Ceramic hotspot!You've heard of book libraries, video cassette libraries and even plant libraries. But a ceramic pot library - Whazzat? Says Mrunalini Prabhune the brain behind this novel scheme which started just a fortnight ago, ``With growing awareness among people about making their work-places and their homes more beautiful we thought of lending the ceramic pots that we make on a monthly basis''. Elegant Enterprises as the venture on Paud road is called loans ceramic jars, vases, ceramic murals, Konark wheels and other artefacts in the manner of a library for a fee of Rs 150 a month with a deposit of Rs 500. ``We ensure that the artefacts are delivered to the member's home and changed every month,'' says Prabhune. Besides Prabhune who has been involved in cold ceramics for the past seven years her husband, Ashok and commercial artists Hrishikesh and Ashwini Mhasawade are also involved in the business. Now you could get a new ceramic artefact every month to brighten up your living room corner!Morning gloryThe dawn of Diwali is special and auspicious. And in the glow of this morning, accomplished artistes will perform in the city, under the auspices of institutions like Sanvad, Tridal, Manoranjan, Swaranand. This year some popular artistes have been invited to participate in the morning festivities on October 19 and 21. On the 19th, the Diwali Pahat, singer Padmaja Fenani-Joglekar will perform a programme Mangaldeep at the Garware College auditorium, 7.30 am. She will render our esteemed Prime Minister's poetic psalms, which have already hit the market in the form of music cassettes. On the same day, vocalist Shridhar Phadke will entertain his fans at Balgandharva Rangmandir. For the Padwa pahat on the 21st, Aarti Tikekar, Bhakti Barve-Inamdar, Prashant Damle and Sudhir Gadgil perform, again at the Balgandharva auditorium.Onion soup for the soulThis is one case where onions will make the housewife laugh! Everyone has heard of free gifts being given with hefty purchases like sarees or home appliances. And usually these gifts include pen-sets, spoons and mugs. But have you heard of onions been given as freebies. This should not come as a surprise at all, since onion prices have hit the roof this season. Preet Prashant Sarees, located at Poornima Towers on Shankarsheth Road is ushering in Diwali with a unique offer. With every purchase the happy housewife gets half-a-kilogramme of onions, irrespective of the price of the saree. The offer lasts till October 17. Quite a novel way of seasoning the festival this year!
