Archives November 2024

21 November, Pune: Dastkari Haat Samiti, the renowned platform for Indian artisans founded by cultural stalwart Jaya Jaitly, celebrates a decade of vibrant presence in Pune with the Dastkari Haat Craft Bazaar. This milestone event will be held from 26th November to 2nd December 2024 at the Dutch Palace, 16 Bund Garden Road, opposite Residency Club and Inox Theatre, Pune. The bazaar, open daily from 11:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M., invites visitors to experience India’s most exquisite crafts, bringing together the nation’s diverse artistic traditions under one roof.

What’s new in this year’s bazaar:

This year, the bazaar will feature an exquisite showcase of craftsmanship, offering unparalleled inspiration for architects and interior designers. With around 110 stalls representing 20 states, the event will introduce several crafts to Pune for the first time, highlighting collaborations between artisans and the Samiti on innovative design projects. Visitors can explore a rich array of traditional crafts, including silk carpet weaving and crewel embroidery from Kashmir, mud-mirror work and leather craft from Gujarat, silver jewellery from Rajasthan, metal craft from Delhi, Kavad art from Rajasthan and banana fibre creations from Karnataka. Terracotta from Gujarat and Odisha, glazed pottery from New Delhi, iron craft from Chhattisgarh, ceramic craft from Gujarat, Surpur art from Karnataka, natural dye and weaving from Gujarat, Kantha embroidery and Gamcha weaving from West Bengal, velvet prints from Rajasthan and Chikankari from Uttar Pradesh will also be featured.

Craft Skills for Architects and Interior Designers:

In addition, a stunning selection of textiles such as Bandhani, Ikkat, Chanderi, Maheshwari, Banarasi and Bagh prints will be on display, showcasing their versatility in applications that extend beyond garments to ceiling and wall panelling, including the iconic Parliament gallery designs. This year marks the setting up of an elevated ecosystem where architects, interiors and craftspersons can engage and potentially collaborate with each other. This curated collection celebrates the diversity and innovation of Indian craft, making it a must-visit for design enthusiasts.

Public Workshops:

The Samiti provides artisans with the opportunity to engage directly with visitors through interactive workshops. These immersive sessions offer hands-on training in traditional crafts such as Madhubani painting (Bihar), Patachitra art (Odisha), Warli art (Maharashtra), Kalighat painting (West Bengal) and Gond painting (Madhya Pradesh). These workshops also aim to serve as a platform for architects and interior designers to connect with master artisans thus paving the way for potential collaborations. All architects and interior designers can reach out to us on Instagram to schedule a special guided walkthrough of the bazaar with our team.

Workshop Dates: 27th November to 1st December

One of a kind Video Shopping:
For craft lovers outside Pune, Dastkari Haat is excited to introduce video shopping, enabling patrons across the globe to explore and purchase select pieces. Details about the timings are available on DHS’s Instagram handle “dastkari_haat”.

“Dastkari Haat Samiti has always been about celebrating the boundless creativity and resilience of India’s artisans. The potential of craft lies beyond just holding bazaars. While they are for human interaction, education and reflect the spirit of joy, we want to continue to move towards more interesting collaborations with architects and designers, placing the artisan at the centre of it all. As we mark a decade in Pune, our aim is not only to showcase these incredible crafts but to inspire deeper connections and collaborations that will carry our legacy forward.”  said Jaya Jaitly, Founder, Dastkari Haat Samiti.

Dastkari Haat Samiti, celebrating 40 years of reviving Indian crafts, has unveiled a renewed brand identity to strengthen its commitment to artisans and handicrafts. This rebranding highlights the Samiti’s dedication to supporting practitioners and its rooted voice in Indian design. The rebranding of Dastkari Haat Samiti brings its vibrant new identity to life through thoughtfully designed merchandise, including tote bags and coasters. These unique items, blending tradition with contemporary design will be available exclusively at the DHS stall.

Bengaluru, 21^th November 2024: Thums Up, India’s iconic billion-dollar brand known for its strong taste and thunderous spirit, has launched its latest campaign featuring superstar Allu Arjun. This bold new campaign, arriving just as the buzz around Pushpa 2 intensifies, promises to captivate fans of both Thums Up and Allu Arjun.

Built around the core message ‘Thunder Hai Main,’ Thums Up brings a strong, bold taste that resonates with those who are ready to take on the world, and face any challenge that comes in their way. As part of this powerful association, the brand will soon unveil special-edition Thums Up cans featuring Allu Arjun—a collector’s item for fans and a perfect tribute to the collaboration.

