Archives January 2026

Visakhapatnam, Jan 12: Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach brings the essence of Andhra’s countryside to the city with Palletoori Panduga Bhojanam, a curated food festival celebrating traditional rural flavours. Hosted at The Square from January 14th to 25th, 2026, the festival captures the spirit of village celebrations, where food serves as a powerful expression of heritage, togetherness, and joy.

Rooted in the spirit of village festivities, Palletoori Panduga Bhojanam is a heartfelt tribute to Andhra Pradesh’s rich culinary legacy. The festival revives age-old recipes crafted using locally sourced ingredients, stone-ground spices, and time-honoured cooking techniques such as slow cooking, wood-fire preparation, and hand-crafted seasoning. The thoughtfully curated buffet presents an expansive selection of authentic vegetarian and non-vegetarian Andhra specialities, including Garelu with Natu Kodi, evoking the comforting nostalgia and abundance of traditional home-style festive meals.

With a strong focus on freshness, nutritional balance, and authentic flavours, the experience goes beyond food, transporting diners to the heart of rural Andhra. Guests will be welcomed with traditional drinks, serenaded by live music, and immersed in a thoughtfully themed setting, transforming the evening into a rich cultural and gastronomic journey.

Speaking about the initiative, Udayprakash Rudrapati, Director of Food & Beverage at Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach, said,

“At Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach, we believe that meaningful dining experiences are rooted in authenticity and a strong sense of place. Palletoori Panduga Bhojanam is our tribute to Andhra Pradesh’s rural culinary legacy, where food is an expression of heritage, community and celebration. Every dish reflects time-honoured techniques, locally sourced produce and the comforting flavours of village feasts, allowing us to recreate a deeply nostalgic and heartfelt gastronomic journey for our guests.”

What: Palletoori Panduga Bhojanam
When: 14th January to 25th January 2026
Where:  The Square, Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach
Time: Dinner | 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Reservations: 77998 84045

Whether you are a lover of traditional Andhra cuisine or seeking a culturally immersive dining experience, Palletoori Panduga Bhojanam promises an unforgettable celebration of flavour, heritage, and festivity by the sea.

Delhi NCR, Jan 12: The 61st edition of Shankar’s On-the-Spot Painting Competition 2026 was successfully held, reaffirming its legacy as one of India’s most prestigious and enduring children’s art events. With participation from over 5,000 children aged 5 to 16 years, the competition once again provided a vibrant platform for young artists to showcase their imagination, originality, and artistic talent.

Commenting on the significance of the competition, Navin Menon, Editor Publications, Children’s Book Trust, said:

“Shankar’s On-the-Spot Painting Competition has always championed the free and fearless expression of a child’s imagination. In today’s screen-driven world, this initiative is more relevant than ever, giving children an opportunity to disconnect from digital distractions and reconnect with their inner creativity. Seeing thousands of young minds absorbed in art reaffirms that creativity remains essential to emotional and intellectual growth.”

Since its inception in 1952, the competition has evolved into a cultural institution, encouraging creativity, self-expression, and artistic discipline across generations. The 2026 edition continued this rich tradition while addressing contemporary challenges faced by children today.

A key highlight of this year’s edition was its strong focus on digital detox. In an era dominated by screens and gadgets, participants were given three uninterrupted hours to immerse themselves in colors, ideas, and hands-on artistic expression. This initiative emphasized the importance of balancing technology with creative and mindful activities, fostering holistic child development.

The event also featured enthusiastic participation from several NGOs across Delhi NCR, including Vidya Foundation, Aarohan Foundation, and Katha Foundation, enabling children from diverse backgrounds to showcase their talent on a shared platform. This inclusivity reinforced the competition’s commitment to equal opportunity and nurturing creativity beyond social and economic boundaries.

The presence of esteemed trustees, Yamuna Shankar and Robinder Sachdev, added further significance to the occasion. Their interactions with participants, educators, and organizers highlighted the enduring vision behind the competition and its dedication to fostering creativity among young minds.

The 61st Shankar’s On-the-Spot Painting Competition 2026 stood as a powerful reminder that art is a timeless medium of expression. By blending tradition with contemporary relevance, the event celebrated artistic excellence while promoting mental well-being, focus, and imagination. As the competition continues its journey that began in 1952, it remains committed to inspiring future generations to think creatively, paint fearlessly, and grow beyond screens through the power of art.

Mumbai, Jan 12: Veteran media professional James Varghese has announced the launch of OTS Communications (I) Pvt Ltd, a full-service media agency delivering integrated solutions across Out-of-Home (OOH), BTL activations, retail signages, and ATL media.

