March 2017 by Bandra Buzz newspaper

BandraBuzz creating community connect since 2010

24th March 2017 | Vol. 8 (I) Issue 3 |

BandraBuzz.Newspaper |

@Bandra_Buzz |

BandraBuzzNewspaper | www.bandrabuzz.com | Price: Rs. 4/-

Bandra Buzz

SARAH MONTEIRO

presents

JOE VESSAOKAR

The Sunday Market ENTRY FREE

ENTRY FREE

MARK ANTHONY DANIELLA GOMES The Sunday Market is envisaged as a celebratory event where people from all walks of life come together to enjoy a day of shopping, music, food, entertainment and interactions.

THE POWERPUFF CURLS

02 MARCH 2017

BANDRA BUZZ

IN FOCUS

How fashion designer Dionne Alves transformed herself from fat to fit We are all born with certain distinctive features and a body type. But as we grow up not all of us are comfortable in our own skin owing to varied internal and external factors. Happiness is often a temporary virtue in our lives, all thanks to a million insecurities and the never-ending quest to look perfect. 27 year old fashion designer cum model Dionne Alves was always the fat child in class and at home in her growing up years. "Both me and my sister, who was also on the heavier side of the scale were bullied in school and wherever we went. We were popularly known as 'The Fat Sisters' ," to she says. Not much changed for Dionne as she joined college. Erratic food habits and the

perils of socialising meant that she piled on more pounds. "I weighed more than I ever had. On a casual day out with friends I remember looking at my pictures on a phone and refusing to believe it was me." she says speaking of her moment of realisation.

“

The first few months were very disappointing as I could not see any change in my body. It was not apparent.Although it was frustrating I kept at it and lost the kilos in batches of 6, 10, 15 and 20 over a period of five years."

After her graduation, she took on the challenge of changing not just how she looked but also how she felt. Dionne started by doing some major lifestyle changes like quitting alcohol, junk food and binge eating. She devoted herself to working out under the supervision of experts and fol-

lowing a healthy diet. "The ﬁrst few months were very disappointing as I could not see any change in my body. It was not apparent." Although it was frustrating I kept at it and lost the kilos in batches of 6, 10, 15 and 20 over a period of ﬁve years." Dionne

started at 109 kgs and now weighs a healthy 66 kgs. She owes it all to healthy eating, doing the right exercise under expert supervision and a strong resolve. "I make my own meals and plan each of them. Although I live with family, I try not to eat what is not meant for me." Losing the kilos also left her with loose skin and stretch marks, something she is proud of. "Whatever said and done, they are my battle scars and am proud of them." She says. Dione is now a successful ﬁtness model along with being a fashion designer. She plans to share her journey with the world and inspire others to become the ﬁtter and better versions of themselves.

Prateeksha Nayak

IN FOCUS ‘What would you think if I sang out of tune Would you stand up and walk out on me? Lend me your ears and I'll sing you a song And I'll try not to sing out of key.’ For most of us, these lines from the famous Beatles track ‘With A Little Help From My Friends,’ holds true. But not for Sarah Monteiro. All of eighteen, Sarah discovered her love and prowess for singing when she was around 15; realizing her potential while preparing for the Zonals – a local talent competition. And she has stopped at nothing, to work on her technique and build a repertoire that covers several genres. Her styles include jazz, pop, a bit of rock while also dabbling with some of the contemporary pop artists like ‘Adele’ and the late Whitney Houston. Currently a student of Mass

MARCH 2017 03

BANDRA BUZZ

Singing Sensation Sarah A Rising Star Media at Don Bosco Institute, Kurla, Sarah pursues music ardently, never letting go of any opportunity to learn and grow. Hailing from a family well-steeped in music for over four generations, this intense passion for music has led Sarah to win several competitions across various platforms which include the ‘All-Bandra Zonals’ and Inter-Collegiate Contests. She has trained and been mentored by the well-

known Samantha Edwards. So much for her talent, she even sings with the reputed ‘Stop Gaps Choir now’ and performs at many hi-proﬁle events. At some singing competitions, she is also on the panel of judges. More recently, Sarah has teamed up with like-minded musician friends to form a band where she is the lead singer. In fact,

their band has been invited not just to perform at many gigs around the city, but even record some of their tracks. Sarah dreams of a “life ﬁlled with song.” With the pace at which she is pursuing her passion, Sarah will surely be a star soon! Valerian D’Costa

Pork SOrPOtel mutton khuddi Pickled Chicken vegetable lonvas

Top Secret bottle masala

Celebrating the joie devivre of a community, The Bagel Shop Bandra presents Queimada, the first ever East Indian dining experience in Mumbai. We at The Bagel Shop are proud to be a part of a vibrant Bandra community. Over the years we’ve watched her sigh and shout hurrahs. Queimada is a culinary tribute to the East Indian community of Bandra. With ingredients like traditional East Indian bottle masala and splashes of “khimaad”, our new dinner menu will excite your palate and make you exult Queimada!

