getting queries for creating custom artworks. Starting with a furniture firm for their furniture pieces (mainly kitchen and utility cabinets, cupboards and bedside tables), she did mandala art related custom artworks for a few clients. She also shared some framed artworks on her The Zia Collective page and put them up on retail websites such as Amazon and Redbubble to gain exposure.

“I sold about 10-12 pieces ranging from Rs. 999 for a 5”X5” framed artwork to Rs. 1999 for an A4 one. I have only recently started exploring painted artworks which take up 1-2 days of my time and I plan to explore multiple mediums and create 20”X20” framed artworks for sale,” she informs.

Taking inspiration from her learnings of Kangra miniature paintings during her graduation days, Henna has been working towards finer and intricate mandalas. She has also done a series of artworks with an amalgam of flower motifs and mandalas to contemporise the traditional full circle mandalas.

The young artist hopes to conduct mandala and macramé art (the art of knotting string in patterns to make decorative articles) workshops post the pandemic for teenagers and children. She also wishes to work on the “collective” aspect of The Zia Collective by training unemployed and unprivileged women in the macramé making art and making them equal profit sharing partners.

To know more about sand mandala art form visit: https://www.namgyal.org/sand-mandala/

LifeInChandigarh.com  by APR Media House is an enjoyable digital reading startup, which keeps you abreast of the latest meaningful happenings of interest to large sections of folks in Chandigarh tricity, and expats from the region. It has been promoted by a public spirited senior journalist and media consultant with a view to encourage good quality and healthy journalism, a dire need of the times.

To keep in touch, drop an email or call :
kochhar.apr@gmail.com
9815617676 

Tying The Resham Ki Dorrie™ Safely, Securely, Lovingly!

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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0

“Behna ne bhai ki kalai se pyaar bandha hai, pyaar ke do taar se sansaar bandha hai, resham ki dorrie se, resham ki dorrie se, resham ki dorrie se sansaar bandha hai….” the ageless Bollywood song brings out the nostalgia in sisters and brothers each time they happen to listen to it. The song, and the feelings is generates, is all about the kalai, the dorrie and the profound sister-brother love.

As if taking a leaf from the song, and naming their own fledging label Kalaayi, two young undergraduate damsels from the city, one majoring in Economics and the other in Interior Designing, have come together in the run up to this year’s Rakshabandhan, which comes in an all pervading atmosphere of fear and anxiety, to make this symbol of profound love between a sister and brother safe, secure and enjoyable.

Rakhi entrepreneurs: Sakhi & Anushca

They have crafted a wide variety of elegant-looking home-made rakhis with properly sanitised materials in a safe and secure environment, all by themselves. A double-layer packed rakhi comes in a home-made ‘potli’ with ‘tilak’ and rice in it, delivered right at your doorstep. No hassles, no apprehensions.

Anushca Bindra, who was inspired to start this home venture by her mother, roped in her friend Sakshi Singla. Visibly excited to share her story with LifeInChadigarh.com student correspondent Sumeir Bhatia, Anushca (this is how she spells her name) informs, “We’ve collaborated with another home-grown label Mysa, which specialises in making handmade face masks, to sell our Rakhis alongside their own product in a wholesome Rakhi hamper.

“The designs are all original, and to be very honest, we’re just playing with our own creativity … haven’t really taken inspiration from anywhere. We’ve sold 140-odd Rakhis in the last ten days and hope to do good business in the home stretch. Each ‘potli’ with a rakhi, ‘tilak’ and ‘chaval’ comes at an affordable price of Rs 150.

“My friend Sakshi and me are the only two people who come in contact with the raw materials and the end products. We procure the beads and threads, carefully sanitise them and make it a point to wear gloves while making the rakhis. Other than that, the rakhis are packed in two layers, with the top layer meant to be discarded. We’ve been putting behind-the-scenes videos on Instagram oft-and-on, which I think does give the customers a sense of security and satisfaction,” she gushes.

The girls have also designed the logo for their label on their own and are doing the marketing mainly through Instagram and WhatsApp.

Continuing with her tale, Anushca says, “After my mother inspired me to start this business, I first made a rakhi for my brother. It appealed to us more than the commercially made ones. So I approached my friend, Sakshi, who is majoring in interior designing and we came up with ‘Kalaayi’.”

Anushca is an undergrad at Miranda House, majoring in Economics. “I’ve worked three internships and have concluded that I want to do something related to social entrepreneurship. Having worked for farmers in Sonepat, I believe that I’m cut out for being a part of an endeavour which aims to help sections of society,” she maintains, adding “I plan to do an MBA from Wharton Business School and then work with the World Bank (hopefully).”

Recollecting that she has been working businesses since she was just 10, she shares, “I involuntarily find entrepreneurial aspects to everything I come across. From selling brownies to nail-arts to forming art unions, I’ve done it all. It’s the jack of all trades characteristic of mine that enables me take up anything and everything.” 

Anushca and Sakshi can be reached on their Instagram page. Here’s the link.

https://instagram.com/kalaayi__?igshid=kk0mrkgw46ka

LifeInChandigarh.com  by APR Media House is an enjoyable digital reading startup, which keeps you abreast of the latest meaningful happenings of interest to large sections of folks in Chandigarh tricity, and expats from the region. It has been promoted by a public spirited senior journalist and media consultant with a view to encourage good quality and healthy journalism, a dire need of the times.

To keep in touch, drop an email or call :
kochhar.apr@gmail.com
9815617676

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