With over 33 years of experience in the media and advertising industry, Varghese brings deep expertise in media strategy, planning, and execution. He was associated with OAP for 19 years, where he played a pivotal role in driving strategic media initiatives and building long-standing client relationships across categories.

Commenting on the launch, James Varghese, Founder & CEO, OTS Communications, said,

“Over the years, I have had the opportunity to lead campaigns across platforms and categories. These experiences reinforced my belief that effective media outcomes come from strategic clarity, execution rigour, and ownership. OTS Communications is an extension of that belief—hands-on, focused, and deeply involved in delivering tangible value for clients.”

Sharing his perspective, Abhijit Sengupta, CEO & Director, OAP Mediatech, said,

“James Varghese has been an integral part of OAP’s journey for nearly two decades, and his leadership, integrity, and people-first approach have left a lasting imprint on the organisation. As he embarks on the next chapter of his professional journey, I wish him success in building something of his own and pursuing his entrepreneurial vision. I am confident that the values he has always stood for honesty, humility, and commitment will continue to guide him forward.”

His transition marks the culmination of a significant professional chapter, shaped by decades of industry experience, relationships, and trust built over more than three decades—particularly during his time at OAP forming a strong foundation as he embarks on this new entrepreneurial journey.

OTS Communications is founded on the principle that effective media delivery is achieved through a balance of sharp strategy, disciplined execution, and accountability. Built as an agile and focused organisation, the agency is designed to work closely with clients at every stage of the campaign lifecycle, ensuring measurable and outcome-driven media solutions.

Positioned as a responsive and involved media partner, OTS Communications (I) Pvt Ltd aims to deliver integrated, performance-led media solutions while maintaining close senior-level involvement across all mandates, offering clients strategic clarity, execution discipline, and accountability across media platforms.

Divya Prem: Pyaar Aur Rahasya Ki Kahani Actor Suraj Pratap Singh Praises Young Co-Stars: They are fast learners and extremely focused

“Since the kids Harathi and Aqdas have joined the show, the atmosphere on set has become even more fun and lively. All the children are extremely adorable, and together we keep pulling pranks on our co-actor Megha Ray, which adds to the laughter on set. Their energy is contagious and brings a fresh vibe to our shoot days. Being around them reminds us to enjoy the process and not take things too seriously. Honestly, when kids are on set, work stops feeling like work, it feels like play with purpose.”

“What truly amazes me is how smart and sharp today’s generation of kids is. Even during shoots, they pick up their lines very quickly and perform scenes with such confidence that retakes are rarely needed. They are fast learners and extremely focused. Kids today are also very curious, they ask questions that sometimes even surprise me. There are moments when I think, “Wow, this question never even crossed my mind!” Working with them feels less like teaching and more like learning from a new generation.”

Chennai, Jan 12: Sundaram Finance Ltd. proudly presented this year’s prestigious Spirit of Mylapore Award 2026 to Sri Vidhya Nilayam, in recognition of their contributions to keeping the culture of the neighbourhood alive for the past many years. The award was handed over by Mr Moahan Venkatesan, Sr. Vice President and Head of Operations and Mr Sudheer Warrier, Chief Technology Officer, Sundaram Finance Ltd., to the proprietor of Sri Vidhya Nilayam, S Vijayakumari and her sons yesterday, towards the conclusion of the Sundaram Finance Mylapore Festival 2026.

The Spirit of Mylapore Award was first instituted in 2009 by Sundaram Finance to celebrate and honour long-standing residents and institutions of Mylapore that have made outstanding contributions to the heritage and culture of this iconic neighbourhood. The award is presented annually during the Sundaram Finance Mylapore Festival.

Founded in 1954, Sri Vidhya Nilayam, is a store that has been selling authentic and good quality puja products, including Kumkum, vibhooti, sandal powder and turmeric, among other things. The store is located on North Mada Street, and they have customers from across the world.

Mr Lakshmanan, son of S Vijayakumari, said, “I thank Sundaram Finance Limited for recognising us through this Spirit of Mylapore Award. It brings so much joy in our hearts. We wanted to keep the legacy of my parents alive by continuing to provide quality products and service to people.”

The Spirit of Mylapore Award has previously been presented to several distinguished recipients, including Sri Ramakrishna Mutt, Rayar’s Mess, The Sanskrit College and SSV Patasala, Vijaya Stores, Rasi Silks, Ramanathan Krishnan, P S Higher Secondary School, Dabba Chetty Shop, and Prof. R Ramachandra.