Pali Mala Road, Bandra (West), Mumbai. 022 26050178

04 MARCH 2017

BANDRA BUZZ

NEWS

PDDM organizes 1st convocation in music & dance With much zest Divya Kala Kendra hosted their 1st ever convocation for its 100 students ranging from the age group of 7 years to 76 years on Sunday 26th February. The vision to start this event 3 years ago was seen by Sr. Amita Mascarenhes, Superior of PDDM (Pious Disciples of the Divine Master), Prathnalaya and Director of Divya Kala Kendra and Sr. Sushma to express talent of not only the young, but also the elderly who wished to bring out their musical talents through the medium of art. The event started with a liturgical bhajan performed by one of the oldest students at DKK, Mrs. Kokila who played the tabla and was joined on the keyboard by Mr. Francis and Ms. Zenia on the manjira. Sr. Amita added her soulful vocals to the soothing piece. This was followed by a graceful dance performance by students, offering floral tribute of flowers to our Creator through their dance Pushpanjali. However, the evening really belonged to the students of music and dance who either individually or in a group, performed music pieces on piano, ranging from songs like Ode to Joy, My Bonnie, Home on the Range, to the romantic Romance De Amore, to the classic La Cucaracha. A few students also performed songs played for the Trinity college examination like Ash Grove, El Condor Pasa. Other beautiful melodies performed were Oh Suzanna ending with the divine How Great Thou Art. We cannot forget to mention the spellbinding performance by Brandan Annes who sang the Indian raga Rag Bhupali, while he also played the harmonium. The performance was not nothing short of a young promising classical singer. The lively

Students of Divya Kala Kendra ranging from the age group of 7 years to 76 years at the Convocation musicians put up a variety of songs, thus mesmerizing the audience that consisted of parents, friends and relatives, and even grandmothers and grandfathers. The Chief Guest Fr. Gregory Arockia, SVD from Andheri Atma Darshan and Guest of honour Sr. Blanche Rodrigues from the Daughters of the Cross and Principal of St. Joseph’s Secondary High School, Bandra, were left speechless with this showcase of talent. Sr. Rosemary Muttsheril Provincial Superior of the PDDM Sisters, Bangalore who ﬂew down specially for the event stated: “Our founder Blessed James Alberione, had two missions, one was communication and the

other ﬁne arts, I am happy to see this become a reality. Whenever you sing a song or play an instrument or move your hands and make gestures, you are in connectivity with God. So believe in that. Psalm 71 says, “When I sing to you, my lips shall rejoice.” Soon after the students were presented certiﬁcates of merit by the special invitees. Sharing his thoughts on the occasion, and while congratulating the grads, Fr. Gregory wished everyone involved the very best and that this journey of Sr. Amita, Sr. Sushma and Sr. Jennifer, a labor of love, would grow manifold. He added, “In Bandra, here in Bandstand, you are sitting next to superstars, so music and dance is around

you as you are surrounded by Bollywood’s vibrating energy. But more than that I wish that this institute may grow and be one of the best in Mumbai and beyond.” Addressing the audience, Sr. Blanche said that from the young to the old, unity has been a great example for us in this performance. She thanked Sr. Amita profusely for bringing out the best in the students and wished the institute every success. 26th February 2017 will surely remain as a red letter day in the annals of Divya Kala Kendra, a day when students came together to communicate their inner emotions and expressions. Verus Ferreira

BANDRA BUZZ

NEWS

MARCH 2017 05

Attract good luck with Crime reporter Mani lucky colours for 2017 D’mello passes away with Feng Shui Expert Maria Hussain With March, we welcome Holi… the festival of colours… colours of life, joy, happiness, friendship, love and all other colours that you wish to paint in your life. It is worth considering the right choice of colours to attract good luck and fortune in 2017. The custom to wear the right colors to attract good luck is a universal belief. As everything is energy (Qi) - including color - what you wear you, what you use in your accessories as well as in your home décor is believed to bring you luck and success. 2017 is the Year of the Fire Rooster - so the lucky colours must be in harmony with the ﬁre energy or/and must complement it with wood energy. • The top colors of the Fire element: Red, yellow, orange, purple, magenta, pink. • The next lucky colors are the colors of the Wood because this is the element that creates the Fire element in Feng Shui: Green, brown.

• Also, there are various Fire colors, as coral, plum, magenta or mauve, so use your instinct as to which color expresses for you the Fire or the Wood elements. • You can wear not only clothing but also accessorize with jewelry, scarves, stoles, belts, etc. in these colors. • Choose jewelry with natural crystals and stones which represent Fire energy, like ruby, rose quartz or garnet. Or, go for Wood element energy crystals, like emerald, green jade, agate, green tourmaline, and malachite. • Least favorable colors to avoid in 2017 are the colors representing Water (blues and blacks)and Earth colours. If you want to go a bit deeper with choosing best colors for yourself, it is always good to know your personal birth element and see which colors support and nourish your energy. A personalised analysis report may be just the thing you need to make sure you are on the right track in 2017 Year of the Fire Rooster. For an appointment: call: +91 9967678652 f email: bhcfengshui@gmail.com Website: www.bhcfengshui.com Maria Hussain

It was with profound shock that the journalistic fraternity of Mumbai received the sad news of the untimely demise of Manibhushan D'Mello, popularly known as Mani; who lived at Sherly Rajan, Bandra West. He was only 54 and had a long career before him. He was an intrepid journalist, a jokester, a ﬁerce supporter of human rights and a connoisseur of good food. He was well known as a crime reporter who wrote many articles, exposing the underbelly of Mumbai. Yet, Mani was a humble man. He belonged to the band of nomadic reporters who changed address every few years. He was with Free Press Journal, Independent, India Post, Mid-Day, and then Times of India. He also worked for a Hindi

publication. Mani was very popular among budding journalists for his help and support. He was the mentor of a number of journalists, who will surely miss him. Many locals paid rich tributes to him. Clarence Gomes, Editor of Bandra Times told us, “Mani was my good friend. He published many civic issues of Bandra, when he was in Mid-Day.” Social activist Vera Alvares told us, “I remember Mani D'Mello – who wrote great reports in West Side Plus.” Mani passed away on 21st March 2017, after a prolonged illness – leaving his wife Nancy, son Tanish, sisters Sudha, Lata & Usha. His burial was at St. Andrew’s Church, Bandra. May his soul always rest in peace. Keki Shroﬀ

