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If the snapshots of a frozen Niagara have chilled you to the bones and the gradual dip in mercury at home keeps you shivering, here is the best remedy to beat the last leg of the icy cold <keyword id="46788" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Winter">winter</keyword>. Celebrate <keyword id="6494293" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Lohri">Lohri</keyword> this year with <keyword id="28762" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="fire">fire</keyword> and flamboyance – with the beating of dhol, <keyword id="6920" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bhangra">bhangra</keyword> &amp; <keyword id="465865" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="giddha">giddha</keyword> dancing, blazing bonfires and mithas of traditional sweets. Lohri is a popular <keyword id="404010" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="harvest-festival">harvest festival</keyword>, celebrated all over <keyword id="55424" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Northern-India">Northern India</keyword> in the middle of January, and Monday the 13th is the stipulated date this year. 
 Essentially a <keyword id="2012366" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rural-festival">rural festival</keyword> held in <keyword id="6354953" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Punjab">Punjab</keyword>, <keyword id="41646" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Haryana">Haryana</keyword>, <keyword id="66" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Delhi">Delhi</keyword> and some parts of <keyword id="6358126" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Himachal-Pradesh">Himachal Pradesh</keyword> and <keyword id="6357972" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Jammu">Jammu</keyword>, this one celebrates the bountiful harvests as the ravi crops (winter crops including wheat, barley, mustard, <keyword id="56382" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sesame">sesame</keyword> and peas) are gathered while people unite in thanksgiving and pray for prosperity. Held on the last day of the month Paush, Lohri also marks the Sun’s entry into the northern hemisphere, popularly known as <keyword id="90750" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Uttarayan">Uttarayan</keyword>. This signifies the end of the cold, dark winter days and bonfires are lit to worship the Sun – the eternal spark of life. Lohri melas (festivals) are also held every year to celebrate the occasion. 
 A week before the festival, children start gathering <keyword id="1066921" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="firewood">firewood</keyword> and go from door to door, singing old folk songs and collecting their <keyword id="2012376" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Lohri-loot">Lohri loot</keyword> – a wide variety of scrumptious sweets like <keyword id="2012377" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rewri">rewri</keyword>, <keyword id="529387" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Gajak">gajak</keyword>, <keyword id="137842" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="jaggery">jaggery</keyword>, <keyword id="116024" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Peanut">peanut</keyword> chikki and <keyword id="6427332" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="TIL">til</keyword> (sesame) barfi. On the D-day, after sundown, people rush to the <keyword id="2012365" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bonfire-celebration">bonfire celebration</keyword>, followed by a gala evening filled with songs, dances and feasting. The festival also holds great significance for the newlyweds and the newborns whose first Lohri is celebrated with pomp and splendour. 
 This year, too, the Lohri bashes are all set to fire up the festivities in spite of the <keyword id="517425" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="biting-cold">biting cold</keyword> of the past few days. It has been partly cloudy in the national capital of Delhi, along with early <keyword id="49908" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="MORNING-FOG">morning fog</keyword> and a chilly breeze, but the day gets warmer with an occasional burst of sunshine. It has not rained either, as predicted by the MeT department, and the minimum temperature on the Lohri day is expected to hover between 4 and 6°C. Incidentally, the Jaffarpur Kalan area in Delhi has already recorded the lowest minimum temperature of 1.4°C a couple of days ago. The city also witnessed the worst fog in four years, with flight and train operations coming to a standstill. 
 
Such chilly weather means the bonfires must be extra large this time and the celebrations should get bigger as the sun goes down on Monday. Start the ritual with parikrama – circling the bonfire, chanting prayers, singing folk songs and putting in loads of til (sesame), <keyword id="2012380" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Moongphali">moongphali</keyword> (peanuts), <keyword id="2012381" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Chirwa">chirwa</keyword> (puffed rice) and <keyword id="82600" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Maize">maize</keyword> (<keyword id="74000" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Popcorn">popcorn</keyword>) into the fire, as the old custom demands. Some even pour milk and water near the circle of fire. These prayers and offerings to the Sun are said to bring peace, harmony and prosperity throughout the year. When the parikrama is over, it is time to exchange gifts and distribute the prasad or puja offerings that mostly include peanuts, til, gajak, jaggery and other munchies. 
 
 
 
But Lohri also signifies a great celebration of life – dancing, feasting and revelry that bring in good cheer. So it’s time to go balle balle with some dazzling outfits, lively dance numbers, Patiala pegs and lip-smacking <keyword id="33659" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Punjabi-Cuisine">Punjabi cuisine</keyword>. Women can’t go much wrong with the <keyword id="2012402" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Lohri-fashion">Lohri fashion</keyword>, though. A <keyword id="2012403" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Patiala-suit">Patiala suit</keyword> with bright-hued <keyword id="531498" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Phulkari">phulkari</keyword> work or heavily embellished <keyword id="6481130" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="zardozi">zardozi</keyword> designs, matching dupatta and gold/kundan jewellery complete the <keyword id="2012391" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ethnic-ensemble">ethnic ensemble</keyword> for this occasion. Go for bold colours and bright shades – not only for your outfit but also for your make-up. The more adventurous can always try glitter and rhinestone make-up to add some extra dazzle. Sport a front puff or a chotti (braid) with a parandi (decorative tassel) and walk out as the belle of the ball – ready to bhangra and giddha all evening, till the fire dies down. 
 Those in love with gourmet food are also looking forward to the celebrations. Start your evening with some spicy chat and tikka; wash it down with a Patiala peg or two or some sweet/salty lassi, and move on to a sumptuous dinner of <keyword id="2012392" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Makhani-di-dal">makhani di dal</keyword>, <keyword id="460117" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sarson-da-saag">sarson da saag</keyword> and <keyword id="2012393" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Makki-di-roti">makki di roti</keyword> (more here on <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Top-Indian-Foods-For-Your-Palate-Must-try-Items-FromEvery-State/articleshow/22515429.cms">top Indian foods</a>), followed by the traditional dessert – <keyword id="2012394" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Gajar-da-halwa">gajar da halwa</keyword> or <keyword id="2012395" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Mong-dal-da-halwa">mong dal da halwa</keyword>. 
 Although Lohri is mostly celebrated in Northern India, similar festivals are held in the East and the South. In <keyword id="6357783" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="West-Bengal">West Bengal</keyword>, it is <keyword id="42174" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Makar-Sankranti">Makar Sankranti</keyword> on January 14, just a day after Lohri. It is considered as one of the most auspicious days and lakhs of people from all over India take a <keyword id="6365583" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Holy-dip">holy dip</keyword> at the confluence of the river <keyword id="79976" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ganges">Ganges</keyword> and the <keyword id="55869" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bay-of-Bengal">Bay of Bengal</keyword>. In <keyword id="28504" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kerala">Kerala</keyword>, it is <keyword id="38378" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="pongal">Pongal</keyword> from January 13 and the four-day harvest festival marks the start of a <keyword id="2012401" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="New-cycle">new cycle</keyword> as the Sun enters the northern hemisphere. And in <keyword id="6354915" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Assam">Assam</keyword>, people celebrate the <keyword id="523926" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Magh-Bihu">Magh Bihu</keyword> or <keyword id="95767" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bhogali-Bihu">Bhogali Bihu</keyword> on January 14, an equivalent of Makar Sankranti and Pongal. 
 
