The Anita Dongre couture-d Diwali Barbie 2024 re ects growing sensitivity to inclusivity and cultural appropriateness. But what about the rich tradition of indigenous Indian toy-making?
DINING OUT
CHEF PILLAI WOWS BAHRAIN DINERS
How a former security guard put Keralan cuisine on the world map.
OCTOBER 2024
THE EDITORIAL TEAM
P.O. Box 50650, Arad Kingdom of Bahrain
Licensed by the Ministry of Information
Publication Licence no : GASB 740
Chairman and Managing Editor Mahmood Al Mahmood
Managing Director P.K. Ravi
Editor Meera Ravi
Contributors
Maharaja Features Pvt. Ltd. Hina Asar (Special Editorial Assistant)
No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher.
The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily the views of the publisher and Editor. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, the publisher & editor cannot accept legal responsibility for any error, content or omissions.
Note From the Chairman
We are entering the last sprint into 2025 – for most of us, this is a period of festivity as we celebrate the changing seasons, our ancient religious moorings and renew our spiritual understanding for the new year to come. It is also a time to ruefully look back at the resolutions unmade – those promises to pay more attention to our health, our work-life balance, ful ll our dreams on what many people ominously call our ‘bucket list’..they all bite the dust around the rst quarter of the new year.
In this unravelling list of unkept resolutions, almost everything can be forgiven except the promise broken to ourselves to manage our health better. November is also World Diabetes Month and that pairs uncomfortably with Diwali because we all know any festival, be it Diwali, Eid or Christmas, is about an abundance of sweets and food. Unlike other dangerous conditions and even wrong choices like smoking or substance abuse which are openly condemned by society, diabetes is a terrible weapon of destruction hidden in plain sight. You are lulled into a sense of false security because you can continue to function with a semblance of normalcy until the condition can no longer be ignored. It is hidden in every cell of your body and quietly plays havoc.
Bahrain has the unenviable record of having one of the highest percentage of diabetics in the world – yes, that’s right, when compared to the population. The tragic thing is this is probably one lifestyle condition that can be managed so that diabetics continue to be within the framework of reasonable good health and productivity. Medical support through diabetes management drugs and a deeper understanding has meant that we know what the triggers are and can avoid them. You have the advise to eat right and exercise well – both in your hands. All you need is dedication and will power.
The Bahrain government enables excellent care of diabetes with a network of parks and public walking areas for exercise, ready availability of healthy food ingredients and medication as well as specialist attention through its healthcare network. What more do we need? Let us make this a truly happy Diwali – before you bite into that second gulab jamun, think of it as a knife that hacks away your life span with loved ones. I guarantee you, you’ll put it down.
Happy Diwali, everybody!
CAPTAIN MAHMOOD Y. AL MAHMOOD CHAIRMAN
Bongiyo Samaj Pujo vibes
The Bongiyo Samaj Durga Pujo is a celebration that attracts the whole community and culminates in the colourful and hugely emotional Sindhur Khela where ladies bid farewell to the Goddess by applying auspicious vermillion on their faces. Also fascinating is the Dhunichi ceremonial dance in front of the idol.
May the divine light of Diwali spread into your life, bringing peace, prosperity, happiness, good health, and grand success
HAPPY
FESTIVAL OF LIGHT
Himalayan hospitality at Nepal reception
Nepal’s Ambassador to Bahrain, Tirtha Raj Wagle and his elegant spouse Bimla welcomed guests to a celebration of Nepal’s National Day and the country’s Constitution Day. Mohammed bin Thamer Al Kaabi, Bahrain’s Minister of Transportation & Communications, Dr. Issa Nasser Al Nuaimi, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Consular and Administrative affairs and several heads of diplomatic missions and business groups graced the occasion.
A BIKANERVALA SEASON IN BAHRAIN
The biggest Indian food franchise to come to Bahrain was inaugurated by Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, Bahrain’s Minister of Industry and Commerce, and Vinod Jacob, Ambassador of India at a mithai-infused ceremony attended by an intimate gathering of food connoisseurs, in uential Bahrainis and Indians.