Sumeli Chatterjee, Category Head – Sparkling Flavours, Coca-Cola India and Southwest Asia said, “Thums Up has always stood for bold new thinking and bringing extraordinary experiences to its consumers. With Thunder Hai Main, we’ve tried to capture the ultimate combination of the brand’s strength and Allu Arjun’s charisma. This December, we’re setting the stage to keep our consumers on the edge of their seats. So, grab your ice-cold Thums Up—it’s about to get intense!”

In a striking TVC envisioned by Ogilvy India, Allu Arjun commands each frame, guiding viewers from his confident grip on the bottle to the unmatchable strong taste of Thums Up. Each shot is packed with action, bringing Thums Up’s rush to life.

Allu Arjun said, “I’m excited to collaborate with an iconic brand like Thums Up. I have always believed that one must forge their own path and take on any challenge in life without giving in, just like the character Pushpa. Thums Up also shares this bold, unstoppable spirit and has been inspiring & fueling the Indian youth with strength & true grit.”

Ritu Sharda, Chief Creative Officer, Ogilvy, said, “Allu Arjun joins the thunderverse and announces it in his own inimitable style. What could be better than that. We are super excited to get the world to witness this thunderous collab.”

As Thums Up and Allu Arjun unite, audiences can look forward to a season filled with heroic feats — from the blockbuster release to exclusive special-edition Thums Up cans. With a legacy of iconic collaborations featuring some of the biggest names in the industry, Thums Up’s ‘Thunder Hai Main’ campaign hints at an even more powerful ‘thunder-verse’ poised to unfold. This campaign could be just a glimpse of the larger experiences that are yet to come.

Keeping loved ones of the bride and groom engaged at their dream wedding destination is a task that every hotel, resort, homestay or five-star hotel needs to master. After all, weddings need to done right for hospitality players because they offer a lucrative, additional revenue stream for the owners. For hotel staff, manually planning and coordinating every little detail for medium to large-format weddings can leave room for errors and overlaps.

STAAH, a leading New Zealand-based hospitality solutions provider, that has transformed the business operations of hotels across the world and in India with its stack of cutting-edge tech solutions, offers an effective solution to keep both guests and hotel owners happy this wedding season! Its customised vouchers are a game-changer for the hospitality industry and a powerful tool to build brand loyalty and expand guest reach.

Here’s everything you need to know about vouchers:

What are vouchers?

These are prepaid certificates that guests can redeem either themselves or gift to their loved ones by indulging in overnight stays, spa services, or even dining experiences. For guests, these offer the flexibility to experiences and services at the property and for hoteliers, these provide an upfront revenue.

How hoteliers can increase revenue through vouchers?

Personalisation is the key word when it comes to vouchers. Hoteliers can match the personal tastes of their wedding guests through a variety of vouchers. From spa packages to wine tastings and adventure tours, customised vouchers are more likely to be purchased and redeemed.

Hoteliers can even use vouchers as part of their loyalty programmes or as incentives for guests. Their word-of-mouth referrals will increase your voucher usage and encourage more guests to engage with your property. Hoteliers cab also think creatively and partner with local vendors for different guests experiences to enhance the value of vouchers.

Weddings are the ideal ‘special occasion’ to promote and spread the word about vouchers because during these gatherings, both gift-giving and keeping the wedding party engaged are a top priority for the organisers.

Weddings and Vouchers

The wedding season creates high demand for meaningful, memorable gifts. STAAH’s voucher system allows hotels to offer newlyweds unique experiences—from honeymoon packages to fine dining vouchers—that friends and family can gift. Custom branding these vouchers is a great way to   personalise the experience for the couple as well as for all who are a part of the celebrations. Couples have the flexibility to redeem their vouchers at their convenience, making them a practical yet indulgent gift choice.

STAAH’s straightforward and highly customisable platform helps hotels promote their vouchers through multiple channels and allows hoteliers to set specific promotions, encourage up-selling, and create seasonal campaigns that drive both immediate and future bookings. Due to its easy-to-use setup, hoteliers can launch their gift shop, set promotions, and analyse voucher performance to optimise campaigns.

By offering diverse gifting options, hotels build customer loyalty and attract a wider audience, positioning them for greater success during peak seasons.