With so many festivities coming up in the next few days, we wish all our readers happiness, prosperity, and most importantly, a thawing of the heart. Our emotions freeze up at times; our sensitivity becomes numb and our empathy well often runs dry. So what better time is there than today for a renewal of self? That’s what Lohri or the bonfire celebration is all about – it tells us to thaw out our hearts and celebrate a fresh start, a new cycle of life.

Happy
Lohri! It’s Now Bonfire Time, Folks!

The year 2014 is just two days old, marking the beginning of yet another <keyword id="89477" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Gregorian-calendar">Gregorian calendar</keyword> year. But revellers who painted the town red and want more party time need not lose heart. Officially, the year has taken off on January 1, but the regional variants of the New Year’s Day still prevail in a country like India – home to a colourful mélange of cultures and traditions. So we are yet to experience a spate of <keyword id="471694" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="New-Year-festivities">New Year festivities</keyword>, celebrated from <keyword id="6354495" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="kashmir">Kashmir</keyword> to Kanyakumari, from the <keyword id="53478" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="North-East">north-east</keyword> to the western coast. 
 Interestingly, both the Gregorian calendar (introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582) and the previous <keyword id="89476" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Julian-calendar">Julian calendar</keyword> (first implemented by Julius Caesar in 46 BC) kick off on the same day – January 1. The Romans originally dedicated the first day of the year to Janus, the god of gates, doors and beginnings, and January, the first month of the year, was named after him. Later on, most nations in Western Europe officially started the New Year from January 1. The UK was a late adopter, though, and observed New Year’s Day on <keyword id="47282" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="march">March</keyword> 25, popularly known as Lady Day since it celebrated Virgin Mary and the Feast of the Annunciation. This practice stayed in England up to 1752. 
 Closer home, we have many time-reckoning systems but the most significant among them is the <keyword id="1998432" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sakabda">Sakabda</keyword> or the <keyword id="1998433" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Saka-calendar">Saka calendar</keyword>. It was introduced in 78 AD, most probably by the Kushan ruler Kanishka, and was even used in other countries such as Kampuchea and Indonesia. Another one is the popular <keyword id="1998435" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bangabda">Bangabda</keyword> or the <keyword id="1282409" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bengali-calendar">Bengali Calendar</keyword>, a <keyword id="1998436" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Solar-calendar">solar calendar</keyword> started by Mughal emperor <keyword id="6363995" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Akbar">Akbar</keyword> in 1584 AD. Then there is the <keyword id="1998437" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Hijri-New-Year">Hijri New Year</keyword>, also known as the <keyword id="1926173" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Islamic-new-year">Islamic New Year</keyword>, which started in 610 AD when <keyword id="6358086" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Prophet-Muhammad">Prophet Muhammad</keyword> migrated from Mecca to <keyword id="89362" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Medina">Medina</keyword>. 
 With so many calendars around and so many regional New Year’s Days to celebrate, it’s time to soak in the traditional rituals once more, mostly observed during the months of <keyword id="368788" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Chaitra">Chaitra</keyword> and <keyword id="1998439" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Baishakh">Baishakh</keyword> (March-April). Here’s a quick look at the key events. 
 
 
 
<keyword id="4349969" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Navreh">Navreh</keyword> – Kashmir: Let us start with Navreh, the New Year’s Day in the <keyword id="911185" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Lunar-calendar">lunar calendar</keyword> and observed on the <keyword id="1998440" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Shukla-Pratipada">Shukla Pratipada</keyword> (first day of the waxing moon) in the month of Chaitra (March-April). It is the <keyword id="1998441" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Oldest-New-Year-celebration">oldest New Year celebration</keyword>, and finds mention in historical works such as Nilamat Purana, <keyword id="1998443" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kalhana">Kalhana</keyword>’s <keyword id="1998442" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rajtarangini">Rajtarangini</keyword> and Persian scholar <keyword id="1792427" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Al-Biruni">Al-Biruni</keyword>’s writing. Each household prepares the ‘<keyword id="1998444" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Holi-thali">holi thali</keyword>’ with great care, containing food, flower and other essentials, and it is viewed at the dawn of Navreh while family members pray for <keyword id="6383453" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Wealth">wealth</keyword>, knowledge and <keyword id="23119" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="good-luck">good luck</keyword>. From this day, <keyword id="1998445" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Nav-Durga-Puja">Nav Durga Puja</keyword> or <keyword id="31525" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Navratra">Navratra</keyword> also begins in Kashmir and continues for 9 days. 
 
<keyword id="1296432" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Chaitti">Chaitti</keyword> – <keyword id="6358126" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Himachal-Pradesh">Himachal Pradesh</keyword>: In this hill state, the New Year’s Day is celebrated on the first day of Chaitra according to the <keyword id="1998446" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Vikrami-calendar">Vikrami calendar</keyword> and festivals such as <keyword id="48284" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="navratri">Navratri</keyword> and <keyword id="1998448" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ralli-Puja">Ralli Puja</keyword> are held throughout the month in honour of Goddess Durga/Bhagwati. The month-long Ralli Puja ends in the marriage of Lord Shiva and the goddess as spinsters seek blessings of the divine duo for a spouse like Lord Shiva. 
 
<keyword id="42862" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ugadi">Ugadi</keyword> – <keyword id="37102" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Andhra-Pradesh">Andhra Pradesh</keyword> &amp; <keyword id="6354780" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="Karnataka">Karnataka</keyword>: It is celebrated on the same day as Navreh, in the month of Chaitra, and marks the beginning of the South Indian lunar year. People of these southern states believe that Lord Brahma began the creation of the universe on this auspicious day. Houses are decorated with mango leaves and <keyword id="202308" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rangoli">rangoli</keyword> designs; Panchanga or the <keyword id="1998452" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Religious-almanac">religious almanac</keyword> is recited and puja offerings are made for a prosperous New Year. Ugadi <keyword id="758269" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="pachadi">pachadi</keyword>, the traditional dish of six flavours made of <keyword id="6441002" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="neem">neem</keyword>, <keyword id="137842" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="jaggery">jaggery</keyword> &amp; banana, salt, green chilli/pepper, tamarind juice and unripe mango, is also relished on this occasion to acknowledge six different aspects of life. 
 
<keyword id="608876" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Gudhi-Padva">Gudhi Padva</keyword> – <keyword id="13126" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Maharashtra">Maharashtra</keyword> &amp; <keyword id="826" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Goa">Goa</keyword>: Observed on the same day as Navreh and Ugadi (Chaitra Shukla Pratipada), the New Year festivities in these states celebrate the bounty of Nature. Houses are decked up with rangoli and colourful gudhi – a bright-hued, embellished silk banner tied to a decorated <keyword id="1808323" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="bamboo-pole">bamboo pole</keyword> and an upside down brass/silver pot fitted on the top. A day after Gudhi Padva, <keyword id="127745" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Cheti-Chand">Cheti Chand</keyword> or the <keyword id="610532" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sindhi-New-Year">Sindhi New Year</keyword> is observed to celebrate the birth anniversary of <keyword id="1998458" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ishtadeva-Uderolal">Ishtadeva Uderolal</keyword> or <keyword id="987886" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Jhulelal">Jhulelal</keyword>, the patron saint of the Sindhis. Lord Varuna, the water god, is also worshipped on this day, followed by <keyword id="6771793" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="feasting">feasting</keyword> and <keyword id="240265" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="devotional-music">devotional music</keyword>. 
 
