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Jihyun David’s Saving Food From The Fridge project  features five kitchen tools for storing foods outside the fridge in a bid to preserve them better and celebrate their form and beauty. In one, root vegetables are kept fresh by being stood vertically in dampened sand and in another, Symbiosis of Potato+Apple,the ethylene given off by apples actually suppresses sprout growth in the spuds that sit beneath them in a darkened wooden tray. 

You can DIY these wooden tools  at your home to make these tools as a sustainability excerise. Or a wonderful science  project for the kids in the family to get a better energy saving star  than any  fridges from the future.

No Logo Not too much branding. All Tees Sold Out! 

A group of people with creative background and without any manufacturing experience launched a  t-shirt in March 2021 and rest of story ( or t-shirt! )  can be found here. https://www.marchtee.com

D2C is just unfolding in India with never ending market possibilities. The story of March Tees is a perfect example of authentic storytelling and optimised digital marketing.

Sukh Dugal and his co-founders were running a creative agency called March. Every creative agency room is filled with ideas of many products and it vanishes when the next idea enters the room. But the idea of March tee never left the room and they started exploring more to execute the idea.

Followed by a series of deliberations with manufacturers, distributors and other people in chain. 

And in 2016, they started simple; Only a tee in three colours. Obviously selling started through instagram and it started growing. Initially 15000 visits to the website then 45,000 and they closed their book in 2021 with a turnover of 10 Crore. 

D2C  Startup Factors 

March Tees team consist only 6 people 

They sell only on their website 

Their product is plain t shirts without any logos 

Success Factors 

Authentic Storytelling through realistic photography and videos 

Optimised digital Marketing strategies 

Not following typical methods like influencer marketing or celebrity speak 

Inhouse Content Production 

Building A Cult 

Minimalism, inspiring microscopy and ‘out of the box’ packaging. March Tee is highly detail oriented about the entire pre-purchase, purchase and post-purchase experience. The team’s vision makes a subculture-like mood where people identify the brand as a like minded person or group. The product is also highly humanised through genuine customer testimonials from instagram.  

How to practice face yoga creatively for anti ageing. 

Let’s make face yoga more art induced  to practice it  for 5 minutes everyday to keep face fat away.We can connect  Face yoga with Navarasa than Yoga. Because when we express Navarasa, more muscles are moving than  face yoga. Watch Kathakali more carefully.  We are going to do  a kind of solo acting workshop in front of the mirror this time. It’s just about waking up small facial muscles from a long sleep. Maybe it only moved when you cried for your favorite ice cream in your childhood or in a constipation crisis in the toilet.

 There are no standard facial postures or  asanas and names for facial yoga exercises. Every self-assured Yoga therapist names it as they want. You can familiarize with the concept in the link  if you are completely new to face yoga. Let us try some popular facial experiments.

I  have included face yoga in my daily workshops and people enjoy it. Suddenly the yoga floor looks like a theater workshop. There is much to explore about Yoga theater where people can find their own yogic freedom. Here, I write about some of my floor favorites and you can improvise it. Only one rule; muscles have to move, continuously, everyday. The entire anti-aging movement regime is a 24/7 obsession. You cannot make it if you fake it. This is real. Names made for an international audience.

Awful Awful Milkshake: Quenching the Thirst of the Skin

The first exercise, whimsically named the “Awful Awful Milkshake,” takes me by surprise. With a slight smile, I pucker my lips into a straw-like shape and begin a series of exaggerated sipping motions. As I do so, I feel the muscles around my mouth and cheeks come alive. It’s as if I’m quenching the thirst of my skin, reviving it from the inside out. The exercise, which seems peculiar at first, is a reminder that beauty and self-care often take unexpected forms.

Alleged Cheek Lifters: Sculpting and Toning

Next on my face yoga journey are the “Alleged Cheek Lifters.” Placing my fingers gently on my cheeks, I lift them upwards while resisting with my facial muscles. It’s akin to a silent conversation between my fingertips and my skin, a subtle dialogue of sculpting and toning. With each lift, I envision a sense of upliftment not just in my cheeks but in my spirit too. As I hold the pose, I find myself embracing a sense of empowerment that radiates from within.