Bangalore, November 20, 2024: Canadian International School, Bangalore organised the 10th Annual CIS Inter-School Junior Golf Tournament at Prestige Golfshire, Devanahalli, North Bangalore. Over 60 students between 6–18 years of age from schools across India attended the event. The format of the game was an 18 Holes Stroke Play for Categories A, B, C and D, and a 9 Holes Stroke Play for Category E. The categories were assigned based on IGU guidelines.

The tournament was attended by students from schools across India, including Go School, Prose Edu, Stonehill International School, Greenwood High International School and NPS to name a few. The Tournament was an excellent opportunity for students to interact with each other and nurture their love for the sport.

“As someone who thrives on the endurance required in triathlons, I truly appreciate the dedication and focus it takes to excel in any sport. The CIS Junior Golf Tournament 2024 was a wonderful showcase of athleticism, sportsmanship, teamwork and perseverance. Kudos to all the students who participated. Events like these help foster values that extend far beyond the game itself, and I’m proud to see our community come together to host and celebrate such an inspiring occasion with other students from across India,” commented Shweta Sastri, Managing Director, Canadian International School, Bangalore.

The Tournament winners across each of the five categories are as follows:
Category A

Amaey — Overall Winner | Go School
Ishnidh — 1st Runner-Up | Head Start Education Academy
Sushir — 2nd Runner-Up | Prose Edu

Category B

Nilofer — Winner | Prose Edu
Anirvin — 1st Runner-Up | Canadian International School
Divit —  2nd Runner-Up | St. Joseph’s Boys High school

Category C

Vivaan — Winner | Stonehill International School
Shwaas — 1st Runner-Up | Laurel Springs
Aniket — 2nd Runner-Up | St. Joseph’s Boys High School

Category D

Suryaansh — Winner | NPS Indiranagar
Advith — 1st Runner-Up | Canadian International School
Viren — 2nd Runner-Up | Vidyashilp Academy

Category E

Ruslaan — Winner | Greenwood High International School
Kabir — 1st Runner – Up | Inventure Academy
Vedika — 2nd Runner-Up | Nalapad Academy

The overall winner of the CIS Golf Tournament, Amaey, reflected on his win and said, “I would like to play golf in the US, and this tournament has helped me because now I know I can play level par and better. This is one of the stepping stones. I liked the course, it was playing well. I made a few birdies and bogeys, and hopefully will continue to keep playing like this for the next tournament.”

Mr. Andrew, Middle School Principal at CIS, gave out the prizes. Commenting on the tournament, he said, “Golf is the world’s greatest sport because it’s a constant challenge. There are always different perspectives and problems that you face and that you have to solve on the course. In many ways it represents life. Golf expects integrity and respect, which are two of our CIS core values. Today was a terrific opportunity for students to participate as a community of learners from different schools across India. This event fostered healthy sportspersonship, reinforcing the values of fair play and dedication, while rewarding creativity and skill, and nurturing students to become better people.”

“I think I’ve done really well in this tournament despite finding the greens challenging; it’s the best I’ve played at this venue. I’m happy CIS was able to conduct the tournament here,” said CIS student Anirvin.

Advith, another CIS student remarked, “I’m really happy that my game improved through this tournament by CIS.”

The 10th Annual CIS Junior Golf Tournament was a great success, and a wonderful day of competition and camaraderie where everyone was a winner in their own right!

Bengaluru, November 20, 2024: Fund a Child in India celebrated Children’s Day with the underprivileged children at Wonderla Parks & Resorts, Bangalore on 17th November 2024 through its Annual Event “DRAW YOUR DREAMS” – Drawing Competition, a platform created for the school kids coming from slums to come together onto a single platform and exhibit their talents & skills by drawing their dreams.

303 children studying in 5th to 10th Grades from NGOs namely Ark of Rainbow, Dr. Ambedkar Foundation, ECHO Foundation, and Samarthanam drew their dreams. The raw talent and creativity of these young artists were truly inspiring. The event, held in a lively amusement park, provided a joyful atmosphere that further enhanced the children’s creativity. We had over 60 volunteers in the event.

We express our sincere gratitude to Wonderla Holidays Limited for hosting the event; Dr. Sakey Shamu, the honourable Chief Guest; Better World, the Co-Sponsor; and individual sponsors, donors, and contributors.

Mumbai, 20^th November 2024: Paperpal, an AI-powered academic writing assistant by Cactus Communications (CACTUS), introduces two major features – Overleaf Extension & Centralized User Management Dashboard. These advanced features provide institutional partners, including librarians with a comprehensive toolkit for enhancing their research output.