Varuda Pirappu/Puthandu – <keyword id="20154" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="tamil-nadu">Tamil Nadu</keyword>: Held in mid-April, the <keyword id="6407830" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Tamil-New-Year">Tamil New Year</keyword>’s Day is celebrated on the first day of Chithirai, which is the first month of the traditional <keyword id="525554" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Tamil-calendar">Tamil calendar</keyword>. Just like Navreh, the day begins with <keyword id="1998464" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Auspicious-sighting">auspicious sighting</keyword> or <keyword id="1009356" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="kanni">Kanni</keyword>, as people <keyword id="1873" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Worship">worship</keyword> <keyword id="13726" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="rice">rice</keyword> &amp; farm products, <keyword id="119992" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="precious-metals">precious metals</keyword> and <keyword id="1246513" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="new-clothes">new clothes</keyword>. Ritualistic patterns called kolams are drawn; traditional lamps or kuthu vilakkus are lighted and placed in the centre, and brass bowls known as niraikudums are filled with water to usher in <keyword id="73094" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="prosperity">prosperity</keyword> and <keyword id="800742" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="fulfillment">fulfillment</keyword>. It is followed by the <keyword id="1998469" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Almanac-worship">almanac worship</keyword> called <keyword id="1998471" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Panchanga-Puja">Panchanga Puja</keyword>. And the festive meal features pachadi, fruits and payasam or dessert. 
 
<keyword id="345699" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Vishu">Vishu</keyword> – <keyword id="28504" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kerala">Kerala</keyword>: Vishu is the <keyword id="1010370" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Malayalam-New-Year">Malayalam New Year</keyword>’s Day, observed in Kerala on the first day of the Malayalam month of Medam. As in other South Indian states, auspicious sighting and other rituals are observed as part of the celebration; <keyword id="51941" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="firecrackers">firecrackers</keyword> are burst and an elaborate <keyword id="1998461" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Festive-lunch">festive lunch</keyword> called <keyword id="1998473" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sadya">sadya</keyword> is served. 
 
 
 
<keyword id="1334751" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Poila-Baishakh">Poila Baishakh</keyword> – <keyword id="6357783" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="West-Bengal">West Bengal</keyword>: The Bengali New Year’s Day is celebrated in the month of Baishakh (mostly on <keyword id="6364510" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="april">April</keyword> 14). Also known as <keyword id="989326" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Naba-Barsha">Naba Barsha</keyword>, <keyword id="27928" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Lord-Ganesha">Lord Ganesha</keyword> and <keyword id="462664" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Goddess-Lakshmi">Goddess Lakshmi</keyword>, deities of wealth, are worshipped on this day while businesses open fresh ledgers known as <keyword id="1998474" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Haal-Khata">Haal Khata</keyword>. Feasting, festivities and <keyword id="6409104" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="cultural-programmes">cultural programmes</keyword> are the main attractions here. <keyword id="1998475" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Maithili-New-Year">Maithili New Year</keyword> <keyword id="1998426" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Juri-Sheetal">Juri Sheetal</keyword> is also celebrated on this day. 
 
<keyword id="1998425" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Maha-Vishuva-Sankranti">Maha Vishuva Sankranti</keyword> – <keyword id="6357961" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Odisha">Odisha</keyword>: In neighbouring Odisha, the New Year’s Day is also known as <keyword id="1998476" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Pana-Sankranit">Pana Sankranit</keyword> or <keyword id="1998424" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Jala-Sankranti">Jala Sankranti</keyword> or <keyword id="1998427" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Mesha-Sankranti">Mesha Sankranti</keyword> that marks the beginning of a year in the solar calendar. Traditionally held on the first day of Baishakh (mid-April), a sweet drink called <keyword id="1998477" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Pana">Pana</keyword> is made using fruits, card, milk, water and sugar/jaggery and bestowed as <keyword id="1998478" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Puja-offering">puja offering</keyword>. People also drink Pana and water is offered to all, even to birds and animals, for a month. Throughout this period, <keyword id="1998479" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Goddess-Hingula">Goddess Hingula</keyword> is worshipped for driving the evil away. Devotees often keep fast and perform penances as part of the rituals. 
 
Rongali/Bohag Bihu – <keyword id="6354915" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Assam">Assam</keyword>: Held in the month of Baishakh (mid-April), this weeklong colourful and vibrant festival not only marks the beginning of a year in the solar calendar, but also heralds the new agricultural season. As in all other states, pujas are offered to ensure a prosperous year ahead; <keyword id="974604" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="festive-food">festive food</keyword> such as pitha and laru is made and shared, and young people get together to choose their life partners. Fairs are held; games are played, and the traditional <keyword id="1998481" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bihu-songs">Bihu songs</keyword> &amp; dances make it the perfect season for jollity and merriment. 
 
<keyword id="1998480" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Cheiraoba">Cheiraoba</keyword> – <keyword id="6359754" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Manipur">Manipur</keyword>: Moving further north-east, one gets to celebrate the Manipuri New Year Sajibu Cheiraoba in the month of April. Puja offerings, delicious food and festivities mark this occasion as well. In addition, locals climb the nearest hill tops, thus aspiring to rise to great heights in real life. 
 
Baisakhi/Vaisakhi – <keyword id="6354953" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Punjab">Punjab</keyword>: Traditionally a <keyword id="404010" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="harvest-festival">harvest festival</keyword>, the <keyword id="1011009" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Punjabi-New-Year">Punjabi New Year</keyword>’s Day is held on April 13/14 (the first day of the second month of the year, according to the Nanakshahi Calendar). It is a significant day for the <keyword id="81001" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sikh-community">Sikh community</keyword> as well since they celebrate the day in honor of the 10th guru, <keyword id="138545" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Guru-Gobind-Singh">Guru Gobind Singh</keyword>, who did away with the <keyword id="6434481" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Caste-System">caste system</keyword>. Otherwise, fun, food and <keyword id="1998485" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Country-dances">country dances</keyword> like <keyword id="6920" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bhangra">Bhangra</keyword> and <keyword id="465865" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="giddha">Giddha</keyword>, keeping time with the beats of dhols and drums, mark this occasion. 
 
<keyword id="585610" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bestu-Varas">Bestu Varas</keyword> – <keyword id="6354766" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Gujarat">Gujarat</keyword>: In certain parts of northern and western India, Diwali heralds the New Year and Gujarat is one of them. Bestu Varas is held a day after the Festival of Lights, in the month of <keyword id="6376330" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kartik">Kartik</keyword> (October-November) and houses are splendidly decked up with <keyword id="5823" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Flowers">flowers</keyword>, rangoli and torans (door hangings). Pujas are offered; New Year <keyword id="54214" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Fireworks">fireworks</keyword> are everywhere and gifts are generously exchanged. And one must not forget the festive food either, especially the delectable and traditional snacks of Gujarat such as <keyword id="107294" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="farsan">farsan</keyword>. 
 
