6 tricks to survive the greatest literary show JLF | Jaipur Beat

January 22, 2020January 22, 2020 AdminLeave a comment

After a long one year wait, JLF is back with a bang. Readers, writers, authors, intellectuals, columnists, celebrities, fashion evangelists and the citizens will be in action for the next 5-days of the biggest literary show in Jaipur.

Date- 23-27 Jan 2020

Venue- Diggi Palace

1. Most of you must have done the online registrations. If not, then there is no scope. Just reach the venue and get on the spot passes. (Be prepared to pay from your pockets)

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2. Having a pass does not secure you a seat 😉 Reach the venue early and grab your seat.

All the sessions are jam-packed; secure your seat well in advance or be ready to stand at the back.

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3. Be aware of the different venues in advance to avoid rushing at the last minute for your most awaited session. Take a note that session hopping is not going to be an easy task.

4. Be ready to capture – You might run into your favourite celebrity author while strolling around the cafe or bookstalls. Don’t miss to click a selfie with them and a copy of your own book signed!

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5. Dress smartly yet comfortably as you will be spending the whole day at the festival, standing, walking and loitering.

But, it’s fun to dress quirky. Because you never know, when your style became the talk of the town the next day on print and social media!

6. Take a cab or an auto to reach the venue. Avoid taking your own vehicle for the parking woos as so many literary and fashion enthusiasts will flock the venue in huge number every day. And, if it happens to be the day of a popular celebrity’s session then own vehicle is a definite no no.

clothes · Fashion Beat · Jaipur · Jaipur Beat · Jaipur Fashion · jaipurbeat · traditional

6 Types of Events to Adorn a Kurti

January 22, 2020January 22, 2020 AdminLeave a comment

In India, there are many celebrations. Thus you need to be well-prepped with different types of garbs that you can dress on these occasions. A Kurti among other Indian attires is popular clothing that most Indian women love. It is a versatile piece that spoils you for choice in what to pair it with as you plan to attend these never-ending events. On the other hand, it gives you an elegant, trendy and stylish look that boosts your self-confidence and fashion tastes. Therefore, with the many Kurti designs that are in the market today. It is important to have as many Kurtis in different forms and patterns that you can have on different occasions. Know how to dress it according to your body frame and how to pair and accessorize it well. All in all, although there are many Kurtis to choose from every Kurti type has an event that it is suitable for. Below are some occasions that you can wear a Kurti and the type of Kurti best suited for it.

The Office party

Source: indianclothstore.com

Does your office always have end year parties and small parties during the year for the employees? Then you have a reason to wear your Kurti outfit. The Kurti look is preferred by most women since it is descent and it is an easy look to balance. For the office party event, you need to avoid looking underdressed or overdressed no matter the position you hold. The Kurtis that you choose for this party can also be office wear if paired well but with fewer embellishments and shine. Some of the Kurtis you can choose are flared Kurtis, fusion Kurtis and asymmetric high low Kurtis paired with churidar to mention a few. Remember after the party work will go on and you need to portray a good impression with your outfit. Additionally, consider a long Kurti to the short ones for they are simple and outstanding.

2. The Cocktail party

When you are invited to a cocktail party. It is time to get an excuse to wear your modern look, Kurti. Since cocktail parties are not as traditional and everyone today dresses up in the latest trends to look stylish around their peers. Especially as a woman you do not want to be left out as your friends show off their fashionable side. Therefore, choose a Kurtis that flatters your body shape even though it is a traditional piece you can pair with modern bottoms. Alternatively, you can decide to opt for the indo-western Kurti designs for they fit perfectly for this type of event. For instance, sleeveless Kurtis, off-shoulder looks among others that keep on evolving. Also, choose satin, chiffon and silk fabrics for your Kurti for they portray a fun party look.

3. The Wedding event

Weddings in India are a big deal when it comes to sartorial choices. This special event is common in India and one wedding event has various parties within it that all require you to look the part. Today, through various online stores you can get a designer Kurtis for a wedding that is a favorite among most women. After all, you need to stand out especially with all the selfies and pictures that are taken during the event. Therefore, choose the right designer Kurtis, one that is exotic that matches your style, colour and has the right pairing. Also, remember to wear according to the colour theme of the wedding you are attending whether the event is during the day or at night. Choose one with lovely embroidery and embellishments. One type of Kurti that is best for the wedding is the Anarkali Kurti due to how classy it looks.