Eyebrow Firmer: Elevating Confidence

The “Eyebrow Firmer” exercise brings my focus to the windows of my soul. Placing my fingers just above my brows, I gently push them upwards, allowing my forehead muscles to engage. It’s a simple yet powerful movement, as if I’m elevating not just my eyebrows but my confidence too. With every repetition, I’m reminded that my expressions are a reflection of my emotions, and by nurturing my facial muscles, I’m nurturing my emotional well-being.

Sculpted Smile: Embracing Joy

One of the most delightful exercises in my face yoga routine is the “Sculpted Smile.” With a beaming grin, I form an “O” shape with my mouth while keeping my teeth concealed. As I hold this pose, I can’t help but feel a surge of joy bubbling up from within. It’s as if I’ve unlocked a secret reservoir of happiness that was patiently waiting for my attention. This exercise reminds me that beauty is not just about appearances; it’s about the genuine warmth that radiates from a heartfelt smile.

The Journey Continues: A Radiant Reflection

As I conclude my face yoga session, I take a moment to appreciate the vibrant energy that now courses through my facial muscles. My reflection feels like a familiar friend, reacquainted and reinvigorated. The exercises, each with its unique charm, have left an indelible mark on my journey of self-discovery and self-care.

My experience with face yoga has shown me that beauty is a holistic and deeply personal journey. It’s not just about the lines and contours on our faces, but the stories they tell and the emotions they convey. With each exercise, I’ve learned to nurture not only my skin but also my spirit, embracing the art of self-love one gentle movement at a time. And so, I continue on this path, sculpting not just my physical appearance, but also the radiant reflection of my innermost self.

Again another small town startup enters into scene with smart audio tech.

Rapture Lab is a new company with a lot of potential. People have always wanted a great home theatre experience with amazing visuals and sound, and they’re willing to spend money on it. This has created a market that many companies making audio and video products want to be a part of. Even though lots of companies have spent billions of dollars trying to make perfect audio products, they’re still not accessible for many people who love good sound.

That’s where startups like Rapture Innovation Lab come in. It was started by Navajith Karkera and Jagath Bidappa and is based in Hubballi, with support from the Deshpande incubator. This audio technology company claims to have made a big breakthrough in creating “Hybrid driver acoustics,” and it took them three years of hard work to perfect this technology.

As explained by the creators, their product uses a fresh idea to produce sound. They’ve patented the “air and bone-body conduction” technique, which lets a pair of headphones imitate the sound produced by a full set of audio drivers and subwoofer systems. This means you can have a movie theatre-quality audio experience without sacrificing the convenience of headphones. When you put on these headphones, you can enjoy music like Beethoven, Bollywood tunes, or any bass-heavy music just as if you were in a movie theatre.

Thanks to the built-in subwoofer, the creators say that thunderstorms, live shows, and concerts will never be the same. The sound is so loud and clear that it feels like you’re right in the middle of the action, and you might even find yourself dancing with pure joy.

Their technology, called Sonic Lamb, along with special earpads, can mimic the power of a subwoofer to provide the deepest and most intense bass. This offers an extraordinary experience, especially for those who love powerful bass in their music.

The company recently introduced its first product, the Sonic Lamb headphones, with a quiet launch. Surprisingly, they received 570 pre-orders from customers in 50 different countries. The founders mentioned that over 60 percent of these orders came from the United States.

The company handles everything related to the design and development of the product in-house, except for a few components that they import. They collaborate with a manufacturer in Delhi for production, and the final packaging is completed in Chennai. Right now, the team is aiming to deliver all the pre-ordered products by the end of July 2023.

Sonic Lamb has to go head-to-head with well-established audio giants like Bose, Sony, Sennheiser, and JBL, among others. However, the market is always open to newcomers who can shake up the current trends. Ultimately, it’s the quality of their product that will do the talking and perhaps make their competitors a little nervous.

The founders are optimistic about soon establishing experience centers in big cities and even in smaller, Tier 2 cities to introduce their products. If they can quickly set up a strong distribution and after-sales service network, they have the potential to boost sales in India and other places in a short time. Building a strong brand is, of course, a key part of their task.

The founders claim that the sound quality of Sonic Lamb headphones matches the best headphones their competitors sell for $300. This means that you can get the same top-notch immersive experience for just $199, which is quite exciting.

According to the founders, their goal is to manufacture and sell 5,000 units by the end of this year. After achieving this milestone, they plan to ramp up production and distribution even further.