The agship restaurant is located behind Ashrafs in Hoora and boasts ample car parking and a lovely, contemporary interior. But what has kept customers coming back in the month since it opened is the undeniable Dilliwala taste of its signature items – the chaats, the chhole bhature and kulchamatar to name a few.
The mithai has won many palates with its variety and unique specials like Malai Rasgulla and plump and delectable chumchum. And with Diwali gifting in full ow, customers are delighting in Bikanervala’s beautiful designer gift boxes for the sweets.
When inaugurating the restaurant, the Minister of Industry and Commerce noted the growing investments in
various elds between Bahrain and India, especially the food sector.
Indian Ambassador Vinod Jacob welcomed the opening of the new branch of the chain in Bahrain, saying, “We see the increasing familiarity and liking for Indian cuisine at every level, be it Bahraini homes or parties or weddings, I congratulate Bikanervala on adding avour to the Bahrain food scene.”
Also present was Pankaj Agarwal, Director of Bikanervala who said that
Empire Restaurant Co., the managing company, had signaled its investor con dence in Bahrain’s thriving economy by bringing such a prestigious Indian brand to Bahrain.
The company is well-known for its fusion of traditional expertise with modern technology. With a focus on customer satisfaction, ‘BIKANERVALA’ has set industry standards with their ISO certi ed products and their 105-year legacy of superb Indian culinary offerings.
ISB wins Mothercare Science Quiz
The Indian School emerged victorious at the Mothercare ISB APJ Inter-Junior School Science Quest Season 5. The winning duo, Nainika Nanda and Vasudev Priyanath Mohanan Pillai, earned top honours in a dramatic and nailbiting nale up against the Asian School. The competition reached its peak during the rapid- re nal round, where The Indian School and The Asian School were tied in a dramatic showdown. The participants demonstrated exceptional knowledge and agility in answering questions, resulting in an exciting conclusion. Teams from Ibn Al-Hytham Islamic School, New Indian School (NIS), and New Millennium School (NMS) also put up commendable performances, making the event highly competitive. The quiz was skillfully conducted by Quiz Master Sarath Menon in an entertaining and interactive style.
SALAAM SOCIETY
AOL celebrates Onam
With fragrant Pookalam, a sumptuous OnaSadhya and cultural performances, the Art of Living Bahrain chapter celebrated Onam, the biggest festival of the Kerala community. But that’s not all – the group has constantly pushed the boundaries of social connectivity, participating in blood donation drives and conducting free yoga, anti-stress and healthy living workshops in schools across Bahrain, transforming lives one interaction at a time.
BKS delights with Onam fest
The Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam Onam festivities are always a dazzling display of meticulous planning, community spirit, logistics (over 6000 guests for the Onasadhya alone – and the multi-course meal is served to batches of close to 1000 guests at a time from 11 a.m. till past 3 pm) and of course culture. This year there were member activities as well as fabulous concerts by Kerala’s Nightingale Chitra and by the amazing Pandhalam Balan. Huge kudos to President Radhakrishna Pillai and team for their festive efforts.
Woman power at ILA Dandiya
Indian Ladies Association’s annual LuLu Dandiya Night. Powered by Hyundai and supported by a host of big-hearted sponsors, this longest-running celebration has gained in sophistication over the years and is one of the best-attended in Bahrain. This year, there were beautifully dressed teens, cute kids and men and women in lovely costumes bringing colour and charity to their dance steps. Because all proceeds of the ILA Dandiya are harnessed for their SNEHA Centre and for charity.
Communicating the Pink Alert
The buzzy ‘Communicate To Achieve’ - C2A - Toastmasters Club brought together the ladies of Punjabi Virsa with their members for an information-packed awareness talk on breast cancer by Al Hilal hospital.