Built to support scientific writing and editing LaTeX documents with ease, Paperpal’s new extension offers seamless language editing capabilities directly within Overleaf, while maintaining LaTeX source codes. This integration is particularly beneficial for librarians to extend academic editing support to students, researchers, and faculty members who write in LaTeX. Accessible via the Chrome extension, Paperpal for Overleaf is currently offering its leading real-time grammar and language suggestions for free.

As Paperpal continues to evolve, the Overleaf extension will expand to include its other AI features currently available on the web version, including AI writing, citation assistance, paraphrasing tools. With a cross-platform presence across the web, Microsoft Word and now Overleaf, Paperpal aims to provide a comprehensive writing solution for its institutional partners.

Paperpal has also released a Centralized User Management dashboard for their institutional partners, to empower librarians with improved visibility, and control of procured licenses. This comprehensive dashboard gives a detailed overview of purchased, active, and unused licenses, facilitating easier monitoring and data-driven decision making. With functionalities such as detecting active, inactive, and deactivated users, along with the ability to re-allocate licenses, the dashboard provides high level of flexibility and transparency thereby ensuring optimal license utilization. These holistic solutions are aimed at enabling librarians and writing centres at universities as well as research institutions in improving their research output.

Mr. Nishchay Shah, Chief Technology Officer and Head of AI Products, Cactus Communications, said, “With the new capabilities of the Overleaf Extension and the Centralized User Management dashboard, Paperpal strives to make cutting-edge, privacy-focused AI tools more accessible to academic institutions, fostering increased research productivity and scholarly output. By leveraging advanced AI technology, CACTUS is committed to developing impactful tools that address the needs of the research community.”

As a comprehensive AI toolkit, Paperpal is strategically positioned to enhance research productivity, by streamlining the writing process from conceptualization to submission and even post publication.

Mumbai; November 20^th  2024: EuroSchool, powered by Lighthouse Learning Group, one of India’s leading Early Childhood and K-12 education group, has secured multiple prestigious accolades across the EducationWorld India School Grand Jury Rankings 2024-25, EducationWorld India School Rankings 2024-25, and the Times School Survey 2024. The awards reiterate EuroSchool’s commitment to fostering and empowering its students to discover themselves.

In the EducationWorld India School Grand Jury Rankings 2024-25, EuroSchool’s standout achievements include:

• Brand EuroSchool: Recognised as India’s Most Respected K-12 Brand in Education
• EuroSchool Undri: Ranked 2 in India and 1 in Pune and Maharashtra for “Social and Emotional Learning Leader,” demonstrating the school’s dedication to nurturing emotional intelligence and well-rounded development.
• EuroSchool HSR: Recognised as 2 in India and 1 in Bengaluru and Karnataka in the “Safety & Security Champion” category, a testament to its commitment to providing a secure environment.
• EuroSchool Metro Campus: Awarded  in India and  in Hyderabad and Telangana under the “Great School to Work With” category, acknowledging the school’s exceptional workplace culture.
• EuroSchool Airoli: Noteworthy rankings of  in India and  in Navi Mumbai and Maharashtra for “High Happiness Quotient Schools” and 6 in India in the “Co-ed Day Schools” category, reflecting its emphasis on student satisfaction and co-educational excellence.

In the EducationWorld India School Rankings 2024-25, EuroSchool Thane ranked 7 nationally in the “Co-ed Day Schools” category, further solidifying its position as a premier institution for academic excellence.

The Times School Survey Ranking 2024 for Mumbai also highlighted EuroSchool’s leadership in education:

• EuroSchool Airoli: Claimed the top spot in “National + International Curriculum (Zone M)” and placed within the Top 5 schools in Mumbai for the same category.
• EuroSchool Thane: Ranked among the Top 3 in “National Curriculum (ICSE) (Zone K)” and within the Top 6 in Mumbai for ICSE schools.
• EuroSchool Dombivli, Upper Thane, and Balkum: Recognised among the “Top Emerging Schools in Mumbai” for National Curriculum (CBSE), underscoring EuroSchool’s growth and expanding influence in emerging educational areas.

Additionally, Education Today ranked EuroSchool Undri at 3 in Pune and 13 in Maharashtra in the “Top 20 ICSE Schools” category, showcasing its educational leadership within the ICSE domain.

Speaking on the accomplishments, Sadashiv Nayak, CEO – K-12 Schools said, “These rankings reflect our commitment to creating exceptional and inclusive learning experiences in a safe and supportive environment for every student. We are proud to be recognized as a trusted brand across diverse educational parameters, including emotional well-being, happiness quotient and safety. These recognitions reaffirm our vision to empower our students to discover themselves and reinforce our leadership in transforming the education space in India.”