Bandra Buzz journalist, Sushila Soares, passes away As they say “Whom the gods love, dies young.” Sushila Soares, a former senior sub editor with TOI, Mumbai, for 16 years, passed away at her residence in Mumbai, recently. She was 56. Sushila is survived by her husband Derek and daughter Joanne. Sushila followed in the footsteps of her illustrious father, late Alfred D'Cruz, one of Bandra’s most prominent sons, who was also with TOI for 40 years since 1947. She was among the early women journalists in the 80s and 90s to work the night shift, at a time when computers were yet to be introduced in newspaper offices. Interestingly, together the fatherdaughter combination worked for over half a century at the editorial desk of TOI, Mumbai. Their yeoman contribution to the field of journalism will always be lauded. Sushila was a prolific writer on a variety of subjects. Her job involved interaction with both the common man and prominent personalities. She was a contributor of interesting cover stories like the Masala Woman in the Queen of the Sub-

urbs to Bandra Buzz, among several other newspapers and magazines. Sushila was hardworking, selﬂess and had a zest for life till her last breath. A loving and caring person, she had a heart of gold. Her interactions with anyone would always leave them smiling. The eldest of ﬁve siblings, she was a devoted sister, daughter, mother and wife. Sunil D'Cruz

06 MARCH 2017

BANDRA BUZZ

FEATURE

Travel Wanderlust for Women Travelling is no longer a passion limited to the rich & reckless or an annual activity during summer vacations. Today many people are quitting their jobs to travel solo around the world, volunteer in eco conservation activities, connect with folk from diﬀerent cultures & above all, push their boundaries & stretch their limits. As women continue to break glass ceilings and claim the C-suit, its time to make inroads and mark our own in the fast changing landscape of the travel industry. This month as we celebrate International Women’s Day, join meas we journey through mountains, coastal towns and festivals in search of safe, exciting and pocket friendly travel destinations in India.

BACKPACK IN MCLEOD GANJ: Known as a backpacker’s Gateway into India, an ideal destination to unwind, McLeod Ganj promises to heal the body and touch the soul. Home to his Holiness the Dalai Lama and many exiled Tibetans, McLeod Ganj in Himachal Pradesh, is fondly termed Little Lhasa. This picturesque town dotted with monasteries, rooftops gardens, open air cafes, and authentic Tibetan food will give you ample opportunity to rediscover yourself. Surrounded by lush green forests of pine and cedar trees, crisp mountain air and majestic, snowcapped mountains you are bound to fall in love with the spirit of McLeod Ganj.

BREW COFFEE IN THE SCOTLAND OF INDIA-COORG: Wake up to the aroma of freshly brewed coﬀee wafting into your room and spend your days cycling through the spice gardens of Coorg. A short drive from Bangalore and Mangalore takes you to this charming hill station nestled in the hills of South India. Notice the landscape change drastically from the city’s busy roads and stylish houses to lofty mountains with lush green carpets often teasing you with Kodak moments of milky white waterfalls. Wake up early morning & bathe elephants at the Dubare camp, oﬀer prayers at the Tibetan monastery and gorge on spicy Coorgi pork in the Madikeri market.

FLIP THROUGH THE PAGES OF A HISTORY AT FORT KOCHI: Located in the God’s own Country, Fort Kochi is one of those places best explored, strolling through its streets. At every nook and corner, be greeted by colonial monuments that have played a signiﬁcant role in shaping the history of India. Relax by the Vasco–da-Gama square as you savor on local seafood preparations, while watching the Chinese ﬁshing nets being raised and lowered into the Arabian Sea.

SPELL BOUND IN VARANASI: Varanasi, world famous for its Ghats lining the holy river Ganges is considered one the holiest places in the world. Get intoxicated as you see millions of people come to seek salvation for their sins. As the ﬁery red ball of ﬁre sinks into the river & the day’s Maha Aarti begins, the burning lamps, strong smoke, incense sticks, blowing of the conch shell & collective chants by thousands of pilgrims & priests will leave you spell bound forever. With a life well-manicured to the minutest details, it isn’t often that we truly let go and let destiny sit in the driver’s seat. This Women’s day, take the plunge, push your-

BRUSH UP YOUR FRENCH MADEMOISELLE: Cobbled streets, gothic Churches, sun kissed beaches do not always mean a drive through Côte d'Azur. Discover Pondicherry the ‘French Riviera of the East’, a former French colony, fondly known as Pondi, famous for its manicured boulevards, colourful houses, pristine beaches, and authentic French cuisine. Stroll through the French quarters, visit the old lighthouse and as light begins to fade, cosy up to glass of red wine and chocolate crepes. self beyond your comfort zone, explore the unknown and learn to walk to the beat of your own drum. Brinelle Lobo

WHY ADVERTISE IN BANDRA BUZZ?

BandraBuzz creating community connect since 2010

17th February 2017 | Vol. 8 (I) Issue 2 |

• We are an independent newspaper and we sell advertising to enable us to carry on publishing. • We have an estimated readership of 50,000 all around Bandra & Khar. • Advertising with us will enable you to directly engage with the local community and local customers. • It provides an easy and time efﬁcient way to market your business and ﬁnd new customers. • We also have a growing presence on social media.