Sarla and TM Vijayalakshmi , 2 breast cancer survivors told their story courageously to everyone while Dr. Meena led the audience through a journey on the signs and treatment options for breast cancer. The biggest takeaway was that women should not neglect regular check-ups after age 35 and self-examinations are the rst line of defense for early detection. There was also a panel discussion which helped to debunk myths about breast cancer.
A DIWALI TOY STORY
The Anita Dongre couture-d Diwali Barbie 2024 re ects growing sensitivity to inclusivity and cultural appropriateness. But what about the many Indian indigenous toymaking traditions?
BY MEERA RAVI
My octogenarian mother remembers her grandmother making little tin dolls at home for her by pouring molten tin into hollow dies which she made from garden clay. India is a country where each state has one or many toy-making traditions, many of them recently GI-tagged. Indians have been making and playing with toys for over 8,000 years as the discovery of beautiful toys in the Indus Valley archeological site is evidence: the original toys comprised whistle-shaped parrots, toy monkeys with long hands to slide down a rope or stick and miniature farm carts. They were made from natural materials such as bamboo sticks, hay, and natural clay, stone and bre cloth.
DOLLS FESTIVAL
Why, we even have a nine-night Festival of Dolls – the Navaratri Golu, which is celebrated with creative displays in South Indian households. Of course, these are not all play-dolls. Many Golu Bommai, as they are called, are strictly for display, representing gods, goddesses, famous personalities and life events like weddings, marketplace rush and mythological stories.
And wait, there’s more. Have you heard of a Indigenous Toy Fair? That’s what part of the popular Surajkund Crafts Mela is, which brings together craftspersons from around India every February. The names of traditional toy-making towns in India are legion: Chennapatna in Mysuru is endearingly called Gombegala Ooru or Toy Town; there is Kondapalli in Andhra Pradesh, whose wooden toy tableaux, made of a local softwood, are renowned for their expressive art; Thanjavur, whose modular dancing girl toy with moving head and torso are a must for the Golu displays; beautiful wooden toys of Varanasi, the terracotta Asharikandi toys of Assam, the papier mache dolls of Jammu and Kashmir and the wealth of dolls and toys of tribal communities – the list is endless.
FADING HERITAGE
India’s handmade local dolls crafted across cultural economies from rural to urban and semi-urban networks are their own industry and a powerful story. Sadly, despite over 40 GI tagged regional toy traditions, the fact is Indian traditional toy-makers, like many handicraft experts, are facing a crisis. The beautifully sculpted or shaped traditional dolls, scenes from rural India and the quirky imaginative renditions of popular stories are being swiftly replaced with low-skill functional output – the toy-makers of Chennapatna, for example, spend most of their time turning out perfect wooden lacquered beads for keychains and car seat covers. Traditional toymakers, who learnt the craft from their parents, are dissuading their children from following in their footsteps and sending them for higher studies to city colleges which will give them employable skillsets.
Indian children too, the ultimate demographic that uses the toys and plays with them, are distanced from traditional toys. It is all very well to collect toys for Golu displays but for playing, modern kids look for more pliant texture in their dolls: silicone, rubber or fabric, with realistic moveable parts and, if not mechanised, at least a brand name that will up their social status. (Yes, kids too have a social hierarchy, didn’t you know?). Moreover, until recently, unlike Christmas and Santa, India does not have a toy-gifting tradition for any festival. Indeed, Indian children usually get dresses or money as presents for festivals, except for birthdays.