In India, there’s a tendency for multinational companies to favor major cities and commercial hubs when setting up their engineering centers. This bias has concentrated wealth in a few large Indian cities, and it has often required talented individuals to relocate to these cities for work, contributing to the urban congestion. The success of companies like Rapture Innovation Labs is likely to encourage CEOs to reconsider Tier 2 cities with a more positive outlook.

With uninterrupted broadband connections and advanced 5G mobile technology, jobs will follow where the talent is, instead of the other way around. Companies will start establishing smaller engineering centers in promising Tier 2 cities like Hubballi, Mysuru, Mangaluru, Kalburgi, and Belgaum in Karnataka. This approach is more cost-effective for organizations, as many skilled individuals may not be willing to relocate to a major city due to a lower quality of life there. When jobs shift to Tier 2 cities, wealth will also be spread more evenly across India.

ndia is a hub for engineering and innovation.

Many of us tend to buy products solely based on the brand name. The stronger the brand’s reputation, the more likely we are to trust and accept its products. We often assume that most multinational corporations (MNCs) invest heavily in marketing, and their products must be designed, engineered, and manufactured in places known for their exceptional quality.

What many people may not be aware of is that almost all MNCs that produce goods have their design and innovation centers right here in India. Their products are frequently designed and innovated by Indian engineers.

India has a significant advantage in this regard because of the presence of numerous prestigious technical institutions such as IITs, IISC, RIEs, and engineering colleges. The country has a high concentration of English-speaking technical talent, making it highly attractive for MNCs to establish their engineering centres here.

Now, it’s time for Indian companies to step into the spotlight. They should introduce products that are not only designed in India but also engineered and manufactured here. The quality of Indian products is truly exceptional, and for the world to embrace Indian products, they need to be well-received and successful within India first. This is how Japanese, Korean, and Taiwanese products gained international recognition after becoming big hits in their home countries. India should follow the same path for its products.

To succeed in foreign markets, Indian companies need to leverage well-established distribution networks and provide excellent customer support worldwide. They should emulate what Japan did in the 1970s and 1980s and what Korean and Taiwanese companies achieved in the 2000s.

In this context, the success of startups like Rapture Innovation Labs holds great importance for India’s overall strategy.

Pantone, the color experts, have picked Peach Fuzz as the color of the year for 2024. It’s a gentle mix of pink and orange, chosen to symbolize a desire for togetherness and comfort in uncertain times.

“Peach Fuzz is a caring and comforting soft peach tone, embodying heartfelt kindness and an inclusive spirit that uplifts the mind, body, and soul,” stated Laurie Pressman, Vice President of the Pantone Colour Institute. “In a period marked by uncertainty, the Pantone Colour of the Year 2024 reflects our yearning for nurturing, empathy, and compassion, along with our dreams and aspirations for a more serene future,” she shared the perspective.

The choice of Peach Fuzz extends beyond its comforting tone; it was also selected for its capacity to “add beauty to the digital realm.” The Pantone Colour Institute, the predictive branch of Pantone, has been designating an annual color since 1999, aiming to capture the prevailing mood and offer a glimpse into the upcoming year.

The images are courtesy of Pantone unless otherwise stated.

About Yiyun Li‘s new lyrical novel ‘Where Reasons End’

Why a  parent should  never be a child’s biographer,” states Yiyun Li in her new conversational novel, “Where Reasons End.” The narrator converses with the spirit of her son, Nikolai, who passed away at 16 by suicide. A parent should never be tasked with burying their own child; nor should they have to deliver their child’s eulogy. The book overflows with love, empathy, and yearning.

Through a series of imagined dialogues with Nikolai, occurring in a tranquil space outside of time and reality, Li constructs a recollection of their relationship. These conversations are a delight to read, unfolding naturally with intimacy, playfulness, and affection. As mother and son converse, their words create a familiar dance of teasing, critique, disagreement, forgiveness, and an attempt to understand each other. Both voices are astute and precise, yet it’s impossible to overlook that these conversations are channelled by a grieving mother, as the child, Nikolai, is no more.