BandraBuzz.Newspaper |

SARAH MONTEIRO

@Bandra_Buzz |

BandraBuzzNewspaper | www.bandrabuzz.com | Price: Rs. 4/-

Bandra Buzz presents

JOE VESSAOKAR

The Sunday Market

THE POWERPUFF CURLS

For advertising information call: 9820783686 / 9920299787

IN FOCUS

BANDRA BUZZ

MARCH 2017 07

Meet the sisters behind Jethani Jewellery Studio We live in a culture that believes in love at first sight. For many women, this is the feeling that besets them when they first see a diamond. At Jethani Jewellery Studio, you don’t have to wait for first glances to write your own love story. Unlike in real life, you are free to customise every aspect of your own stellar romance from your very first appointment & thanks to Ishita & Harshini Jethani, inspiration is always close at hand. As a little girl, Ishita dreamed that the world would one day wear her designs. At just 18, she picked up two hefty boxes of diamond-studded jewellery and began going door-to-door to sell her pieces. Her customers adored her designs and the business scaled on from there to earn itself a self-standing studio in Khar. 10 years on, Jethani Jewellery Studio has made its IIJW debut, launched a subbrand Meraki, and hosted solo exhibitions in Hyderabad, Pune, Indore and back home in Mumbai. Also, its designs have travelled the world thanks to NRIs who keep coming back for more. Ishita explains what draws them in: “We make statement pieces that work really well with western wear. They are bold but not overpowering and minimal but sturdy.” The business follows a unique model that is “appointment only” because the sisters want to ensure that each customer gets the attention they deserve. “Almost everything we do is customised, usually only brides get an individualised experience when they go jewellery shopping, we wanted to extend the possibility to everyone,” explains Ishita. At Jethani, whether you are a bride or not, each exquisite piece is handmade for you. “Every client is unique,” says Ishita, “I have an 80-year-old lady as my client and she is simply an inspiration to us all. Her son once said to me that no matter how

low she slumps because of her ailing health, her eyes light up every time she sees me. I guess that is the magic of jewellery. Women of all ages are prone to it.” A typical day for the sisters consists of keeping appointments and working with the karigars afterwards. “We are very hands-on as the jewellery is being made and we constantly engage with the client and keep her in the loop about how the piece is coming along. We craft a replica for them, which they can try on at every stage.” says Ishita, “And because we are sticklers for quality, all our diamonds come with a guarantee card and are IGI certified. Despite the jewellery trade’s reputation for being, “all-business” the girls have tried to keep the process as less-transactional as possible. “Jewellery must be about the joy of wearing it,” they say, “and for this reason, we have always been flexible enough to work around budgets”. Jethani Jewellery Studio aspires to have something for everyone. With Meraki, the brand has a much more vital product mix from affordable funky stuff, to affordable Indian danglers, to exquisite solitaires at the very top of the line. The girls grew up around diamonds and wanted to show the world that diamonds could be funky too. Their bravery has paid off because all their cross-over pieces like balis, palm bracelets, tennis bracelets & cocktail rings have been big hits. The main brand and Meraki, which is Harshini’s brainchild, inspire each other back and forth, both of them are committed to intricacy and Indian-work. Meraki was Harshini’s answer to the need for semiprecious jewellery for a generation that had to be both parts elegant and cool. A graduate of IIGJ, Harshini joined the business last year and is adding the contemporary value to the brand by making it young & fresh.

Writers Wanted

Founded in 2010, Bandra Buzz is a community newspaper reporting about local issues, schools, colleges, sports, food, health, lifestyle, fashion, entertainment, music, business, events, etc. We are looking for people who want to join the team on a part time basis as a writer & marketing interns for field work Mail your resume to news.bandrabuzz@gmail.com Call us on +91-9820783686 or +91-9920299787

“Every season births its own new collection. Each collection is planned meticulously so that neither present-day trends nor traditional craftsmanship are compromised for the other,” says Harshini. So far, their most recent Valentines Collection and Diwali Collection take our powerful symbols of love and celebrations and give them a modern-Indian feel. “The inspiration kept coming to us in the form of nature, architecture or people to help us make great jewellery,” says Harshini. Another family brand in the realm of jewellery is nothing new but it is for the ﬁrst time that two sisters are taking the lead at such a venture all by themselves.

Flat no. 2, 11th Road, Khar (W), Mumbai 52 jethanijewellerystudio@gmail.com Sarah John

08 MARCH 2017

BANDRA BUZZ

NEWS

Farmers Market with an Organic Relief If the word ‘cute’ can be also defined as 'clever or cunning, especially in a self-seeking or superficial way.’ it highlights the fact that words are malleable. Therefore the word ‘propaganda’ should not raise eyebrows, as I am going to integrate it with the concept which inspires the Farmers Market. The definition of the same is stated as 'Information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote a political cause or point of view.’, however the holistic rational as to why the word 'propaganda' is used in this case is because of the sheer conviction and vehement of all parties involved. They do what they do for reasons more than just the monetary aspect, they strive to educate and provide essential, unadulterated and nutritious food and condiments to their patrons. So to speak the concept of a farmers market is not innovative, considering for ages villages have followed a similar concept. Farmers of the area come to a designated location and sell their yield; this tradition was observed not only in India but abroad as well. However in Bandra every Sunday, farmers and traders come to-

gether to supply fresh produce, and what really makes this an unique event is the fact that all the stalls adhere to a strict code of ‘Only Organic’ This ‘Farmers Market’ is the brainchild of Kavita, who has been an organic cultivation and food specialist for the past three decades. After shifting camp at several locations she has ﬁnally found a constant platform at the DPRC lawn. Kavita points out that this is a rule which she ensures is followed by all, as the food which is genetically modiﬁed can lead to some serious damage. Another key factor about this market is that the farmers who directly bring in produce are not charged a fee to put up a stall; therefore they get their dues without having to comprise on the price point. This enables them to encourage their children to take up agriculture and can pass on the sacred knowledge to the next generation. The event which takes place every Sunday, from 10 am to 3 pm has a wide range of organic farm fresh and products up for sale, such as vegetables and fruits, unpolished rice, pulses and grains, dairy products, snacking items and condiments. Other