COLLECTOR’S ICON
Enter the Diwali Barbie. The doll has a mile-long of cial name: “Barbie Signature Diwali Doll By Anita Dongre Wearing Festival Of Lights Look.” Mattel’s olive-skin tone Barbie is a collector’s item, dressed in a Rajasthani lehenga and coatee-blouse, designed by the haute couture queen Anita Dongre, with hand-embroidery to enhance the look, chunky jewellery and pink bindi. Many Netizens claim that this Barbie resembles that other Westernised Indian icon, Priyanka Chopra-Jonas, although this writer thinks the doll looks like a cross between the regular blonde Barbie and Disney’s Pocahontas. Of course, a Barbie Collector’s Edition is sought after and the doll has generated a huge festive buzz - within 24 hours of its launch, it was sold out despite a rather steep price of US$ 40 or BD 15. Bahrain collectors will nd the doll pricier on eBay where it is marked at between BD 43 and 47. Mattel’s collaboration with Anita Dongre for a Diwali Barbie highlighted the four-way connect between fabric,
fashion, India and dolls. More than a decade after the Katrina Kaif Barbie and across enduring doll narratives from pero by Aneeth Arora to Anavila Misra’s sari dolls dressed in elegant linens to Delhi-based social enterprise Silaiwali that extends creative livelihood options to Afghan women who make dolls from recycled and waste fabrics (including a collaboration with French brand Chloe), India’s dolls represent Little Big Women.
REALLY SPECIAL?
In classic gushy PR style, Mattel and Anita Dongre have sought to place many key concepts at the centre of the successful doll launch – with references to ‘the essence of the modern Indian woman, combining traditional beauty with contemporary air’ and ‘the exquisite craftsmanship of rural women artisans’ championed by Anita Dongre.
The Mattel PR even says that ‘Each intricate detail of the doll’s out t has been thoughtfully crafted to evoke a deep sense of pride in India’s rich cultural heritage.’
The press brief goes on to say that “Through this special edition, Mattel and Anita Dongre hope to inspire pride in India’s cultural heritage and showcase the artistry of rural women artisans to a global audience.” However, there is no clear statement that every lehenga was or will be embroidered by rural women collectives in India but the lehenga itself is a miniature doll-size replica from Anita Dongre’s Moonlight Bloom Collection. The articulate Anita Dongre herself has been quoted as saying, “Designing the Barbie Diwali doll has been both fun and ful lling. This doll embodies the spirit of fashion-forward Indian women and aims to inspire children worldwide to connect with their roots. I wanted
Jayashree and Balu Ramamurthy’s celebrated Golu display attracts visitors from all over Bahrain. This year, Japanese Ambassador Okai Asakko came for a cross-cultural visit and a delightful conversation ensued about the Japanese doll festival called HinaMatsuri and Golu.
Padma and Shyam have over 2700 dolls in many sizes and their multi-layered Golu is one of the best known in Bahrain.
every South Asian child to look at this Indian Barbie with pride –that was very important to me.”
Of course, as soon as the 2024 Signature Diwali Barbie was unveiled, sleuths on the social media site Reddit, revealed that this is not the rst Diwali Barbie and the company had released one back in 2006. Even earlier, the rst ‘Indian Barbie’ was launched in 1996. Dressed in a gaudy pink saree, she came packaged with a lot of misinformation. An inauthentic description of Indian culture was written onto her box — from the description of a saree as a ‘two piece out t with a shawl’ to the declaration that Indians “never ate with forks or knives” because they enjoyed eating with their hands
Over the years, doll after doll was launched during the festive season of Diwali in India. They wore traditional Indian clothing but little else about these Indian Barbies indicated that they were Indian. Critics said that the skin tone of these earlier Barbies was too pale compared to the brown skin tones in India and that her features were a cookie cutter of the American Barbie: rounded face, blue eyes, upturned button nose. This time round, Mattel has taken care to make the Diwali Barbie more representative and the Anita Dongre touch is a great idea.