At one point, Nikolai reassures his mother, saying, “I love you so much,” and expressing his wish not to have hurt her. His mother responds, “Oh, I wouldn’t say that at all. What’s hurtful is life.” The book is replete with such exchanges, though this example leans more towards sentimentality. Overall, the topics explored by mother and child tend to be philosophical, sparse, and quixotic. Li references Buddhist tradition, where a departed soul lingers for 49 days before moving on to the next realm. While Li does not believe in superstitions, her concern arises when the 49-day mark arrives during her mourning, fearing Nikolai’s departure from their conversation. His continued presence reveals more about the author than the fictional character of Nikolai.

They reminisce about Nikolai’s talent and fondness for knitting, his childhood drawings, T-shirts, and dreams. They struggle to recall which Elizabeth Bishop poem he memorized in sixth grade, with the mother revealing letters from Nikolai’s friends after they learned he wouldn’t return to school. She laments that Nikolai might have found life more bearable if she could have taught him to enjoy the frivolous and relinquish his unwavering perfectionism, a trait shared by both mother and son.

Li also describes the new house she and Nikolai’s father moved into, their first Christmas tree without him, and her difficulty with writing. The conversation frequently returns to the subject of writing, where Nikolai emerges as his mother’s harshest critic. While Li often expresses feeling muddled, Nikolai remains clear and unwavering in his words, appearing as if they are enshrined by supernatural omniscience and calm that can only be found in the afterlife. The mother doubts herself and questions how she could have been a better parent, while Nikolai stands firm in his decision to leave the world.

This is the essence of grief—a mother grappling with the impossible, attempting to decipher cryptic riddles about the cost of existence and the permanence of eternity. She reflects on another idea that she frequently circles back to: “To love is to trespass,” especially in the context of the love between a parent and a child. Maternal affection may be an overwhelming trespass, laden with wishful expectations and too much hope, making hope itself a complicated emotion, according to Li.

In “Where Reasons End,” Li writes, “I always imagine writing is for people who don’t want to feel or don’t know how to.” She questions whether a person commits suicide because they don’t want to live or because they don’t know how to live. The narrative reflects on Li’s childhood experience when her mother compelled her to learn to knit with old, non-elastic yarn, a practice she loathed. Yet, after Nikolai’s death, she finds herself sitting in his room, knitting and unraveling, echoing a practice imposed on her by her mother—a detail she doesn’t delve into further in the book.

Li emphasizes writing throughout the novel, and despite her literary achievements, she contemplates whether dedicating her life to reading and writing has been a waste of time. She questions the value of her solitary hours and considers if writing has become a burdensome task, worse than endlessly knitting and unraveling the same spool of yarn. In the midst of her musings, Nikolai’s love for reading and knitting echoes throughout the narrative, albeit not explicitly. There is an unconscious yearning for the discipline instilled by her own mother—the significance of work, meditation, study, practice, and precision. The value of time well spent.

Accepting the merits of hard work from any mother is challenging, but even more so when considering Li’s own background. She was a child math prodigy raised among nuclear physicists and scientists. Li migrated to the United States to study immunology at the University of Iowa, as her parents desired. They set exceptionally high standards for her, and her intellectual accomplishments are genuinely impressive. She accidentally stumbled into the prestigious Iowa Writers’ Workshop, switching her career path.

“Aesthetically, ‘Where Reasons End’ is an austere novel, with moments of substantial weight. However, some parts might feel redundant and repetitive, causing impatience in readers who question why the mother still dwells on her grief by page 82. This observation isn’t meant to be unkind but highlights the very insight Li is building towards—the notion that the gradual accumulation of small repetitions might hold value. It’s like muscles growing, a calendar filling up, or a scarf being knitted, then worn. Knit one, purl two. Page one, page two, page three. Through these meditative circles around impossible questions—Why did my child not want to live?—Li inches closer to understanding, offering some solace or the tiniest respite from her anguish and confusion.

Li also ponders, “How can I teach myself to want to live?” A question not for a mathematician but for an artist, a monastic nun, or a high temple priestess. To discover the answer, Li must engage with the departed. She’s hesitant to ask, aware that as the author, she is the sole source of the answer. In this novel, the mother seeks answers from her son, or more accurately, from his grave. She asks, and she listens attentively.

