Out amp; about

Diamond contest

De Beers has announced it8217;s annual diamond designing contest, fittingly called the Millenium Diamond Design Contest. Presented by De Beers and the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council, the invitation is thrown open to designers across the country. The theme is simple 8212; the design must capture thespirit of the new millenium and the designer must later be able to adapt it for daily wear. The winner gets a free trip to Paris for the grand finale of the contest. And if you enter, there8217;s nothing to lose anyway.

For more information and details, call the Diamond Information Centre on 267 8852.

New club

The Heritage Village Club at Goa, a Sita Holiday offer, has brought out a great new package. The club is new as well, so you can sample it by paying Rs 9,999 per couple for three nights and four days. Located at Arossim Beach, relatively virgin territory, it has three speciality restaurants, an Ayurvedic health centre, and, of course, the wonderful ambience of Goa thrown in free. There8217;s also a chance of winning a 10-day trip to Europe if you holiday here.

For further information, call 200 8422/284 0666.

India, exclusively

World Book International launched an encyclopedia with a special volume on India, which is not available exclusively 8212; it comes with the entire set of the newupgraded World Books. The special edition is thanks to the fact that India is the second largest market for World Book. And the thing to note about it is that is is not available to those who have the series already.Beauty solutions AVIANCE is an international range of cosmetics launched by Hindustan Lever Limited in India. You have the complete package on how to make yourself the hotstepper by availing of these solutions 8212; which come in packages that include a whole range of colour cosmetics of all kinds, suitable to Indian skin types8217;. Aviance products are available through personal selling only.

For youngsters only

An ideas company takes the trouble to launch a youth forum that promises entertainment, identity, personal interest and development issues of the youth8217;. Gravity, which made it8217;s presence felt at certain college festivals before it8217;s launch in February, is a forum run by people who fall in the age group of 18 to 25. Get involved with them, and you automatically get associated with250 colleges, they claim. Membership fees are Rs 550 for six months and Rs 950 annually. For more information, call 619 1613 between 10 am and 6 pm.

Event of next week

Promises to be Women8217;s Day. What else? March 8 will be a day when women all over the world will be expected to unite, join hands and celebrate their existence. We here, will be scouring the gift shops, buying cards to exchange and sweet gifts. Celebrate! You are a womyn with a Y8217;. So are all those who endure beating, burning and sexual harassment. A repressed existence, lack of education, forcible prostitution and beggary that women are forced into be damned. There8217;s no time to look into all those things now, we8217;re in the midst of Woman8217;s Day celebrations8230;

Srinath8217;s new support

United Television UTV launched it8217;s sports division today. The novelty factor is that they are not airing anything to do with sports. All they are putting their fingers into is promoting celebrities. And the first one on their list is JavagalSrinath. Starting now, all his promotional activities will be organised and handled by UTV. And in addition to that, Srinath will be promoting cricket among the youth. Seminars and workshops, wherein Srinath will share his expertise and experiences with all budding sports stars are in the pipeline. For more information on the same, keep your eyes peeled to this page.