For Travel

Have you ever travelled with a Kurti and felt how comfortable it is? If not, for your next travel choose a simple Kurti type and you will love the experience. Therefore, no matter the type of travelling you have to undertake. Whether you are travelling solo, with kids or colleagues for work. Travelling is an event and luckily there is a Kurti for this event as well. Such Kurtis is denim Kurti, poncho Kurti, Slit Kurti to mention a few of them. They are a comfortable and stylish piece that is suitable either for long or short distance travel. Therefore, ensure that the Kurti you choose gives you the freedom of movement and avoid fitting Kurtis for they can be uncomfortable especially if you have to sit for long hours.

The Romantic event

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This is another reason to must have a Kurti in your wardrobe. When you have to go out on a date, either the first time or the tenth time. A Kurti is a quick yet elegant outfit to get you all glammed up together with accessories for your romantic date. This event too has several Kurtis that you can wear. Most of them are the trendy ones that you can pair in many ways as you prefer. For instance, during the day a short Kurti off the shoulder with a pair of skinny jeans is perfect. While for a night date a dhoti Kurti with no bottoms, side slit Kurti with fitting pants is a superb choice. Nonetheless, it is important to avoid embellished or embroidered Kurtis for they make you look too serious and yet your date requires a classy and fun date.

The Puja event

Source: anitadongre.com

Since the puja event is a prayer gathering. It is important to be decent and wear a traditional look. Fortunately, there are many types of ethnic Kurti looks that you can wear to this event. Therefore, look the part in this treasured event and during the small gatherings of the same that happen once in a while. As you choose the Kurti for this event remember it should be long, flared and with at least some embroidery and prints. Again, Anarkali Kurtis comes in handy as a perfect Kurti look for this ceremony. Alternatively, one long Kurti paired with palazzo pants and a dupatta will also be a complete look.

Art · art festival · Events in Jaipur · Festival · Jaipur · Jaipur Beat · Jaipur Happenings

Celebrate Heritage, Culture and Art with Red Earth

January 18, 2020 AdminLeave a comment

Jaipur has always been linked with culture, heritage and art. Over the last few years, Jaipur has witnessed innumerable art festivals that broaden our knowledge about its culture and heritage.

Adding to that Red Earth- an art organization is having a special program featuring Open Studio (art/sarees/design); Inner City Heritage Walks, and a Pink City Feast name RED EARTH x JAIPUR. It’s a 5 day festival that will take you to a journey towards a newer understanding of culture. Let’s have a look at what five-day festival has stored in for you!

Walk: Vastu and Urban Planning (23rd January)

Jaipur exemplifies a practical living model of the ancient Indian architectural doctrine of Vastu-vidya. This walk will explore the scientific and methodical approach underlying the founding of the city, guided equally by ancient Indian architectural / city building Vastu principles, as well as late mediaeval / pre-modern contexts when the city was founded.

Walk: The Hidden Vrindavan (24th January)

Jaipur is often regarded as the “Hidden Vrindavan” because of the benign presence of four important Krishna deities. The walk features a visit to Govind Dev Temple: the most prominent temple of Jaipur, located within the royal precinct; and the other lightmaps of Caitanya tradition: Radha-Damodar, Shri Radha-Gopinath, and Shri Vinodilal – located in varying neighbourhoods within the walled city.

Walk: Night Walk, Chaura Rasta (25th January)

The city at night, a special walk that explores the night-life of Chaura Rasta, one of the main streets of Jaipur. Aimlessly wandering through this beautifully lit up avenue, we revel in architectural delights, sip on street-side Chai, get lost in secret interior alleys, visit temples, and soak in the glowing pink beauty of the city, which takes on a radically different flavour as the day ends, and the night ascends…

A special feast featuring regional and local specials (26th-27th January)

A special vegetarian Sattvik feast, featuring local and regional specials, along with an eclectic mix of pan Indian flavours! This special home-cooked meal (supplemented by some items from specialist outlets), using largely organic ingredients, presents an intimate view of “Rajasthani” cuisine, radically different from the standard Rajasthani platters presented at restaurants.

Explore the unique taste of locally grown vegetables, savour delicate and not so delicate flavours, all together. A humble but special gastronomy experience- to give you a home-style experience of food in the Pink City!

Be a part of this unique and special program to discover one of the least explored facets of the Pink city!