Near the end of the book, she remarks, “Eavesdropping used to be a crime.” To this, Nikolai reminds her of the times he’s heard her repeat this in her talks and lectures, saying, “Writing fiction is to eavesdrop on your characters’ hearts,” borrowing her own words. Li realises that she will never make that remark about eavesdropping again; it would sadden her. She is uncertain whether she has probed too deeply into Nikolai’s heart—trespassed, stolen, loved excessively—or if it’s the other way around, with Nikolai learning from her, his mother. This thought brings her happiness, however fleeting it may be.

Ultimately, “Where Reasons End” stands as a remarkable feat of empathy. Despite Li’s personal caution against parents writing about their children, she has harnessed something profoundly genuine and potent. Her empathy and courage are what make the book truly resonate. Anyone who has yearned to converse once more with someone who has departed will find comfort within these pages.”

Food in fiction, whether it is symbolic or utilitarian, moves the plot forward but ever you stopped reading and craved for something just went through on the pages or …uh?

Most writers use food descriptions in stories for a non-food purpose. But here I try to show you some snippets  where the  moment of great writing unlocks ‘story’ in the food.

The kitchen smells of yeast, a nostalgic smell. It reminds me of other kitchens, kitchens that were mine. It smells of mothers; … It smells of me, in former times, when I was a mother

Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale 

At noon I had lunch and went to the supermarket. There I bought food for dinner and, from a sale table, bought detergent, tissues, and toilet paper. At home again, I made preparations for dinner and lay down on the sofa with a book, waiting for Kumiko to come home … Not that I had any great feast in mind: I would be stir frying thin slices of beef, onions, green peppers, and bean sprouts with a little salt, pepper, soy sauce, and a splash of beer—a recipe from my single days. The rice was done, the miso soup was warm, and the vegetables were all sliced and arranged in separate piles in a large dish, ready for the wok.

The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, by Haruki Murakami

We had eaten a tamal de elote—a fine semolina of sweet corn, that is, with ground pork and very hot pepper, all steamed in a bit of corn-husk—and then chiles en nogada, which were reddish brown, somewhat wrinkled little peppers, swimming in a walnut sauce whose harshness and bitter aftertaste were downed in a creamy, sweetish surrender.

Under the Jaguar Sun, by Italo Calvino

I loved the no-carb ricotta pancake I invented last year, which can be cooked only on Teflon … Beat one egg, add one-third cup fresh whole-milk ricotta, and whisk together. Heat up a Teflon pan until carcinogenic gas is released into the air. Spoon tablespoons of batter into the frying pan and cook about two minutes on one side, until brown. Carefully flip. Cook for another minute to brown the other side. Eat with jam, if you don’t care about carbs, or just eat unadorned. Serves one.

I Remember Nothing: And Other Reflections, by Nora Ephron

Mechanically, weary after a dull day with the prospect of a depressing morrow, I raised to my lips a spoonful of the tea in which I had soaked a morsel of the cake. No sooner had the warm liquid, and the crumbs with it, touched my palate than a shudder ran through my whole body, and I stopped, intent upon the extraordinary changes that were taking place. An exquisite pleasure had invaded my senses, but individual, detached, with no suggestion of its origin. And at once the vicissitudes of life had become indifferent to me, its disasters innocuous, its brevity illusory … I had ceased now to feel mediocre, accidental, mortal. Whence could it have come to me, this all-powerful joy?

Swann’s Way, by Marcel Proust

Buy from the source and get the taste of season.

Madhu Kargund @ Tengin

Hailing from the quaint village of Kargunda nestled in Karnataka’s Hassan district, Madhu Kargund’s roots were deeply intertwined with agriculture. Raised in a family of farmers, he fondly recalls spending his weekends and summer breaks labouring on the farm, plucking coconuts, and engaging in various agricultural tasks. However, life had a different path in store for him, one that led him into the realm of information technology, where he worked as a software engineer for eight years. Despite his urban career, Madhu remained tethered to his agrarian heritage and continued to nurture his connection to the land.

It was during this period that Madhu’s journey took an intriguing turn. He was introduced to the revolutionary concept of zero-budget natural farming through the teachings of renowned agriculturalist Subash Palekar. The idea of a multi-crop model deeply fascinated him, and he felt a compelling desire to bring this sustainable farming practice to his village, where many farmers had been compelled to migrate to urban areas in search of more viable livelihoods.