“After extended festive periods, many patients present with fatigue, acidity, uncontrolled blood sugar levels, elevated blood pressure and breathlessness. When celebrations continue without a break, the body does not get sufficient time to recover, increasing the risk of complications, particularly in people with diabetes, hypertension or obesity.”

“The liver is among the most affected organs during festive indulgence. Repeated consumption of alcohol and rich foods can worsen fatty liver disease, gastritis and other digestive disorders. Many patients seek medical attention only when symptoms persist well beyond the festive season.”

New Delhi, India, Jan 12: ECOS (India) Mobility & Hospitality Limited (ECOSMOBLTY | 544239 | INE06HJ01020), one of India’s leading chauffeur-driven corporate mobility providers, has reinforced its long-term commitment to safety with the successful implementation of its #Safety365 initiative, embedding safety as a core organisational value across operations.

The initiative was designed to move beyond a short-term campaign approach and establish safety as an everyday responsibility for chauffeurs and teams. Over a four-week period, ECO Mobility conducted structured engagement and training programmes focused on awareness, responsible driving behaviour, and continuous learning, supported by interactive sessions and regular communication touchpoints.

As part of the initiative, chauffeurs participated in safety pledges, symbolising their personal commitment to ensuring safe and reliable journeys. The programme saw strong participation, with more than 2,600 chauffeurs trained across 137 sessions, delivering over 2,800 man-hours of focused safety learning.

To sustain engagement beyond formal sessions, ECO Mobility has also launched a dedicated Chauffeurs’ WhatsApp Channel, ECO Mobility: Chauffeur Club, to share ongoing safety updates, training content, and best practices, ensuring continuous reinforcement of safety standards.

Commenting on the initiative, Ms. Deepali DeV, Chief Operating Officer of ECOS (India) Mobility & Hospitality Limited, said,

“At ECO, safety is not a periodic initiative but a responsibility we uphold every day. Through #Safety365, we are reinforcing a culture where every chauffeur takes ownership of safety, ensuring consistent, dependable, and secure mobility experiences for our customers.”

ECO Mobility continues to strengthen its safety-first culture, supporting its mission to deliver professionally managed, compliant, and reliable chauffeur-driven mobility solutions across India.

Canon India, a leader in digital imaging solutions, today announced the launch of three new models—imageFORCE 8105, 8195 and 8186—its next-generation printing lineup meticulously engineered to meet the evolving needs of jobbers, copy shops and book publishers. Entering a market valued in the tens to hundreds of billions of dollars, where growth is driven by packaging, publishing and commercial applications, the new series is poised to tap into key demand generators for these segments. With the introduction of the imageFORCE 8105, 8195 and 8186, Canon adds a new monochrome light-production line to its existing production portfolio, ensuring a seamless spread from office printers to high-volume production engines.

This next-generation black-and-white imageFORCE 8100 series is designed to deliver quality and professional-grade output thereby setting new standards of Black & White Brilliance for its customers. The printers deliver superior print resolution, enhanced coated media handling, larger banner size support, and higher feeder capacity to address the demands of Copy shops, Jobber & Print Service providers. Engineered for real‑world production needs, the imageFORCE 8100 series offers sharper 2,400 × 2,400 dpi output and more accurate laser imaging so fine text, graphics and halftones look cleaner, even on complex jobs. By handling a wider range of media, from lightweight duplex stocks to heavy coated papers and long-format banners the new lineup lets print providers take on more varied, higher‑value applications with one device, helping them upgrade print quality, expand services and deliver more premium jobs for their customers.

Speaking on the launch, Mr. Toshiaki Nomura, President & CEO, Canon India, said,

“The launch of the imageFORCE 8100 series marks a significant step forward in our commitment to advancing India’s rapidly evolving Production Print ecosystem. As businesses seek greater efficiency, automation and scalability in their production environments, this new lineup delivers the precision, reliability and media versatility they need to grow. With the 8100 series, we are strengthening our promise of empowering print providers with future-ready technology that elevates quality, expands service capability and supports long-term business transformation.”

Sharing his thoughts on the new lineup, Mr. Puneet Datta, Senior Director, Commercial & Industrial Printing, Canon India, said,

“With the launch of the Monochrome Production Printer imageFORCE 8100 series, we’re expanding our portfolio to give print providers the technology they need to thrive in today’s demanding production environment, where speed, precision, and reliability are non-negotiable. A standout feature is AI-assisted smart maintenance, which predicts the lifespan of parts and key components, enabling proactive service and minimizing downtime. Combined with Canon’s advanced print quality and the ability to handle diverse media, from coated stocks and envelopes to long-format banners, the 8100 series empowers customers to take on more high-value projects with confidence. This lineup is designed to help businesses boost productivity, deliver exceptional quality, and stay competitive in a fast-changing market.”