Images: Wikipedia

New Year Festivities
Not Over Yet; Here Is How India
Celebrates

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Jay Sean rose to fame in the 2000s with hits like "Down" and "Do You Remember."</li><li>He was the first South Asian artist to top the Billboard Hot 100.</li></ul>When British-Indian artist <a target="_blank" href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/4pADjHPWyrlAF0FA7joK2H">Jay Sean</a> first broke into the mainstream music scene two decades ago, he felt he had no choice but to sing in English."It wasn't as alienating as Punjabi coming from a Punjabi on stage," the singer, now 43, told Business Insider. He found subtle, creative ways to express his Indian roots in his music instead. "It would either be a Bollywood sample or it would be Eastern strings, or it would be the Indian flute," he said.The world may not have been ready for Sean to sing in Punjabi, but it was ready to make him a star. By the mid-2000s, he'd become the first South Asian artist to top the Billboard Hot 100, the first South Asian artist to perform on "Top of the Pops," and the first British Asian artist to have simultaneous Top 10 Billboard singles in the US.It would take a bit longer for Punjabi music to find its groove in the West. It was only once Sean saw K-pop go mainstream, Afrobeats being played on the radio, and Pitbull rapping in Spanish that he thought, "Why can't we have our artists who are doing the same?"Now, that's finally happening. Artists like <a target="_blank" href="https://www.instagram.com/diljitdosanjh/?hl=en">Diljit Dosanjh</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/6LEG9Ld1aLImEFEVHdWNSB">AP Dhillon</a> are singing and rapping in Punjabi over Western beats. And they're not just catering to a niche Indian audience — they're filling stadiums from Canada to Germany to Australia with thousands of fans and taking over late-<a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0JDN_q6RBE">night stages</a> while proudly busting out Bhangra moves.It's a very different media landscape than the one Sean and people of his generation and ethnicity, like me, grew up in. As a Pakistani who moved to the US in 2002, right after 9/11, people of my background were not exactly celebrated in Hollywood. We were cast as exotic oddities in movie franchises like Indiana Jones, or as comedic fools like Apu in "The Simpsons." The West perceived South Asians as one-dimensional when in reality, we encompass a large geographic region that includes India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and Afghanistan."For the longest time, I used to say if you were from another planet, you wouldn't think there's any Indians walking around anywhere," Sean said. "It was very hard to name even two or three South Asian artists in the mainstream music industry."Now, this demographic has grown so much that it will be hard for the music industry to ignore. A 2023 report from <a target="_blank" href="https://luminatedata.com/reports/yearend-music-industry-report/">Luminate</a> shows that India alone saw the biggest year-over-year increase in total annual on-demand music streams of any nation last year. Its 2023 total streams were up by nearly half a trillion plays (+463.7 billion) from 2022. The US, by contrast, saw a year-over-year increase of just 184 billion.<div type="image" title="Jay Sean wears a black bomber jacket sitting net to Veyah, a female singer wearing a teal, black and yellow striped shirt and Converse." height="1600" width="1200" msid="112636845" hostid="261" sizebytes="175430"></div>The internet has helped serve as a great equalizer in helping music go global. When Sean began his career, the way to get discovered was by showcasing your talents to record labels. Now, talent all over the world is emerging through platforms like YouTube and TikTok."You could be in the most remote village somewhere, and if you've got access to the internet and you've uploaded yourself singing — boom, you are out there for the whole world to discover you," Sean said.In fact, one of today's hottest Indian artists, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.instagram.com/diljitdosanjh/?hl=en">Diljit Dosanjh</a>, first broke through in 2020 when he entered Billboard's Social 50 chart, which ranks the most active artists on the world's leading social media platforms. It was his 11th album that finally got him there. In 2023, he became the first Indian artist to perform at Coachella.With the winds of change moving East, Jay Sean wants to find more South Asian artists and promote them. His record label 3AM Entertainment has partnered with Virgin Music Group and Range Media Partners to focus on artists from the South Asian diaspora, regardless of genre. You can see his eyes glow with excitement as he talks about the project."Our first signing is an absolutely phenomenal artist called <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuILunIEi48">Veyah</a>. I saw her on TikTok singing from her kitchen, and I was like, 'I don't know who you are or where you are, but you need to be in a music studio, not in a kitchen with a voice like that.'"Finding new South Asian talent is part of Sean's effort to give back to his community."It really was and has been important for the last 20 years for me to try and push that door down so that our rest of our people can come through," he said. "So I was like, 'Nah, I'm not going to rest until I know that we are good here.'"

South Asian music is having a moment. Jay Sean is making sure it's here to stay.  

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Basement Bhangra was founded in 1997 as an inclusive dance party for South Asians in New York.</li><li>The club became a space for experimentation of music from the diaspora.</li></ul>On a sweltering, sticky Saturday in New York City, Central Park was packed full of thousands of South Asians who were ready to throw down.On August 6, Basement Bhangra — the now-defunct dance party founded by DJ Rekha in 1997 — celebrated its 25th anniversary with a revival party at Central Park's Summerstage co-produced by community leaders Jashima Wadehra and Pradeepa Jeevan.It was a party like no other. Younger South Asians danced the Giddha to the drum beat of a dhol, while toddlers and the elderly sat on grass fields, gathered together to celebrate their shared culture and heritage.<div type="image" title="A crowd at Basement Bhangra at Central Park's SummerStage, August 6, 2022." height="2000" width="2666" msid="93599333" hostid="261"></div>From its inception in 1997 throughout its 20 years, Basement Bhangra became an institution for New York City's South Asian community. DJ Rekha, a Queens-native, held court at SOB's, a nightclub in Lower Manhattan, spinning tracks late into the night for patrons of all ages to dance to."By example, I am visibly queer. And I had my own personal journey with that. That's a statement in itself," founder DJ Rekha, whose full name is Rekha Malhotra, explained to Insider. "What most people don't realize about the diaspora and dance music is that the earliest club nights were started by queer folks, and that part of our history is not necessarily acknowledged." Though it was shuttered in 2017, the dance party has become synonymous with diasporic history, marking itself as the backdrop for the coming of age of South Asians on the East Coast since the late 90s.<h2>The birth of Basement Bhangra</h2>Prior to living in the United States, Rekha spent some of their early years in London. Throughout the late 80s and early 90s, South Asian youth across Great Britain partied during the daytime at clubs and danced to Bhangra music, creating an underground South Asian rave-like scene. Not only did this allow South Asian youth to claim a safe space for themselves <a href="https://www.thefader.com/2017/01/10/british-asian-daytimers-history-riz-ahmed">at a time when discrimination in the UK was pervasive</a>, but it also opened doors for an entire generation of DJs in the diaspora.<div type="image" title="South Asian partygoers dancing at Basement Bhangra." height="1333" width="2000" msid="93599335" hostid="261"></div>Rekha began their career as a DJ in New York City the early 90s, spinning at Soca Paradise, an old nightclub that was a hub for Queens' Indo-Caribbean population during their early days. They would spin Chutney Soca, a hybrid genre of music popular in Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, and Suriname. The sounds of Chutney Soca fuse Hindustani Classical with Western and Island elements. Instruments with deep history in South Asia, such as the harmonium and tabla, are often incorporated, with a mix of Hindi and English lyrics.The exposure from Rekha's early career spinning tracks for South Asian youth attracted organizers who asked them to create a themed club night. This eventually evolved into a monthly event, known as Basement Bhangra, which took place on the first Thursday of every month.Rekha said that they often received "racist" and "classist" directives from other clubs they DJ'd for."Don't play 'Black music' and don't play Bhangra. [It was] classist against Bhangra because that was seen as the music of cab drivers, the lower-wage workers of our community, and it was racist because they assumed 'Black music' would attract a different crowd," Rekha explained. As a DJ who would often spin songs that the audience wouldn't understand due to language barriers, Rekha began to recognize the importance of dance and movement in the songs they played. <h2>DJ Rekha's indelible mark</h2>Over the years, DJ Rekha has become a mentor to young, up-and-coming musicians of the diaspora. Basement Bhangra has birthed the careers of some of the South Asian diaspora's most gifted artists."DJ Rekha is legendary," Sikh Knowledge, a Canadian-Punjabi rapper who performed at the 25th anniversary Basement Bhangra party, told Insider. "Rekha made a space for queer Desis. A safe space for femme queer men, lesbian Punjabi women — you were safe there no matter how you presented." The musician first learned about Basement Bhangra through cultural programming when he was growing up in Toronto. On Sundays, Canadian television showed various cultural programming and spotlighted Basement Bhangra. Years later, Sikh Knowledge became a part of the show's long-running history.<div type="image" title="DJ Rekha at Basement Bhangra's revival at Summerstage, Central Park New York." height="2800" width="3733" msid="93599339" hostid="261"></div>The roster of artists that have performed at Basement Bhangra in its 25-year history is vast: Artists like Horsepowar, Madame Gandhi, Sikh Knowledge, and Panjabi MC, who penned the legendary Bhangra hit "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ilXc0j1iHA">Mundian To Bach Ke</a>" (famously remixed by Jay-Z), have graced the stage at the coveted event. At the 25th anniversary party, American Punjabi singer and rapper Jasmine Sandlas headlined and performed some of her biggest hits, including "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7_yY3yr-jE">Illegal Weapon</a>," which has garnered over half a billion views on Youtube.<h2>A space for creativity and experimentation</h2>True to its original founding ethos, Basement Bhangra also became a place where burgeoning South Asian musicians could experiment with new forms of expression."It was the first to really allow us to feel a space in the nightlife community, a space where you could actually get down to your own music from your own culture," Raaginder, an Indian violinist, told Insider.The unique blend of music emerging from the South Asian diaspora — like Raaginder's blend of Indian classical violin and hip hop — often elides a specific genre."My sound is an amalgamation of my upbringing in the diaspora," Raaginder said. "I'd listen to hip hop, Jay-Z, Kanye at school, and grew up singing and playing Indian drums and violin at home with my musician parents. I had this really cool intersection of two different worlds that I was living in and was inspired by."<div type="image" title="Raaginder Singh, an Indian violinist." height="1537" width="2048" msid="93599341" hostid="261"></div>Basement Bhangra not only cultivated a space that allowed for diverse music from an immigrant diaspora to flourish, but also exposed bands like Red Baraat, which fuses North Indian brass music with jazz, to more South Asian fans.Red Baraat didn't initially have a defined audience. It wasn't until they played some sets at Basement Bhangra that the band exploded in popularity among South Asian listeners."Rekha definitely put us in front of a large group of people who probably didn't hear about us, hardcore Punjabis who were ready to throw down," Sunny Jain, Red Baraat's founder and dhol player, said.<h2>The next generation of music</h2>Basement Bhangra was pivotal in increasing South Asian representation in music, and artists said its legacy will have a lasting impact on the next generation of musicians in the diaspora."Having that representation is such a big thing, because you won't feel like you're doing this for the first time. That adds so much pressure," Raaginder said.Musicians told Insider the sense of being a part of a larger community of musicians will lead to more experimentation and vibrant new sounds from the next generation of South Asian creators."I feel like our moment is coming soon," Raaginder said. "The South Asian moment is knocking on the door."As for what's next, DJ Rekha has a clear idea of where they hope Basement Bhangra's legacy leads."There's two things," the DJ explained. "One, we, as South Asians, want access to the same things that everybody else has, and two, we should give everyone the same access. As much as it's great to see South Asian excellence in entertainment, I want to see us open doors for not only ourselves but for other groups as well."