A glimpse of The Farmers Market held at D'Monte Park Recreation Club than consumables even cooking ware and fabrics are available. The environment is relaxed and one can take a break from the shopping and relax while sipping on some green tea and bakes from the organic café. Pali Hill resident Dr. Dicky Dastoor shares his experience “The products are wholesome and the experience reminds me of the markets I have visited in Europe. The food deﬁnitely stands apart and the price

although steep is justiﬁed.” There is an indeﬁnite velocity of beauty which permeates from the raw and crude aura of the place. There are multiple advantages for the consumer and the seller as both achieve a balanced bargain, the consumer gets wholesome food whereas the farmers get what is rightfully theirs. Sidhant Nayangara Pic by: Joshua Cardoz

NEWS

MARCH 2017 09

BANDRA BUZZ

Hottest Hair Trend of the Season? Here’s What Bandra’s Expert Salons Think! We know you love your tresses. You spend precious hours and cash revamping your mane every chance you get. But now, you want to know which look is the best one to grace your locks as you take on summer. Well, if you need an expert opinion on hairstyles and trends, you’re in the right place. If it’s a salon that you need, Bandra’s the place to be. Home to some of the most well-known stylists and hair experts, Bandra can help you get the look with the most wow, if anyone can. So, Bandra Buzz spoke to 5 professional hair and beauty salons in our Queen of Suburbs, to let you in on what they think is the most ‘in’ trend of the season. Want to know which colour or cut you’ve got to get, read on… ORGANIC HAIR

Speaking to Nalini of Nalini & Yasmin’s Style Director Elton Steve Vessoaker, we learned one thing - ‘Organic Hair’ is in!!! Emphasising how “your hair should look

like you were born with the most beautiful hair and hair colour”, Elton believes techniques of painting and contouring can help achieve glorious organic hair looks. These, he says, consist of sun-kissed beach waves, and icy brown and raging red looks. They sound lovely? Well, they look even better! LONG BOB Placid Braganza, founder of HairPlacid dressing & Skin a.k.a. Placid’s Salon, feels the long bob or the ‘lob’ is very much the inthing. He says the look has grown to become so popular owing to its versatility. The expert on all things beauty-related, Placid adds that the ever-popular lob can also be made to feel fresh and contemporary with a dash of hair colour. In fact, he has even dressed Genelia Deshmukh’s locks in a lob! SHINE LINES Bandra’s own celebrity hairstylist, Savio John Pereira has his own take on what is currently the hottest hair trend. According to Savio, ‘shine lines’ are the most ‘in’ trend

HAIR TIPS FOR SUMMER by Michelle Ribeiro Hair is the most essential adornment of a human body which enhances it's splendor. There is an average of 1,500,000 strands on a human head. They have to ﬁght almost everyday with pollution, sun, dust, wind and not to mention the curlers, straighteners, dyers, gels, sprays and a variety of beauty products. This lavish treatment treatment given to the hair looks great on a speciﬁc occasion but regular use of the treatments parch & ruin your hair. It is no wonder that most women complain of having frizzy & dry hair with split ends.

on the hair after a shampoo which should be left on for at least 15 minutes and then rinsed out. Also there a lot of home remedies out of them one being: Combine 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar with 2 tablespoons olive oil & 3 egg whites, then rub the mix into the hair. Keep hair covered for about a half hour using plastic wrap or a shower cap, then shampoo and rinse.

Tips for dry hair, split ends, dandruﬀ & how to style your hair this summer

Tips for dandruff & itching scalp: Dandruff is caused mostly by an oily scalp, so it's is advisable to cleanse the scalp first in order to get rid of sticky itchy flakes, so cleansing shampoos are necessary for e.g. Deep cleaning shampoo of Schwarzkopf or a simple Nyle Clean and Shine would help to cleanse the scalp well. Home remedies like lemon juice or apple cider, tea tree oil applied on the scalp could help the pH balance of the scalp which helps keep the dandruff at bay.

Tips for dry hair: For dry & frizzy hair it is very important to put in a good deep conditioner or masque

Tips to prevent split ends: • Do not brush wet hair. • Try to avoid excessive use of hair stylers.

in terms of hair colour. He believes the stunning pop of colour that these lines bring, give a dramatic look even to everyday hair. Savio also feels that the most current trend in hairstyling is natural loose curls. He says they bring back the “scrunched and easy look”. THE HIDDEN RAINBOW AND THE FADE WITH FRINGE

The interestingly-named Zido Salon has picked two favourite trends for the season - the ‘Hidden Rainbow’ by stylist Zin-

granwon Shatsang & the ‘Fade with Fringe’ by stylist Pravina Jadhav. While the former is a cascade of rainbow shades from the middle of your hair to the ends, the latter is an award-winning fringe look that isn’t about to ‘fade’ into oblivion any time soon. Yes, the Fade with Fringe bagged awards last year at Femina Hair Heroes Contest. BALAYAGE Last, but far from the least, Enrich, the proud owner of a whole chain of salons, feels that if there is any ‘hottest’ hair trend at the moment, it has to be a type or technique of hair colour. The salon’s own hairdresser, Sareena says colour contouring in ‘balayage’ is deﬁnitely in. She adds that shades of brown work perfectly for Indian skin, making the look more ﬁtting for us desi girls. There they are, the expert opinions you need to get out there and get that hair makeover pronto! Jeanona Dias

• Get hair trimmed every 2 months. • Condition your hair well. • Detangle your hair with a wide tooth comb or paddle brush. • Drink a lot of water to hydrate skin & hair. Tips to style hair in summer: Getting your hair oﬀ your face & neck is recommended in the summer, so a lot of fancy hairstyles can be made using head bands, clips, bandannas & fancy hair accessories, for e.g. going to the beach or a brunch the hair can be tied up in a fancy manner. Messy buns worn to the beach or workout braids worn to the gym can look very cool. Also cutting hair in a shorter style is recommended to beat the heat!! Have a cool summer!!! Michelle can be reached for further queries on 9820320158.