Celebrations · Festival · Jaipur · Jaipur Beat · Makar Sankranti

Sankranti Shabdkosh | Jaipur Beat

January 13, 2020January 13, 2020 AdminLeave a comment

The most awaited festival of the year in Jaipur, Makar Sakranti is here and we can see the kites romancing the winds all across the city. While we all fix are music systems on our terraces and our mothers prepare steaming pakoras for us there is one more thing that defines the Makar Sankranti culture in our pink city and it is the unforgettable shabdkosh that springs up this season. Everybody, who has lived in this city have heard words like Pench Ladana, Wo kaata during this season. Just in case any of you have missed on the vocabulary that should be used during this season here’s a quick revision of the same.

1. Wo Kaata – While driving through the streets of Jaipur during this time very often you get to hear these words and the pitch at which these words are spoken you can obviously make out that they suggest victory over the opponent. In a ‘kite fight’ when one kite loses its battle and leaves the winds to take back its place on the ground that’s when the whole mohalla can hear the sound of, ‘wo Kaataaaa’

2. Tang Dalna – Before the kites take off for their journey, we peg them up properly with strings and so that it becomes easy to hook it up with manjha. We think that the term ‘tang dalna’ introduced by a young kid, who was quite upset with the fact that all he got to do during the event is to peg the kite when asked by his elders and who hardly ever got a chance to actually fly one. Hmm…makes sense.

3. Chutti Dena – Remember while you were young and preparing to learn kite flying. Yes at that time ‘Chutti’ given to your kite by your friend, cousin or sibling was enough to let your kite soar high. Since the term is mostly used by young kids the name of the term justifies itself.

4. Pench Ladana – Now what fun can be attributed to kite flying unless two kite flyers get a chance to show their kite flying skills by entangling their kites and managing to hold on to them while the kites battle to stay in the sky. Makar Sankranti sees a lot of ‘pench ladana’ both in the sky and on the roofs while young boys get to woo their beautiful neighbours.

5. Dheel dena – The most important person in the whole kite flying activity is the one who is handling your Charkhi. He is the one who is at the back and call of the kite flyer. Probably he is the one who hears this the most: ‘Zara Dheel Dena’

6. Lapetna – Another Sankrant terminology that is quite popular in the pink city is Lapetna. Unless you don’t know how to roll on the most important accessory of kite flying, manjha/sadda, then you are not a proper quite flyer. Apart from Sankrant the other place you hear the term ‘lapetna’ is when you are not able to swallow the big lies hurled at you by a show-off friend.

7. Thudda Modna – Remember how you need to shape up everything before you use it. Now that kite flying is such an important activity you definitely need to prep up your kite before it goes up to make its place in the winds. Remember how you see young kids placing kites on their heads and bending them by the sides. Yes, that’s called Thudda modna or getting your kites ready.

8. Dangal Ladane – Those who haven’t heard about this word have never been a part of an up class battle that people fight from high rise buildings and battle with others to let their kites soar high.

9. Patang Lootna – If you haven’t done this you are not a true patang baaz. All of us buy a plethora of kites during this time but that cannot match the happiness one gets from one looti hui patang !

10. Anti banana – Now this is one trick you need to learn if you wish to keep your manjha aur sadda in the proper place. Remember all you need is your fingers placed apart and rolling on the thread between them at ease but still at a fast pace. Who said that kite flying is an easy task? Yes, you have to learn all the tricks in order to place your accessories properly.

Although most of you must have heard of all these terms earlier we are sure that while reading this blog you must have realized that the festival of Makar Sankranti or for that matter kite flying is not as simple as it looks, there is so much science behind it. We have shared a few terms that we knew if you know some more then don’t forget to add them in the comments below.

Festival · Food · gajak · Jaipur · Jaipur Beat · Lohri · Makar Sankranti

Unfolding-what’s behind the celebration called Sankranti | Jaipur Beat

January 10, 2020 AdminLeave a comment

Did you know- Our body is capable of getting its Vitamin D reserves full with 3 full days of sunlight and the best quality of sunlight is the end of winter and beginning of summer.? See how wise our sages were of ancient India, who introduced the concept of flying kites in winter so that sunbathing wouldn’t add any kind of boredom! How exciting it is that along with the joy of flying kites, kids get direct sunlight and stock a good dose of Vitamin D for the whole year. Now you know, why we’re so enthusiastic about celebrating the festival of Lohri and Sankranti?

On a religious note, the day of Sankranti is celebrated to venerate the ‘Sun’ god and the best way to do that is to rise with the morning sun and visit the 16th Century Galta Ji & the Sun temple located on the outskirts of the old city.

On this day, the devouts trek up the small hill to the temple exiting the City through Surajpol & Galtaji gate and pay homage to the deities in the temple downhill.