Inside the electrifying world of Basement Bhangra, the legendary New York City dance scene

<keyword id="136531" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="punjab-chief-minister" source="Orion">Punjab Chief Minister</keyword> <keyword id="6361287" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="amarinder-singh" source="Orion">Amarinder Singh</keyword> on Saturday resigned from the post after a day-long political drama and said he resigned as he felt humiliated. At the same time, he said the "future politics option is always there and I will use that option". "I have given my resignation. The future politics option is always there and I will use that option," the Chief Minister, who was active in the politics for 52 years, told the media after resigning from the post. Without mincing words, he clarified that, "I have not resigned from myself". "I am in Congress, will discuss with my colleagues and then decide the future course of action," he said. Justifying his decision on his resignation in less than six months of the state going to polls, Amarinder Singh said, in the past two months the high command summoned the legislators thrice. "I had decided in the morning. I had spoken to the Congress President in the morning. I had told her I am resigning," Amarinder Singh said. The resignation of the Chief Minister and his council of minister came just minutes ahead of a crucial meeting of the Congress Legislative Party (CLP). The party's high command is learnt to have conveyed to Chief Minister Amarinder Singh to resign to enable the election of a new incumbent. According to some senior party leaders, the high command had categorically asked Amarinder Singh to step down. The minute-by-minute changing political tussle began at about 11.42 p.m. on Friday when Punjab Congress in-charge Harish Rawat tweeted about the decision to hold an urgent CLP meeting on Saturday. Almost 10 minutes later state party chief Navjot Sidhu directed all the MLAs to be present at the CLP meeting. The announcement by Rawat was seen as an indication from the high command to appoint the new incumbent under whose helm the party will go to Assembly polls, slated in March 2022. Responding to the political developments, former state President Sunil Jakhar tweeted: "Kudos to Sh Rahul Gandhi for adopting Alexandrian solution to this Punjabi version of Gordian knot. "Surprisingly, this bold leadership decision to resolve Punjab Congress imbroglio has not only enthralled Congress workers but has sent shudders down the spines of Akalis." The decision to call the CLP comes in the wake of the fresh letter signed by a majority of legislators who expressed dissatisfaction with Amarinder Singh and demanding his removal from the Chief Minister's post. SEE ALSO <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/personal-finance/news/universal-pension-is-a-better-idea-than-universal-basic-income-says-indias-chief-economic-advisor/articleshow/86282048.cms">Future of Work 2021: Universal pension is a better idea than universal basic income, says India's Chief Economic Advisor</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/the-only-way-to-beat-the-bots-from-taking-your-job-is-to-be-more-human/articleshow/86282273.cms">Future of Work 2021: The only way to beat the bots from taking your job is to be more human</a>

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh resigns amid ongoing turmoil in Congress

New Delhi, July 6 (IANS) Home-grown regional language social media app ShareChat's short video sharing platform Moj has crossed five million downloads from Google Play Store in just about a week since the beta version of the TikTok rival was released. The speed at which this app was being installed even at the testing phase only suggests how big a vacuum has been created following the disappearance of TikTok from app stores for Indian users after the country banned the app, along with 58 other Chinese apps. The Moj app is available in 15 Indian languages -- Hindi, Telugu, Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi, Malayalam, Bengali, Tamil, Kannada, Odia, Bhojpuri, Assamese, Rajasthani, Haryanvi and Urdu. As of now, on downloading the app one just needs to select the preferred language and they are good to go. One can browse through the feed on the Moj app and share their favourite videos with friends and family. According to the description of the app on the Google Play Store, Moj aims to bring a global community of creators to one platform so that users can meet "tens of millions of celebrities and talented artists" from around the world on the app and also get to make friends with young people from their city or neighbourhood. Among upcoming features listed by the "Made in India" app includes a number of special effects, thousands of stickers, and magical emoticons for your selfies. It will also have "Magic filters" so that users can create music videos with special effects at full sync with the music's beat, according to the app. The beta version of the app is currently available only on Google Play Store, but it may soon be available for iOS devices as well, according to industry sources. --IANS gb/na