Sun Neo’s popular show Saajha Sindoor features actress Stuti Vinkle in the role of Phooli. Recently, viewers have seen her portraying a series of diverse shades in her character. From the straightforward and simple Phooli to the dangerous Katari, and now to the humorous Maharaj Gulab Singh, Stuti’s range has captivated the audience. She recently shared her experience of playing these varied roles, discussing how it feels to bring each of these unique aspects to life on screen.

Stuti Vinkle says, “In recent scenes, I’ve had the exciting challenge of playing dual roles—both Maharaj and Katari. Maharaj, being a humorous character, was especially fun because he’s such a skilled classical dancer, and I even got to perform a dance that’s inspired by the famous moves from Bhool Bhulaiyaa. Balancing the comedic element with classical dance in a male role was a unique and rewarding challenge.”

Also, she added, “Playing Katari, my first negative character, was equally thrilling. Katari’s persona really pushed me to explore a darker side, which was a new experience for me. Embracing such contrasting characters was an enriching process, and I loved every moment of it!”

Stuti Vinkle stars as Phooli in Saajha Sindoor, capturing hearts with her compelling on-screen chemistry with Sahil Uppal, who plays Gagan. The show follows the evolving marital journey of Phooli and Gagan, while Saroj, portrayed by Sangita Ghosh, plots to create discord between them. Saajha Sindoor airs every Monday to Saturday at 8:00 PM.

New Delhi, India – On International Men’s Day, FlowerAura, India’s premier online gifting brand, successfully partnered with Bombay Shaving Company to host an inspiring floral arrangement workshop. The event was part of the  BloomBeyondTheBeard campaign, which was launched to encourage men to explore creativity, embrace emotions, and redefine modern masculinity.

The workshop witnessed enthusiastic participation from Bombay Shaving Company’s male employees, who delved into the art of floral arrangements. This hands-on experience challenged stereotypes by blending strength and sensitivity, demonstrating that artistic expression and nurturing qualities can complement a man’s persona.

Reflecting on the event, Shrey Sehgal, Co-founder of FlowerAura, shared his thoughts: “Men’s Day is a time to recognise and appreciate the countless ways men contribute to society, beyond traditional roles and expectations. Through our campaign, we wanted to inspire men to express their emotions openly and embrace the softer, nurturing, and creative aspects of their personalities. As a brand, FlowerAura believes in fostering self-expression and encouraging people to connect with their emotions.”

This Men’s Day campaign symbolized a movement that questioned traditional norms, promoting a harmonious blend of strength and gentleness. Just as flowers represent growth and transformation, this initiative emphasized that men, too, can thrive by embracing all aspects of their identity. With this unique collaboration, FlowerAura and Bombay Shaving Company have set a new benchmark for celebrating men’s creativity and emotional well-being.

India, 20th November 2024: Noise, India’s leading connected lifestyle brand, today launched an exclusively new TWS – Noise Buds Nero. These earbuds are a perfect blend of utility and style, made for modern-day users who seek high-quality sound and durability. The Noise Buds Nero come in a unique rubberised finish case, offering a sleek yet comfortable design. This finish ensures scratch and dust resistance, enhanced grip, and effortless handling for everyday use. It presents an impressive 45-hour playtime that ensures uninterrupted entertainment throughout the day and beyond. To top it off, the users can get their hands on this new product at an unbeatable price of INR 899.

Equipped with Quad Mic ENC, the TWS enhances voice clarity for seamless communication over calls, even in louder environments. The product is powered by 10mm dynamic drivers that are engineered to deliver an immersive sound. Catering to all the audiophiles, its low latency of up to 40ms ensures minimal lag, providing a seamless audio streaming experience during those long-lasting gaming, music, or movie sessions. Additionally, the proprietary Instacharge™ Technology offers 150 minutes of playtime with just a 10-minute charge while addressing the need for on-the-go power for today’s fast-paced users.

The Noise Buds Nero further boasts IPX5 water resistance that saves it from sweat and water splashes, thereby ensuring durability for workouts or other outdoor adventures. With HyperSync™ Technology Bluetooth v5.3, the new product extends quick, hassle-free connectivity, allowing users to pair instantly with their devices and enjoy a seamless auditory journey. The TWS exemplifies the philosophy of compact style and innovation, all set to become the go-to choice for tech enthusiasts.