TIPS TO STYLE YOUR HAIR THIS SUMMER • Getting hair oﬀ your face & neck is recommended in the summer, so a lot of fancy hairstyles can be made using head bands, clips, bandannas & fancy hair accessories, for e.g. going to the beach or a brunch the hair can be tied up in a fancy manner. • Messy buns worn to the beach or workout braids worn to gym can look very cool. • Cutting your hair in a shorter style is recommended to beat the heat!!

10 MARCH 2017

BANDRA BUZZ

NEWS

UCDC Utsav - A perfect platform for the marginalised & migrants to showcase their talent

The Urban Community Development Centre, situated at 14th Road, Bandra West is always bustling with activity of their various outreach programmes. Besides beneﬁtting neighbouring residents, who come to their wellness clinics and vocational courses; the marginalised and migrants from other Indian states are uplifted in all areas of their lives, since its inception in 1971. On 25th February 2017, UCDC celebrated their annual day – UTSAV 2017, to showcase their progress during the year. The event commenced with a superb rendition of the UCDC anthem. The welcome speech by Fr. Jose Arayathel, Director UCDC; summed up the updates of the year, that have supported its vision and mission. Then, the tuition children sang out their dreams – co-ordinated by Theresa, Social Worker. The little girls of the tuition classes, were next, with ‘Dancing their dreams’. The boys of our balwadi and the tuition group then paid tribute to all ‘Champions’, who are legends of our times. Our earnest hope is that our little heroes now will excel as legends in their times to come – co-ordinated by Anita, Governing Body Member and Philomena, staﬀ. These were choreographed by Hardi Gohil, Internship student from National College.

The next skit’s theme was ‘Babies Day Out’ – where, the mothers of our toddlers of the crèche have taken time out to smile and laugh; while they go about life, working hard to build their nests, in this concrete jungle of Mumbai. While the fathers are always hungry, they do not mind a little hot biryani or chapatti, kofta or korma, cause ‘rats are racing inside their stomachs’, as they do not worry about tomorrow. Today is all that matters. Finally, a family is a garland of lovable arms, smiling faces, a blossoming garden, all growing together. This was co-ordinated by Anita Thomas, Governing Body Member. ‘Let’s Twist Again’ – a flashback from the 1950s and 60s (the years of Rock-N-Roll and Twist), took us all down memory lane to those nostalgic times; by our tuition class children; co-ordinated by Liz Fernandes, Teacher at UCDC & Theresa, Social Worker at UCDC. ‘Sightless Magic’ was a mind-blowing singing session by a visually impaired pair, who are therapists at our ‘Reflexology and Foot Spa’ department of UCDC. Our students from the literacy, tailoring and beautician classes then showed off their ‘thumkaas’ and ‘jatkaas’ – as we sat back and enjoyed 3 non-stop dances of different groups; that were co-ordinated by

Theresa, Social Worker at UCDC. The next play, ‘Naya Ya Purana’ highlighted the battle between two generations: mother ‘n’ daughter. In today’s times, the issues are: old music v/s new music, their intolerance, hypocrisy - and subsequent ‘live n let live approach. This was written & co-ordinated by Sanjana. A documentary film, showing glimpses of the past and present UCDC activities was very informative. Addressing the audience, the Chief Guest, Mr. Merck D’Silva, Editor of Bandra Buzz - appreciated the good work being done by the UCDC staff and volunteers, with an effective management team. He urged migrants to change their ‘job & salary’ mindset to a ‘business mindset’ – and earn an unlimited income, using the amazing power of leveraging; to improve their lifestyle and that of their families too. Many migrants responded with a show of hands. The songs sung by our ‘Adult Literacy’ students, transported us all to a different world of goodness and happiness; with their soulful renditions of two melodies: ‘Ashiana Tera’ and ‘Musu Musu Hasi’ A short skit, ‘Hai Mere Dadaji’, on the innocent ignorance of a villager grand dad in a city restaurant, was written & co-ordi-

nated by Sanjana. The ‘Saturday Group’ of girls were full of energy, performing their dance moves to songs from 3 diﬀerent countries. This was co-ordinated by Theresa, Social Worker at UCDC. The ‘Fashion Show’ by diﬀerent UCDC Sections, with colourful costumes; was a great sight to see, co-ordinated and directed by Ms. Sai Sumana, Volunteer at UCDC. The ‘Chota Nagpur’ Dance had a lot of spontaneous steps and co-ordinated movement – that thrilled the audience. Fr. Jerome, Asst. Director of UCDC (in-charge of migrants) proposed the vote of thanks. The event ended with the National Anthem in sign language by hearing impaired students of ‘Spoken English Class’ by DEEDS, an NGO who conducts classes at UCDC. It is interesting to watch this talent, that would normally not have a platform. God bless the organizers & participants. Last, but certainly not the least – credit is due to Dr. Mrs. Namrata Joshi; who was the Emcee for this event and did a great job – taking it to a whole new level of excellence. Indeed, it was an evening etched in our memories, forever.