ShareChat's TikTok rival Moj crosses 5mn downloads on Google Play

<ul><li>In our fourth episode of The Influencer Adda, we speak to our favourite Punjabi Kudi on social media, Ruhee Dosani.</li><li>Year 2020 was tough for all of us, but thankfully, we had the extremely talented Ruhee who put a smile on our faces and made us all groove with her dance videos.</li><li>We caught up with her to understand the importance of manifesting positivity as a content creator who has an influence on millions of people, got her to sing her favourite song, and a lot more.</li></ul>Ruhee Dosani, a digital content creator, has won the brandverse over with her adorable performances on Nirma, Badshah Masala, Hello Hunny Bunny and every video that she puts out. She has helped bring out our inner-desi that we have been suppressing and made us feel proud of our culture, all through her <keyword id="8322765" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="instagram-reels">Instagram reels</keyword>. We reached out to Ruhee to find out more about her first video, the process that goes behind making her videsi friends lip sync and groove to Bollywood numbers, the pressure of constantly creating content and we even got to witness an unseen side of her. (Ruhee can also sing and oh boy, doesn't she sound like a nightingale). <div type="Video" msid="81499385" hostid="261" title="Ruhee Dosani on her journey and love for content creation" dataSource="BUSINESSINSIDER" thumbUrl="https://denmark.timesinternet.in/cmslite/api/app/images.jpg?msid=81499385"></div> Ruhee did not plan to become a content creator. She just wanted to capture her videsi friends, who were her co-workers, enjoying Bollywood songs as much as she does. They would use their break time in the office to dance on desi songs. Till today, whenever they meet, they break into a dance randomly and even celebrate Indian festivals. Taking us back to the day when Ruhee was first discovered by Diljeet Dosanjh, she recalls, “I play Bollywood music a lot, when I am driving or sitting idle and they (friends) started grooving to it. That’s how it started. We just started grooving, that’s all. My first video that went viral was because of Diljeet Dosanjh. That’s when I realised that I like the recognition. I found myself feeling greedy for more love from the audience and I wanted to make them smile and laugh through my videos, especially after going through such a crazy year! The second video that went viral was Biggini shoot.” Ruhee has been brought up in a family that is extremely fond of music. When she was younger, she would tag along with her mother and sing in Gurudwaras. She can even break into a dance on a sad song. She is particularly fond of old Bollywood music. “When I listen to a sad song, I focus on the beats. It all depends on what you choose to focus on. Growing up in Mumbai, I celebrated different religious festivals and everything is so much brighter during festivals. I would participate in college festivals, annual functions. I was even awarded for having the best facial expressions once and that made me really happy. A lot of my friends in Mumbai are Deejays and music is just my stress buster,” shares Ruhee. She likes to keep her content creation process simple. She doesn’t sit down to look for a song. She lets the song come to her and once it does, even the snowfall hasn’t stopped her from making videos. She started her brand journey with Netflix India, directly shooting for the stars. Since then, she has worked with quite a unique set of brands such as Nirma, Badshah Masala, Sony, to name a few. She has kept her screening process for brands simple, too (just relies on aakad, bakkad, bame, bo: jokes Ruhee). She goes for what she resonates with. “I can’t work with a beauty brand or makeup brand. I can’t do ‘Take Care’ Garnier ads just because I have long hair, that’s not me. I know I am not good at it. If a brand approaches me, I discuss with my friends. If they also think it is different and goes with my persona, I do it,” says Ruhee on her screening process. Her advice to those who aim to become a social media content creator is to follow their hearts and ‘Just Do It!’ She says, “If you are thinking about becoming a content creator, you are already a step ahead. I never thought of becoming one. If you have a vision, never give up. Do whatever you aim for and just be you. Don’t put out content that is not you and don’t put out content that spreads hatred. Be consistent and don’t quit. My mother once asked me how I would react if I didn’t get a single like? That reminded me that I should focus on myself. Don’t do it for attention, do it for you. Just that one video to get recognition and your journey starts.” <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="80651289" title="I was happy even with 5,000 views: Ashish Chanchlani on becoming the second-most subscribed YouTuber in India" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="80154947" title="I still can’t believe I am an influencer, machan: Niharika NM on crossing one million followers" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>

Ruhee Dosani on finding her love for music, dance and content creation

The 41st edition of IIT’s annual cultural fest, <keyword id="37794" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rendezvous">Rendezvous</keyword>, was a starry affair like last year. Deemed to be one of the most fun fests, it kick-started on Monday with pomp and show. 
 On day 1, street plays and beat boxing competition kept the fun and excitement going in the campus. It continued with Blitzkrieg – an English rock band competition, which literally had the crowd head-banging. Energy was at an all time high as soon as Euphoria hit the stage. Crowds grooved to singer <keyword id="19788" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="palash-sen">Palash Sen</keyword>’s ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’. He dedicated the show to Indian soldiers. The band DU performance had started with Lady Shri Ram College for Women, following which it has performed at IIT four times. 
 
Before they came in for final showdown, four bands competed in IIT’s Hindi rock band competition Spectrum. Following this band TMKC (Teri Music Ki Chahat) made its way to the stage and sung their version of ‘Muqabala Muqabala’ keeping the crowds with them all along. 
 The event also saw lyricist <keyword id="10355" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Javed-Akhtar">Javed Akhtar</keyword>. He was a guest at a session titled 'Mukhatib: In conversation With Javed Akhtar'. Known for his bold views on several topics of social interest, this man of fame did not shy away in voicing his concerns over Triple Talaq, at <keyword id="57604" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="iit-delhi">IIT Delhi</keyword>. He said- "This is not the first time that I am saying this. Is it a topic which can have two points of view? It is a shame that the country is allowing this. The whole idea is sick. It is a matter of shame. Triple talaq is not allowed in Pakistan or Bangladesh, but it's allowed in India." 
 
As students moved away from the thought provoked session, music composers Vishal-Shekhar gripped IIT Delhi with their music fever as they brought the curtains down on IIT the four-day-long fest. The madness started with 'Bachna Ae Haseeno' and went on to some of the famous songs like 'Dus Bahane', and 'Salaam Namaste’. But it was the energy that the duo bought to the stage, dancing all along on Punjabi dhol beats, that made the entire event come alive. 
 
It sure was one hell of an event, something you just couldn’t afford to miss! 
 
(Image credit: BCCL)