Thus, Tengin was born. Recognizing the abundance of coconuts in the region, Madhu decided to kickstart his agricultural venture with this versatile crop. He reached out to local collectives in nearby villages, forming partnerships to convert their coconut produce into a steady source of income. To introduce his products to a wider audience, he began by sharing samples with friends and participating in farmers’ markets.

Over time, Madhu’s determination bore fruit, and he established a loyal customer base. Tengin’s product line expanded to include an array of coconut-based offerings, such as cold-pressed virgin coconut oil, chips, coconut sugar, and jaggery. Additionally, Madhu’s creativity extended beyond edibles, as he started crafting unique items like bowls, containers, coffee mugs, and soap dishes, all ingeniously fashioned from coconut shells.

Madhu has observed a burgeoning interest in farm-made products, especially in the wake of the lockdown period. His success can be attributed, in part, to the transparency he maintains in his production processes. Initially, educating consumers about the distinction between virgin coconut oil and ordinary cold-pressed coconut oil posed a challenge, but Madhu and his team persevered. They dedicated considerable effort to developing new product lines and providing training to women’s collectives involved in the venture.

Despite the constraints of limited funding, Tengin’s story has reached audiences far and wide. Madhu and his team have set up stalls in residential communities and apartment complexes, sharing their journey and the unique products that have sprung from it. Looking ahead, Madhu is exploring the development of new offerings that incorporate coconut, chocolate, and millets, in addition to assembling gift hampers that celebrate the diverse bounty of his region. Tengin is not just a business but a testament to the indomitable spirit of a son of the soil who has bridged the gap between tradition and innovation, all while sowing the seeds of sustainability in his village and beyond.

Whatsapp +91 9740330316 and tengin_coconut_oil on Instagram

Siva Sankar @Magadha Vana

Nestled in the serene foothills of the Western Ghats, approximately 35 kilometres from Udupi town, and seamlessly merging with the Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary, lies a 6.5-acre gem known as Magadha Vana. The name itself is steeped in the essence of its purpose, with “Magadha” translating to pepper in Sanskrit, and “Vana” signifying forest. This remarkable venture came into being in May 2018, guided by the visionary founder, Siva Sankar, who harboured a profound desire to cultivate an eco-friendly, self-sustaining food forest experience.

Over the years, this farm has evolved into a thriving ecosystem, nurturing a diverse array of crops. While pepper, coconut, cashews, cocoa, plantain, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, lime, and turmeric are among the primary cultivations, the farm’s signature crop remains the areca nut, which thrives in this region as the main cash crop. The farm’s orchards also bear witness to the flourishing presence of guava, wax apple, rose apple, jackfruit, and an array of mango varieties, alongside tropical additions such as rambutan, mangosteen, avocado, banana, and star fruit.

As the farm diversified its crop offerings, Siva recognized the importance of transforming the produce into value-added products. This transformation was a natural progression, and today, Magadha Vana boasts an impressive catalogue. This catalogue includes an array of products, ranging from the pristine purity of cold-pressed coconut oil to the earthy richness of moringa powder, from the delightful crunch of roasted cacao nibs to the tangy zest of dried kokum rinds, and from the fiery warmth of turmeric powder to the soothing comfort of a turmeric latte mix. The list goes on, encompassing green and white pepper, exfoliating body scrubs, banana gummies (crafted from sundried ripened bananas), chewy jack (made from dehydrated ripened jackfruit), raw jack flour, raw banana flour, forest honey, black turmeric powder, preserved breadfruit, and a ready-to-pickle base.

While the farm’s focus on these exquisite crops and products is apparent, it also recognizes the importance of cultivating local vegetables in harmony with seasonal cycles. This ensures a tailored farm-to-table food experience for its guests, complemented by exotic and rare spices, medicinal tubers, and herbs, all grown in small, sustainable quantities. Furthermore, a conscientious effort to mitigate dependency on limited water resources led to the development of an acre of agroforestry, featuring over 500 teak, mahogany, and red sanders trees. Additionally, various bamboo varieties have been thoughtfully planted along the boundaries.

In today’s world, consumers are increasingly curious about the origins of their food, its processing, and packaging. According to Siva, this curiosity extends beyond just social media-savvy individuals, as people in general are eager to establish a connection with their food sources and enthusiastically seek farm-fresh produce directly.

For details, Whatsapp 6366977723, @magadha_vana on Instagram.