thanks by Smt. Reeta Sharma, wife of the Branch Manager. It was an informative

function for all who attended. Reshma Singh

Ronnie Mendonca, UCDC – Co-ordinator & Governing Body Member

Punjab National Bank celebrates Women’s Day 2017 Punjab National Bank, Linking Road, Bandra West Branch - celebrated International Women's Day on Wednesday, 8th March 2017; with a lot of fanfare. Many account holders and the staﬀ attended this function, which focussed on the empowerment of women – and their outstanding achievements in all areas of life. Famous Bollywood ﬁlm actress Smt. Farida Jalal was the Chief Guest of the function. The function was graced by Smt. Kirti Wadhwa, Zonal President of PNB Prerna and Smt. Jaya Bose - Circle President of ‘PNB Prerna’. Two ‘Step-Up Loan’ sanctions were also distributed to women entrepreneurs. PNB schemes for the support of

women were elaborated – to inform the audience, about various funding possibilities. The Branch Manager Shri. Sudhir Sharma was very happy to inform everyone present, that Punjab National Bank was customer-friendly in many aspects. This has increased growth, in spite of the recent demonetisation. Most targets have been met and many exceeded for the current ﬁnancial year. He added that women were in general more meticulous in business – and had a higher rate of success in certain sectors. Sharma encouraged entrepreneurs to take advantage of the several schemes available, to promote start-ups & scale-ups. The function ended with a vote of

MARCH 2017 11

BANDRA BUZZ

NEWS

Bandraites attempt to revive Intruz Old traditions with new memories... Everyone loves traditions! Maybe they aren’t even really “traditions” but memories we hold onto fondly in our hearts. Things and moments that we know we will continue on with our future generations because they just meant so much to us, I guess that’s really how traditions begin. Intruz or entroz was brought to India by the Portuguese. It has derived from the Portuguese word “Entrudo”, meaning “entrance” of the Lenten season. Intruz is celebrated on Fat Tuesday, right before Ash Wednesday. The celebration holds the same signiﬁcance to East Indian as the Carnivale in Brazil, Mardi Gras in America, Entrudo in Portugal and the Carnival in Goa. Just a few decades ago, the intruz tradition of East Indians in Bandra seemed destined to fade. Only a handful of locals celebrated the eve of Lent. RANWAR But this year, on Fat Sunday, the sound of the traditional East Indian music was once again heard from Ranwar, echoing across the quaint houses and bungalows on Veronica Street. Dressed in the traditional East Indian lungra sari and a tidy bun with ﬂowers, the residents of Ranwar danced with joyful abandon and riotous revelry. Pearl Fonseca, resident of Ranwar village said, “The Sunday before lent marks the last day for entertainment, celebrations

“

Intruz is a huge occasion in Chimbai and even on this day celebrations galore in our hamlet. A band was organised this year & the boys from the neighbourhood went dancing from one end to the other end of Chimbai. The youngsters go from one by lane to another playing with water balloons, bursting on each other & painting each other’s faces with ashes or coloured dyes & even throw eggs on each other.” and feasting before we start the 40 days of abstinence and fasting. In the days of yore, we always celebrated intruz. And I thought of doing it this year as well. With the help of the other women in our village, we pulled oﬀ an amazing celebration and named it the ‘Ranwar Entruz Fiesta’.” She continued, “We had a good turnout at our celebration and we all enjoyed the bounteous food and drink as we danced to the music. This celebration brought the full village and neighbourhood together, both young and old. We organised a fancy dress competition and the children even made masks. We want to preserve this tradition & with a little enthusiasm and interest from the youngsters, I’m sure we’ll succeed.” Kirsten Dsilva, a youth from Ranwar said, “It was a great initiative by the elders. We enjoyed to the fullest. So much so, that the party went on till 3 a.m. We’re hoping

to carry on this annual celebration hereafter.” BAZAR ROAD Agnes Patel, a resident of Bazar road said, “We celebrated intruz in Bazar road on 28th February. It is all about getting together and having fun. In the good old days all neighbours used to get together and organise a potluck. We then get the ghumat and sing along. We used to go to Reclamation and play in the mire there or would rub ash from vessels on each other’s faces. This year it was very grand. They organised an East Indian band to play. This festival is more exalted than a wedding.” CHIMBAI Mody Dharmai, a resident of Chimbai said. “Intruz is a huge occasion in Chimbai and even on this day celebrations galore in our hamlet. A band was organised this year and the boys from the neighbourhood went dancing from one end to the other end of

Chimbai. The youngsters go from one by lane to another playing with water balloons, bursting on each other and painting each other’s faces with ashes or coloured dyes and even throw eggs on each other. Along with the merrymaking, each family has an intruz celebration in their own house. The three days of jolliﬁcation end on Pancake Tuesday.” However, now days the younger generation is busy during the week due to work schedules and study assignments, so the celebrations are held on the last Sunday before Ash Wednesday. And of course, let’s not forget the mouth licking juicy Elilaos or Pancakes prepared on Pancake Tuesday. But with Diabetes in the limelight, it’s become a taboo for most of the older folks. The intruz celebration in Bandra was an East Indian nostalgia with a contemporary twist. Sue-Ellen Fernandes

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17th February 2017 | Vol. 8 (I) Issue 2 |

Bandra Buzz is an independent community newspaper. We want to hear your views, your news & to report stories relevant to the people of Bandra. Our aim is to return to a form of local media which addresses and reﬂects the opinions, concerns and interests of local people. We are looking for local stories, opinions, news stories, events, campaigns and photographs.