Here’s all that unfolded at
Rendezvous, IIT Delhi’s biggest cultural fest

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>Indian music channel T-Series is about to overtake <a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/category/pewdiepie?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PewDiePie</a> as the most subscribed channel on YouTube.</li><li>Research firm Tubular Labs has predicted that T-Series will overtake PewDiePie's 67 million subscribers by Monday 29 October.</li><li>T-Series already has more views than the Swedish YouTuber.</li><li>T-Series posts Indian music videos to its channel and is growing at a rapid clip, possibly thanks to India's still-growing smartphone population.</li></ul>PewDiePie, the Swedish vlogger known in real life as Felix Kjellberg, has long been the most popular personality on YouTube.Despite purported Nazi jokes and racist comments, PewDiePie has racked up 67 million subscribers to his channel, making him the most subscribed YouTuber of all time. It isn't unusual for his videos to garner anywhere between three and five million views a few days after being posted.But, according to analysis from Tubular, PewDie is likely to lose that long-held top slot on Monday 29 October to T-Series, a Bollywood channel with 66 million subscribers that most Westerners have never heard of.It already has more views than the Swedish YouTuber, but now it's on track to beat him in terms of numbers of subscribers.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div></div></div>T-Series isn't an individual, like Kjellberg, but a Mumbai-based film and entertainment company which has been around for decades. <a href="https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/a3qb54/the-rise-of-t-series-the-youtube-channel-that-will-soon-dethrone-pewdiepie">According to this Motherboard profile of T-Series</a>, the company started out as an audio cassette firm and offers music videos that go beyond Bollywood - which mostly consists of Hindi songs - with regional languages such as Tamil.T-Series' YouTube channel comprises entirely Indian music videos. Its most viewed video is the song "Lahore" by Punjabi singer Guru Randhawa with 601 million views.There are a few reasons T-Series has the advantage over PewDiePie. Its channel is more prolific than PewDiePie's, posting six videos in the space of 24 hours versus two from PewDiePie. As a one-man band, Kjellberg can't keep up.India also has a population of 1.3 billion people and, unlike many Western markets, <a href="https://www.emarketer.com/content/more-than-a-quarter-of-india-s-population-will-be-smartphone-users-this-year">smartphone adoption is still growing</a>. The country remains obsessed with Bollywood, and so it's natural that new smartphone owners would turn to YouTube to find their favourite hits. If anything, it's surprising a Bollywood-oriented channel took this long to become the number one YouTuber.As a result, T-Series is growing at a much faster clip than PewDiePie. According to Tubular, the Bollywood channel gained 4.2 million subscribers in September. PewDiePie gained just 863,000.PewDiePie has talked about the rivalry with T-Series, and apparently expressed reservations that an "indie" YouTuber might be supplanted by a corporate channel.<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggsqvFsgoKk&amp;t=1116s">In a video posted October 21, he said</a>: "I don't really care about T-Series, I generally don't, but I think if YouTube does shift in a way where it does feel more corporate, then something else will take its place. People enjoy this connection so much, I think something else will show up if it becomes more corporate."<div></div> <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-pixel-3-xl-hands-on-first-impressions-2018-10">First impressions of the Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL</a></h3> <div> </div> </div>

PewDiePie will lose his crown as YouTube's biggest star next week, thanks to India's obsession with Bollywood

<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Bappi+Lahiri+">Bappi Lahiri </a>was at <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Barbeque+Nation">Barbeque Nation</a> recently to visit its <keyword id="184796" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Bollywood-Disco">Bollywood Disco</keyword> Carnival. Amidst the feisty lights and groovy music, the maestro looked at peace. 
 
BI India caught up with the ‘<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Disco+King">Disco King</a>’ for a slice of his retro pie. If anything came in the way later, it was the god-awful spell check. Damn you Bill Gates! 
 
Disclaimer: The following content contains uncensored Bappispeak. Proceed at your own risk. 
 
1. You’ve completed nearly 45 years in the film industry. How did you stay relevant so long? 
People love me. My music is always good. I’m a singer-cum-composer. 
 
I work with Dilip Kumar Saab to Jeetendra, Dharmendra, Mithun and Govinda. I sang for him, Amitabh ji. Aana Jana Laga Rahega, Greftar. Wo bhi superhit hai (That too is a super-hit). 
 
What you are today, I have 120 Platinum disks if you come to my home. 
 
2. How different is today’s Bollywood music from the 80s? 
Us time pe picture bohot bante the (A lot of fims were produced back then). Me and Laxmikant practically had the full industry in our hands. 
 
Today the Khans release one film a year. People watch a song, and not just listen to it anymore. 
 
Also, we used to have live orchestra. I miss <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Kishore+Kumar">Kishore </a><a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Kishore+Kumar">Kumar</a>-<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Lata+Mangeshkar">Lata</a><a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Lata+Mangeshkar"> Mangeshkar</a> singing with a 100 piece orchestra. First computerized song in Bollywood, write it down, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Bappi+Lahiri+">Bappi Lahiri </a>has written, Tamma Tamma Loge. 
 
3. How different are today’s party anthems from the 80s? 
Now-a-days I’m in <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Hollywood">Hollywood</a>. I’m shuttling a lot between <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Los+Angeles">Los Angeles</a> and home. <keyword id="6356630" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="EDM">EDM</keyword> and Pop have a different beat, but melody is less. 
 
Punjabi Folk with disco beats are a hit today, like the one <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Kanika+Kapoor">Kanika Kapoor</a> sang. I love Punjabi Folk. I once popularized Bengali Folk – Yaar Bina Chain Kaha Re and De De Pyar De. 
 
4. Your fans complain you don’t sing enough in Bollywood as they would like you to. 
Two very big films coming next year. I composed two songs there. I don’t have enough time. I leave for America. Because of Slum Stars I’ve got very good contacts in Hollywood. 
 
The film got Best Film Award from Sydney. I have directed the film, and now it’s going for the National Awards. I’m also looking to submit for <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Grammys">Grammys</a>. 
 
Everybody has dreams. I want to do international more. I want to project India, India’s classical fusion. I have done enough films. 
 
Watch <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Dilwale">Dilwale</a>, I have a shot there. Gold is my God. You can see the film. 
 
5. Rishi Kapoor tweeted 2015’s Dhanteras would be yours. 
See son, any Hip-hop star today needs to have a locket. Any rapper, Snoop or Akon. 
 
We should copyright the dark glasses, bracelets and chains. 
 
Today, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Bappi+Lahiri+">Bappi Lahiri</a> without gold nobody likes. That’s the image people have of me. 
 
Any time I put the chain inside my shirt people say, “Bappi da, show your chain.” 
 
6. Seriously, how much Gold have you bought this Dhanteras? 
I don’t buy any more. I’ve had these for 25 years. (Points) This Ganpati is for 20 years, this Tirupati Balaji for 20 years. This ‘B’ Mrs. Lahiri, my wife gifted. It suits me. 
 
Everything in Gold is old. 
 
7. What other projects are you working on in 2016? 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=SnoopDogg">SnoopDogg</a>-<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Bappi+Lahiri+">Bappi</a><a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Bappi+Lahiri+"> Lahiri</a> is coming soon. I know, super hit song. Super hit song. 
 
I also did an EDM. I am mixing it currently. 
 
If you’re still undone, here’s some more Pure Bappi Magic. Enjoy! 
 
 
Image credit: Indiatimes

Exclusive: Having a bad day? Fret not, let Bappi Da crack you up!

