Citygritty 8212; Pune

Says the enterprising Shah, who has been in the designing business for years now, 8220;I have been planning this for a long time. I discovered a lot of old designs, made blocks of them and used them on different materials. I have priced them reasonably because I have always believed that, to be exclusive, you don8217;t have to be expensive. This also enables me to tap a wider market outside Pune.8221;

Movers and Shekhar
Shekhar Suman, the popular star of TV shows, as well as Hindi films, was in the city recently to attend the inauguration of Manas Resorts in Bhugaon. He also visited the Osho Commune in Koregaon Park on March 7, and was wonderstruck by its serene beauty and peaceful surroundings. Suman watched thousands of maroon-clad sanyasins from different parts of the world meditating in the Buddha Hall and was amazed at the depth of silence. The talkative host of Movers and Shakers and Made in India could not help exclaiming, 8220;It is a world of its kind. Pune is fortunate to have a place like this. There are so many people around but one does not feel that one is in a crowd. Every person is so relaxed and happy. One day I would like to come and experience meditation for myself.8221; Suman also visited the Osho Bookshop and purchased books and audio cassettes. Well, well, can we expect Suman to present a new avataat?

Safe trek
The Kailas Mansarovar trek is a pilgrimage that is known to be as arduous as it is exhilarating. Slushy waterfalls and unpredictable landslides like the tragic one last year make it an even more perilous journey. Forewarned is forearmed and information about the risks involved can prove vital to the pilgrim-trekker. Former mayor Shantilal Suratwala who made the journey last year has offered to make this important information available to those who want to visit Lord Shiva8217;s abode.

8220;There are many misconceptions about the Kailas-Mansarovar trek concerning risks, government formalities, physical fitness tests. Such matters should be clarified before undertaking the journey. We are ready to furnish the necessary information through photographs, slide shows and video clippings which can be arranged for. We would also like to help those who want to make the journey but are not able to afford it financially,8221; says Suratwala. He can be contacted at the Acharya Anandhrishiji Pune blood bank at Sadashiv Peth.

Kiddies day out
The colourful and enthusiastic performances of Spanish dancers to Ricky Martin8217;s Maria. The cheerful display of colours and cultures for Mile Sur Mera Tumhara. And of course the boisterous foot tapping of the bhangra boys. It was all there to delight parents and guests alike at the second annual function of Neha Thakur8217;s Fun Time Club. Held at the Bharati Vidya Bhavan auditorium it was an evening filled with the most delightful of performances by the kids of the club as they got together to unleash their creativity and talent. With Father Matthew Joseph, principal of Vidya Bhavan as the chief guest and other well known educationists of the city like Nalini Sengupta of Vikhe-Patil and Mrunmayee Bhave of Gurukul amongst the guests of honour, the two-hour show was proof enough of the abundance of talent in the kids. The grand finale had the grandparents coming onto the stage to join their grandchildren in the singing of Hum Honge Kamyab.8220;The idea of the club is to let the children have fun and be themselves,8221;remarked a visibly pleased Thakur. The proceeds of the function have been donated to an orphanage in Khanapur.

Right side up
Did you ever wonder how the direction that your front door faces can affect your fortunes? Or how the kitchen8217;s position in the house can spell prosperity for you? The Jyotish Bharati, a city-based organisation, will shortly answer those questions at a Vastushastra workshop to be held on March 15, 16 and 17 at the Bharat Natya Mandir. 8220;We hope that the workshop will help in clearing doubts about this ancient science based on genuine references like the Kamikagan and Samarangan Sutradhar. The workshop will cover all aspects of Vastushastra including how the plot for construction should be chosen, the directions that are considered auspicious and a special section devoted to industrial plots,8221; says Sandeep Awachat who, along with Dhundiraj Pathak will conduct the workshop. At a registration fee of Rs. 450 vastu fans can learn about which direction they are headed in.