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BANDRA BUZZ

EDITORIAL

TAXING TIMES Dear Reader, As the month of March marches along, most of us tax-payers increase our interactions with our C.A.; in spite of the increasing heat of spring. This year, the introduction of GST will change many equations. Bandra – being the residential hub of several business bigwigs, a lot of brainstorming is happening right now – preparing & planning. It is all about figures, figures... and more figures. Walkers at Bandra’s parks & promenades are sometimes overheard discussing or exchanging views on the new budget & tax policies – everyone eager to close their accounting year on a good note, especially in view of the recent demonetisation. This Financial Year End – 31st March 2017 is fast approaching. With the recent BMC Election results of Bandra West swinging sharply, it is time to contact your new locally elected representative and make him/her spell out their plans, for the next five years – with a time frame for each project. It is your tax money – and it should be put to proper use. Accountability is imperative. However, imagine the reality today: - Banks have started to increase transaction fees.

- Service tax has gone up big time and will increase even more. - We were taxed for earning money – now, we are taxed for spending money. - We were taxed for hoarding money – now, we are taxed for withdrawing and depositing our own money. - We are taxed (cess) for education, for Swachh Bharat Tax, for purchase, for sales, for manufacturing & for public utility. - Earning, saving & spending is a big crime. But, donating to political parties is the only good act. What’s next?

Regards, Merck N. D’Silva Editor-in-Chief DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed in this paper, are of the authors - and do not reﬂect the opinion of the publishers and editors, unless otherwise stated. Readers should act on the information provided, only after consulting with their own independent advisors.

MARCH 2017 13

Letters to the Editor JOGGERS ON THE WARPATH BB headline (17 Feb) 'Bandra's Jewel Expropriated', of Carter Road residents protesting takeover of Joggers Park by BMC is not going to be of any use. BMC will do what beneﬁts them. So why has Joggers Park attracted attention when holding lease by the trustee has expired. It is not the Hanging Garden of Malabar Hill. What has erked residents to lock horns with the BMC? After all BMC has only taken over the Park, not sold it to any builder (at least not yet). You can still jog, skip and jump, run and exercise and laugh loudly like they do in other parks. So why worry about maintenance at this hour when not even a leaf has fallen from the tree. Almeida Park is managed by BMC, but well maintained because inﬂuential people live around the park and they would not like to see bhelpuriwalas, vadapav sellers, beggars and lepers near the gate. Do the same, get someone similar and you will be happy forever. BMC ROAD SCAM The Bombay High Court came down heavily on the state government for being a mute spectator in the Rs.353 crores road scam. This is a blot on the state government. We have consistently pleaded with state government to apply MCOCA against

corrupt BMC oﬃcials and contractors. We had emailed the Ex-Chief Minister Pritviraj Chavan. The previous Chief Minister would at least respond to our emails. But Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis does not believe in democracy. He does not respond to a number of emails sent to his oﬃce, on matters of public importance. This is how the present state government cares for its subjects. So much for transparency and accountability. Nicholas Almeida/Godfrey Pimenta MURDER OF DEMOCRACY Murder of Democracy in Goa & Manipur. Horse trading & money power at its best. Principles gone to the dogs in the lust for power. BJP making sure they want Congress Mukt Bharat by Hook or by Crook. Forcing Sab ka Saath Sab ka Vikas down everyone's throat to legitimise undemocratic ways of usurping power at any & every stage. Please remember: Life is a great Leveller #What goes up must come down. And What goes up faster - plummets down even faster. Don't Kill Democracy please. Pervez Aga E:news.bandrabuzz@gmail.com

BANDRA BUZZ

NEWS

MARCH 2017 15

Six boys from Fr. Angel Techical High School design a light motor vehicle out of scrap! We might have often heard the term less is more, but how often do we adhere to the principle in our everyday lives? A group of six boys, Irfan, Aditya, Mukesh, Paras, Rupesh & Salim, 18, from Fr. Agnel Technical High School at Bandstand took upon the challenge of building what they call the 'Agnel Motor Vehicle' (AMV) a light motor vehicle out of scrap. One of the most important goals of their project was to 'Challenge their minds and abilities'. The unavailability of enough resources did not deter them from going ahead with their project, instead it was what drew them to do it. The process involved various challenging phases including collection of raw materials, frame making, making of steering columns, fitting of tyres, fitting of seat & seat belts, mounting of engine, making of gear shifter, clutch, brake, accelerator & exhaust, fixing of coverings, lights and horns. During each of these phases the students encountered problems of a different kind. "Procuring parts was difficult as not all the parts we required were found in scrap, certain parts were rusted and damaged. To overcome this problem we stuck to the bare minimum to procure only the neces-

sary parts and the rest were repaired and welded as per requirement." they say. Since the project was undertaken on a shoestring budget, the students had to carefully decide on what parts to use. "It was a mix and match! We ﬁtted the AMV with auto rickshaw tyres and bought a Hyundai i10's hub and shaped it as per our requirement. The engine we used was an two stroke old model Bajaj Chetak with 4 gears. Converting a scooter gear transmission to that of a car was diﬃcult but we did it." say the proud students. The legs of an old chair were chopped to make a chair and a seat belt was welded on the chassis. These at and pedals were designed in mind keeping an Indian male of about 165 cm. Lights and horns were wired to a 12 volt battery and the AMV was ready to hit the road. Although the vehicle has brought in a lot of cheer and praise for the boys, getting to this stage was never easy. From frequent misunderstandings between the team members to shortage of money and time, the project saw a lot of ups and downs. But with able guidance and support from their teachers the boys overcame it all. Owing to

the success of their ﬁrst project, the enthusiastic boys now want to undertake more of them. But as resources as scarce, they can only rely on external support and help. "Although the AMV was more or less designed from scratch, it left us with a lot of limitations. We would like to appeal to companies, individuals and organisations

in the automobile industry to help us with material, equipments and guidance so that we can build more sophisticated vehicles. That is our passion and it is what excites us the most" they say, their eyes glimmering with hope. Prateeksha Nayak Pic by: Jo-anne D’silva