<ul><li>In our series, BTS with Insiders, we take a walk down memory lane, and give you an insider's view of some of the most iconic Indian ads.</li><li>This week <keyword id="269997" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Amer-Jaleel">Amer Jaleel</keyword>, Group CCO and Chairman of <keyword id="3391368" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="MullenLowe-Lintas">MullenLowe Lintas</keyword> Group tells us some engrossing stories about campaigns he's done for <keyword id="46021" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tata-tea">Tata Tea</keyword>, <keyword id="6616182" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Lifebuoy">Lifebuoy</keyword> and <keyword id="47860" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="ICICI-Prudential">ICICI Prudential</keyword>.</li></ul> Nostalgia is a powerful tool, as we have witnessed in the last month and a half of lockdown. It was primarily this insight that made us start BTS with Insiders, a series that takes a walk down memory lane, and talks about some of the most <keyword id="3814561" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Iconic-Ads">iconic ads</keyword> that have helped build brands and tell wonderful stories. Last week, we spoke to Amer Jaleel, Group CCO and Chairman of MullenLowe Lintas Group, who has been instrumental in creating seminal work for a lot of brands. Over the years, he has created some award-winning work for brands Google, OLX, Maruti Suzuki, ICICI Prudential and Bajaj, amongst many others. Jaleel gave us an Insider’s view into a few campaigns he holds close to his heart. <div type="javascript" title="Facebook" contenttype="Video"><cdata><![CDATA[]]></cdata></div> Tata Tea’s Jaago Re Tea brands, for the longest time, sold on the refreshing proposition of its product. However, it all changed in 2008 when Tata Tea came up with Jaago Re, a campaign that wanted people not just to wake up but to awaken. What had started as a campaign to encourage people to go vote in the 2009 elections has now broadened its appeal and today talks about a lot of other issues too. It was perhaps one of the first campaigns in India that asked consumers to act, giving birth to citizen activism. “What is the most important thing about Jaago Re is that it sparked off the trend of socially responsible work. And this is something that we at Lintas really take pride in, making brands participate in social improvement. We were noticed all around the world for this work and many people have emulated this,” shared Jaleel. R Balki was also a prominent part of the campaign, shared Jaleel, who helped strengthen the idea of the campaign by adding a strong logic to the thought. Once they discussed the idea, Balki said to Jaleel, “You know, you have got this business because it is impossible for anybody to deny this,” he remembered. “It was one of those memorable moments of my life,” he added with a smile. “The funny part is, we cracked the idea for a tea ad sitting in a coffee shop,” he laughed. The first ad also featured actor Pankaj Tripathy, who was just starting out at that point of time. While there had been many auditions, Jaleel remembers being blown away by Tripathy’s audition. “In Pankaj’s audition, when he acted the line ‘Hum aapka vote maange aaye hain,’ he says he has come to request for people’s votes but with his hand, he made a gesture that would denote he is here to grab your votes. That struck me and I told our director Amit Sharma that we should use this in the ad. And that’s how we got Pankaj on board. I am sure he would have reached where he is today even without this ad, because he is extremely talented, but I am glad we were on to him pretty early,” shared Jaleel. The campaign went on to create wonders for the brand and is till today considered to be a game-changer. Lifebuoy’s Help A Child Reach 5 - Gondappa Over the years, Lifebuoy has been doing a lot in terms of spreading awareness around the importance of hygiene and washing hands, not just in India but across the world. And it wanted to come up with a campaign to showcase some of the on-ground work it had been doing. Thesgora, a small village in Madhya Pradesh was infamous for having one of the highest rates of child diarrhoea cases in India. The idea behind the campaign was to bring to light how a simple act of convincing people to wash their hands had a massive impact. “Lifebuoy told us that they’ve been doing this amazing work but people don’t really know of this work. They wanted something that would celebrate the work they were doing while also helping them promote the idea further. The objective itself was so inspirational that we had to do something really special,” shared Jaleel. Sagar Kapoor, the current Chief Creative Officer at <keyword id="274876" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Lowe-Lintas">Lowe Lintas</keyword>, told Jaleel that he had thought of an idea that wasn’t like the regular Lifebuoy ads that they did. He told Jaleel about something called ‘maanta’ which is something that people do if their wish comes true. Kapoor shared many examples of people fasting or rolling on the ground while on their way to temples. He was thinking of what would a person who’s child turned 5 do to celebrate the fact. “That’s when Sagar said that someone like him could say that he would walk on his hands to reach the temple and thank him for this gift. And the idea of walking on hands and Lifebuoy and hand-washing and the importance of that just struck like a rocket in my head. And I told Sagar that he had cracked something so special that his career was made,” shared Jaleel. The shoot was carried out in a place somewhere near Hubli in Karnataka, in scorching sunlight. The team had to select 2 actors, one who featured in the film, and another one on standby, considering how difficult it was for anyone to walk on his hands for long distances. The crew had to go to the spot thrice to complete the shoot as the first time the actor gave up as he couldn’t keep walking on his hands and the second time the shoot was brought to a halt by rains. The song used with the film was a Tamil song which wasn’t translated into any other languages and was yet able to cut through language barriers. The team had once gone to China where the film was showcased and the video moved many Chinese women to tears. ICICI Prudential’s Bande Acche Hain ICICI Prudential’s Bande Acche Hain, came at a time when men’s image across the world had taken a serious beating, shared Jaleel. “However, while we read about men doing heinous crimes or watched about them on TV, we realized we don’t know any such man and that inspired us to think about men in this way. We wanted to show that men are also glorious in their own ways. The most important thing that touches you in this ad is that men who do these beautiful things don’t really want it to be acknowledged,” explained Jaleel. And that is exactly what helped strike a chord with the audience with many people immediately identifying with many of the scenarios that have been showcased in the ad. The music of the campaign, composed by music director Shantanu Moitra and beautifully penned by lyricist Swanand Kirkire also added to the magic. “What is special about the ad is that it is a woman singing about a men but the men aren’t exactly looking for any appreciation. They were just going about doing the acts of care that they would anyway do, without anybody coming to know. When it comes to the song, I had a very different idea because Bande Acche Hain sounded a little Punjabi and in my head, the song was something more boisterous. However when I reached the studio and heard what Shantanu had created, it just melted me. I don’t know anybody who hasn’t got affected by the music at the first hearing,” said Jaleel. What also made the film special were the everyday instances that the situations drew from, making it very relatable and possibly the reason why it found so much love from the audience.

#BTSwithInsiders: Amer Jaleel on Tata Tea’s Jaago Re, Lifebuoy’s Gonduppa and ICICI Prudential’s Bande Acche Hain

What happens when top 6 <keyword id="143" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bollywood">Bollywood</keyword> stars come together in a romantic-drama under <keyword id="36968" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Zoya-Akhtar">Zoya Akhtar</keyword>’s direction? Our hearts skip a beat or two, but the message that Zoya is sending across to the audiences is: <keyword id="804876" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Dil-Dhadakne-Do">Dil Dhadakne do</keyword>. 
 
Yes, this is the title of her new movie which is slated for a June 5 release. While we all knew that a movie by this name is under production, not much was known about its plot, which has finally been revealed—in bits and pieces—as the first official trailer of the movie has been released just today. 
 So, what does this new trailer has to get us excited? Well, to begin with, it is the star-studded cruise ride that the movie offers. Starring <keyword id="143436" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ranvir-Singh">Ranvir Singh</keyword>, <keyword id="1655" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Priyanka-Chopra">Priyanka Chopra</keyword>, <keyword id="6354700" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Anil-Kapoor">Anil Kapoor</keyword>, <keyword id="5015" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Farhan-Akhtar">Farhan Akhtar</keyword>, <keyword id="6357860" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Anushka-Sharma">Anushka Sharma</keyword>, <keyword id="3194" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rahul-Bose">Rahul Bose</keyword> and <keyword id="18676" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Shefali-Shah">Shefali Shah</keyword>, this is a story of a dysfunctional Punjabi family - the Mehras. 
 
In the movie trailer, Anil Kapoor and Shefali Shah, enacting as Mr and Mrs Mehra, are seen trying hard to get their son (Ranvir Singh) married; convince their daughter (Priyanka Chopra) to not take divorce (from Rahul Bose, her on screen husband); and busy projecting themselves as a ‘happy couple’ to the world. 
 
The movie also stars Anushka Sharma as the lady love of Ranvir Singh and Farhan Akhtar as Priyanka Chopra’s friend (or ex-boyfriend). 
Although the trailer looks interesting, but we can’t be so sure how far this movie will go at the Box Office. Well, let’s wait and watch till it hits the big screen. As of now, we wish the Dil Dhadakne do, good luck!

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