Sangita Sharma @Annadana

Nestled in Bengaluru, this agro-ecology knowledge hub serves as a sanctuary for sustainable farming practices. The heart of this heaven is a two-acre chemical-free food forest, embracing over 8,000 plant species, and an invaluable seed hub that conserves a staggering 1,000 heirloom seed varieties. The brain behind this endeavour, Sangita Sharma, proudly refers to their farms as “self-sufficient,” as they not only bolster the livelihoods of local communities but also yield a rich tapestry of heirloom vegetables, fruits, spices, herbs, cereals, grains, and, more recently, coffee and cocoa. Sangita reflects, “Now even something as seemingly insignificant as rock salt is sourced externally.”

In addition to their agricultural pursuits, they have established a mini dairy that serves a dual purpose. Not only does it power their community kitchen with biogas, but it also produces an assortment of delectable dairy products, including cottage cheese, cakes, biscuits, conserves, jams, ketchup, butter, and ghee.

Their repertoire of value-added products caters to the discerning tastes of long-standing customers. Among their fast-moving products are cold-pressed oils, organic star gooseberry elixir boasting five distinct herb flavors, and an array of spices including turmeric, chili powder, peppercorns, cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom. The list extends to encompass indigenous rice varieties, rice and wheat flour, legumes, corn, millet, and oilseeds.

Remarkably, nearly 60% of their perishable produce, including vegetables, fruits, and herbs, find eager buyers. Meanwhile, custom-made cakes, bread, and dairy delights such as rosemary-infused butter, whey, and herb-infused cottage cheese are available by order only. Sangita elucidates, “Around 10% of our farm’s bounty is shared within our community, with the remaining 30% dedicated to seed preservation for ongoing food security programs.”

In the near future, they have ambitious plans to launch an online portal called ‘Foods that Heal’ (FTH). This platform aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the origins of our food, the pitfalls of our current food purchasing habits, and simple, informed measures to reverse these habits. FTH will offer a wide range of healing services, including insights into food combinations, guidance on foods to avoid during illnesses, strategies for building immunity through nourishment, tips on proper grain consumption, cooking demonstrations, and more. In the words of Sangita, “FTH embodies our commitment to holistic well-being through food, from farm to table and beyond.”

To order, Whatsapp +91 9035724711, +91 8088347413

India’s premier Heavy Metal festival, Bangalore Open Air announced their lineup for 2024 which is happening on February 9th and 10th in Bits Club, Hennur, Bangalore.

This year the festival sees the India debut of Swedish metal band In Flames. After 12 years, Thrash metal veterans Kreator returns to thrill us this Feb. Polish death metal band Decapitated also performs in the festival.

Tickets here. 

Bands Performing in Bangalore Open Air 2024

Ankor 

ANKOR is an alternative metal band based in Catalonia (Spain) with female front singer/screamer Jessie Williams (Bristol, UK), drummer Eleni Nota (Athens, Greece), guitarist/singers David Romeu, Fito Martinez and bassist Julio López.

Burning Witches

Burning Witches is a Swiss heavy/power metal band based in Brugg, Aargau

Chronic Xorn

 

Chronic Xorn, is a metal band, based in Kolkata, India. Chronic Xorn started in 2008, and shot to prominence after being featured in October 2009 in Headbanger’s India.

Decapitated 

Decapitated is a Polish death metal band formed in Krosno in 1996. The group comprises guitarist, founder and composer Wacław “Vogg” Kiełtyka, vocalist Rafał Piotrowski, bassist Paweł Pasek and drummer James Stewart.

In flames 

In Flames is a Swedish heavy metal band, formed by guitarist Jesper Strömblad in Gothenburg in 1990. Alongside At the Gates and Dark Tranquillity, In Flames pioneered the genres known as Swedish death metal and melodic death metal.

Kreator 

 

Kreator is a German thrash metal band from Essen, formed in 1982. Their current lineup consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Miland “Mille” Petrozza, drummer Jürgen “Ventor” Reil, lead guitarist Sami Yli-Sirniö, and bassist Frédéric Leclercq.

Moral Collapse 

Moral Collapse is an old school extreme metal project founded in 2020 by N Arun (label head of Subcontinental Records) alongside Hannes Grossmann (ex Necrophagist, Obscura, Blotted science) and Sudarshan Mankad.