Higher Print Resolution for Professional Output

The imageFORCE 8100 series delivers up to 2,400 × 2,400 dpi resolution, powered by Canon’s advanced 32-beam R-VCSEL laser technology, which produces sharper text, denser blacks, refined lines, and greater readability, including critical use cases such as barcodes. The upgraded imaging system significantly improves line quality with reduced scatter and raises benchmark barcode performance from D-F levels on earlier models to A-C on the new imageFORCE 8100 range, ensuring professional-grade output across demanding applications.

Coated Media Support for Expanded Print Possibilities

The new imageFORCE 8100 series is built for versatility; the platform now supports coated substrates from 91-150 gsm, along with embossed media, films, and pre-printed stocks. A wider media weight capability ranging from 52-300 gsm enables duplex printing on uncoated sheets and premium coated finishes, ideal for book publishing, commercial print runs, and specialty production jobs that demand richer texture and elevated finish quality.

Higher Feeder Capacity for Increased Productivity

Designed to handle evolving print volumes, the imageFORCE 8100 series features enhanced feeder capacity for sustained, uninterrupted operations in high-demand environments. Equipped to hold more media at once, it improves throughput, supports long-job execution, and reduces intervention time, supporting continuous print cycles for jobbers, copy shops, and book publishers with peak workload requirements.

Extended Size Flexibility for Banner and Long-Format Jobs

With support for media widths up to 13 × 19 inches and extended lengths up to 1,300 mm (51”), the series unlocks new possibilities in banner printing and long-format applications. This capability allows organizations to diversify their service offerings, run complex layouts, and deliver higher-value output without compromising efficiency

Together, these advancements reinforce Canon India’s focus on continuous innovation and customer-centric design, ensuring that the imageFORCE 8100 series not only meets today’s production demands but also anticipates tomorrow’s opportunities. By combining higher print quality, greater media flexibility and scalable productivity, Canon aims to empower print providers across segments to grow faster, differentiate their offerings and build more sustainable, future-ready businesses.

Gurugram, Jan 12: KIIT World School, Sohna Road, recently hosted a CBSE Capacity Building Programme (CBP) workshop focused on Art Integration, designed to equip educators with innovative strategies to make classroom learning more engaging, creative, and effective.

The workshop was led by CBSE Resource Persons Rama Shankar and Kalyani Voleti, both seasoned educators with extensive experience in teacher training. Kalyani Voleti, a specialist in Visual Arts Education, shared practical insights on embedding artistic approaches across subjects to enhance conceptual understanding and foster deeper learning.

Teachers actively participated in experiential activities, including role-playing exercises based on the Preamble of the Constitution and discussions aligned with the Multiple Intelligences theory. These hands-on sessions demonstrated how art can be seamlessly integrated into diverse disciplines, enabling students to connect better with academic concepts.

The workshop also emphasized the role of art-based learning in nurturing ethics, values, and emotional intelligence. Educators were encouraged to express ideas through acting, poetry, and visual storytelling, highlighting how every creative medium conveys meaningful narratives. Strategies to develop critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication skills—key 21st-century competencies—were also discussed for immediate classroom implementation.

Speaking on the occasion, Principal Neelima Kamrah said,

“Art integration has become an essential component of modern education. It not only nurtures creativity but also enables students to develop a deeper and more meaningful understanding of academic subjects.”

Pune, India, Jan 12: – Courtyard by Marriott Pune Chakan is delighted to announce the launch of its exciting Friday Themed Brunches at MoMo Café, offering guests an elevated culinary and entertainment experience every Friday.

Curated to delight food enthusiasts and redefine weekend dining, the Friday Themed Brunches feature a rotating selection of global cuisines, thoughtfully crafted and presented by speciality chefs. Each week introduces a new theme, inviting guests to explore authentic flavours, innovative presentations, and diverse culinary traditions from around the world, all in one vibrant setting.

Enhancing this gastronomic journey is Melody & Meals, a signature Thursday evening dining experience at MoMo Café. Guests can indulge in an elaborate buffet while enjoying live musical performances by talented musicians, who set the mood with soulful and energetic tunes. The seamless blend of music and cuisine creates an engaging yet relaxed ambiance, making for a memorable evening.

From indulgent spreads and chef-led specialities to live music that elevates the atmosphere, MoMo Café transforms Fridays into a celebration of flavours and rhythm. Whether gathering with family, friends, or colleagues, guests can look forward to a lively dining experience that redefines the social and culinary landscape of Pune Chakan.