On Makar Sankranti, it is considered especially auspicious to take a dip in the 7 holy Kunds / water tanks located in this stunning Complex. While you are there, you might as well do some Surya Namaskars & get your quota of Vitamin D and all the other health benefits from the blessed rays of the Sun. Maybe just for today, you can go a little easy on the Sun-Block 🙂

Makar Sankranti is also celebrated as the harvest festival of the country. The Rabi crop is harvested in the month of January and corn, mustard, peanuts, sesame etc. are the major crops harvested at this time. One day before Sankranti, i.e. on Lohri the new crop is offered to God through worshipping fire.

Lastly, how can we miss the most important thing about any festival in the city-Food? Makar Sankranti food is all about pakode, moongfali, popcorn, khichadi, gajak, feeni, ladoo and papdi-chat. Everyone loves to savour these special delicacies and the Children in the house go up and down the terrace for serving them. The youngsters become DJs playing the best songs the loudest on their rooftop.

Take in the spirit of this exciting festival, Jaipur’s style, this is special to hold on to in your memories forever.

art festival · Celebrations · Fairs & Festivals · Festival · Food · Forts & Monuments · Jaipur · Jaipur Beat · Jaipur Food · Jaipur Happenings · Jaipur Literature Festival · Makar Sankranti · Music Festival · Rajasthan Food · sambhar lake · winter

Here winter is not a season but a festival|Jaipur Beat

January 7, 2020January 7, 2020 AdminLeave a comment

The scent of winter fog, waft from tea stalls, hurried traffic crossing the mild sunshine, the sight of travellers exploring the hilltop Amer fort and locals wandering the narrow streets in traditional Rajasthani attire is a riot of delightful things for the senses at any time of year, but none more so than during the winter months.

We love the rush with which winter arrives and suddenly changes our lives with its aroma, and we never want these winter days to pass.
Winter is the best time to experience Rajasthan’s ‘Pink City’. For the people around, winter is just another season but for a Jaipurite it is a festival in itself.

Festival to indulge in the traditional delicacies, to enjoy gala events, to take pleasure in the legendary Polo game, to celebrate patang baazi, and to participate in the world’s biggest literature festival, the list goes on.

Winter Delicacies

Walk into any part of the city’s bazaars, the one thing that you cannot resist is the tandoori kulhad chai with pakoras.

Samosa, kachori, jalebi, Mirchi-vada and kadhai doodh at night is just the perfect ending note to the day. A true Jaipurite never leaves an opportunity to taste the variety served on its streets. Winters add an extra charm to almost everything we get on the streets and we don’t even miss the outdoors as the city has abundant rooftop bars and cafes.
Not to be missed, the winter chill is best enjoyed at bonfire nights.

Festivals and Events

The World looks up to Jaipur as it hosts some unique events and festivals, which no other city has to offer in winters.

This is the time for Jaipur Winter Polo Season, Children festival, kite festival, Jaipur Art Summit, Jaipur International Film Festival, Rajasthan International Film Festival and the one that needs no introduction- Jaipur Literature Festival and its Music stage. Too much on the platter, yeah?

Watch for Migratory Birds

The time for winged wonders. Gazing at the beautiful migratory birds, that travel from far lands to Mansagar lake, Barkheda and Chandlai lake is one of the kind experiences that we Jaipurites look forward to every year in winters.

Monument Hopping

The list is never complete without the three must-sees being the towering Palace of the Winds, the hilltop, marble-decked Amber Fort and the sprawling City Palace complex.
The mild winter sun makes the palace hopping a lot more fun.

Get closer to nature

This is the best time to enjoy Safari at Jhalana and enjoy the wilderness from close corners. You never know when you stumble upon a black panther.

Kite Flying

For a true Jaipurite, kite flying is not a game but a religion. When hundreds of kites dance in the sky and people dance on their terrace is a sight to behold. This is one of the most favorite and zealous festivals in Jaipur. And every Jaipurite has beautiful memories of Makar Sankranti.
So if you ever plan to visit Jaipur during winter, make sure you don’t miss the intoxicatingly enthusiastic vibe of Makar Sankranti!

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List of events in the new month of 2020

January 2, 2020 AdminLeave a comment

As we have entered a whole new decade which brings new hopes, new resolutions, new start to everything and off course new events. We may have celebrated on NYE but we are for sure that January brings with it a lot of reasons to celebrate. Brace yourself because this month is going to be even more exciting!