Watain

 

Watain is a Swedish black metal band, formed in 1998. The band’s name is taken from an early recording by the American black metal group Von. The band have become famous for their Theistic Satanist views and for their live shows which involve pyrotechnics, candles, Satanic rituals, animal carcasses, and blood.

Zygnema 

Zygnema  is a four piece Heavy/Thrash Groove Metal band from India (Mumbai)

Speed Trip 

Speedtrip is a Heavy Metal band from Bangalore, formed in 2015

Bangalore Open Air is India’ss premier Heavy Metal festival, serving as the subcontinent’s ultimate destination for fans of this intense and powerful genre. Established in 2012, the festival has become an annual pilgrimage for metal enthusiasts, not just from India but from across the world. Located in the tech-hub city of Bangalore, the festival encapsulates the ethos “By Metalheads, For Metalheads” offering a unique blend of international and local acts.

The festival has grown organically over the years without corporate backing, drawing a dedicated audience of approximately 4,000 fans each year. Despite its size, which is modest compared to mainstream music festivals, Bangalore Open Air has an outsized cultural impact. It serves as a vital platform for both established and emerging artists in the heavy metal genre, offering fans a curated experience unlike any other in the country.

Financially self-sustained and community-driven, Bangalore Open Air epitomizes the rebellious spirit and unity that heavy metal music stands for. The festival has resisted commercialization, focusing instead on creating an authentic experience. With tickets priced competitively and additional revenue generated through food and beverage sales, the festival has managed to secure its financial viability year after year.

As India’s sole standard-bearer for Rock and Heavy Metal music on such a scale, Bangalore Open Air is more than just an event; it is a celebration of a subculture, a gathering of like-minded souls, and a testament to the enduring allure of heavy metal.

Image Courtesy; https://www.bangaloreopenair.com/2024 | Content sourced partly from : Bookmyshow 

Is Rizz an erotic hero? The post-Tinder love is so old.

Every generation has their own memes, slang, and internet culture. Gen Alpha ‘claims’ subtly they are the smartest generation so far. Now Oxford university press selected ‘Rizz’ as the word of the year. The New York Times says it’s one of the the most popular word among generation Alpha. 

(For those who don’t know which English letter represents your generation, here is a checklist)

Oxford officially defines the word as ‘rizz’ is a colloquial noun, defined as ‘style, charm, or attractiveness; the ability to attract a romantic or sexual partner’.

Rizz was chosen out of four words that were selected by public vote, with language experts choosing the finalist. Oxford, which publishes the Oxford English Dictionary, declared that rizz was emblematic of a word that can be nourished by a smaller community, particularly via social media, before garnering wider acceptance.

Rizz is a Word of Recent Origin 

Rizz originated with Twitch streamer Kai Cenat, who used it during streams. Cenat said he didn’t consider it short for charisma but that it meant a person had “game.”

Spiderman’s Rizz 

Spiderman star Tom Holland was asked by the press about the secret of his ‘rizz’ and he answered “no rizz whatsoever.” then the word started its journey to the Oxford dictionary’s s page. 

Other shortlisted words of the year

Swiftie vs. de-influencing

• Swiftie (n.): an enthusiastic fan of the singer Taylor Swift.
• de-influencing (n.): the practice of discouraging people from buying particular products, or of encouraging people to reduce their consumption of material goods, esp. via social media.

beige flag vs. rizz

• beige flag (n.): a character trait that indicates that a partner or potential partner is boring or lacks originality; (also) a trait or habit, esp. of a partner or potential partner, viewed as extremely characteristic, but not distinctly good or bad.
• rizz (n.): style, charm, or attractiveness; the ability to attract a romantic or sexual partner.

heat dome vs. prompt

• heat dome (n.): a persistent high-pressure weather system over a particular geographic area, which traps a mass of hot air below it.
• prompt (n.): an instruction given to an artificial intelligence program, algorithm, etc., which determines or influences the content it generates.

parasocial vs. situationship

• parasocial (adj.): designating a relationship characterized by the one-sided, unreciprocated sense of intimacy felt by a viewer, fan, or follower for a well-known or prominent figure (typically a media celebrity), in which the follower or fan comes to feel (falsely) that they know the celebrity as a friend.
• situationship (n.): a romantic or sexual relationship that is not considered to be formal or established.

Content partly sourced from Oxford site.