“Barbie used to be a more singular re ection of beauty and more one-dimensional,” Mattel’s executive vice president and chief brand of cer, Lisa McKnight, told Reuters. “Today, there are many Barbies, and we’ve got multiple views of the brand.”
was marked in the White House? Now it is Barbie’s turn – and never mind that savvy Mattel has simply tapped into one of the largest toy markets in the world. Indians are still beyond thrilled. Meanwhile, the Government of India is taking measures to strengthen the traditional and also the modern toymanufacturing ecosystem in India. Of particular interest are the ‘Traditional Toys’ that are rooted in traditional motifs and manufactured locally – which are termed Atmanirbhar Toys. They are regarded as a symbol of self-reliance and originality sprouting from India’s culturally rich regions. Another set of important revival toys are the ‘GI Toys of India’ which are authentic to their region of origin and process of manufacturing. They have been recognized with the coveted GI (Geographical Indication) tag which enhances their credibility on a global stage.
In 2012, another version of Barbie in India appeared, dressed in what appeared to be a yellow saree; she was packaged with her own “playful monkey friend.”
Indians tend to read unintended volumes into any sign that their festivals are being used as national celebrations abroad – remember the praise poured over diyas at Rishi Sunak’s 10 Downing Street and the applause when Diwali
GRAND GOLU CONTEST SEASON 3 WINNERS
So, while the Diwali Barbie is undoubtedly a hit toy, the next time you are buying a gift for a child, do consider also picking up one of India’s beautifully hand-crafted heritage toys and keep the home res of generations of traditional toy-makers burning.
For three years now, Salaam Bahrain has been conducting a Grand Golu Contest every Navaratri. Season 3 was sponsored by EPIX Cinemas, which represents the other creative passion of Indians: movies. Power supporter was LuLu Hypermarket.
The entries ranged from smaller Golu of 3 steps to sprawling works of artistry and creative genius that showcased lovingly collected dolls – in Bhawani Ganeshamurthy’s case, a set that was over 100 years old – and meticulously crafted mechanical sets such as Jayashree and Balu’s Krishna Leela. Although Season One winner Priya Sethu did not win this year, her beautiful upcycled plastic bottle Jaggannath Puri idols and handmade clay dolls were awesome.
In many homes, a centrepiece celebration was the Ayodhya Ram Lalla Mandir, either built from scratch or displayed through manufactured models.
We had two amazing and artistic judges to choose the winners: Mythrayee Harish and Praseetha Ulhas. They pored over 22 videos carefully and selected about 9 nalists whose homes they visited to personally assess the Golu and choose the winners.
This year’s winners took home trophies from LuLu Hypermarket and movie tickets and popcorn vouchers from EPIX Cinemas. They are:
SMALL GOLU First Place: Harini Mukundh
Runner-Up: Vidya Vijaykumar
MEDIUM GOLU First Place: Sowmya Ramkumar
Runner-Up: Vasantha Kannan
LARGE GOLU First Place: Nisha Rangarajan
Runner-Up: Bhahirathi Venugopal
THEME WINNERS (this category saw a tie for rst place):
First Place: Jayashree Balu and Sathya Mahadevan
SPECIAL PRIZES FOR
BEST PRESERVED 150 YEAR-OLD DOLLS: Bhawani G.
BEST-LOOKING LARGE DOLLS: Vidya Satyan
With photographs and internet research, Sathya Mahadevan worked with her doll-maker friend in India to craft a stunning display of Bahraini craftspeople at work for her Golu.
A “Diwali-cious” fashion scene
Th e festive season got off to an early start in Bahrain when the Season Two of the Divalicious fashion pop-up show brought together some exciting young Indian fashion designers and jewellery and accessory designers to put us all in the bling season mode. The show was inaugurated by Indian Ambassador Vinod Jacob and attended by a galaxy of diplomats, fashion watchers and serious fashion investors. Organiser Ashita Kavalani did a stellar job of pulling together a hip event which showcased trends and fashion items with easy style. The best part? Bahrain residents could get a look-in at the latest styles rocking India and that too with no NRI mark-up! Can’t wait for next Diwali Divalicious..let’s see you here more often.
PAACT hosts grand Onam feast
People jokingly say the Gulf Malayali organisations hold on to Mahabali during Onam and the weeks after the much-loved festival. The Palakkad Art & Cultural Theatre proved why the legendary King of Kerala lingered in Bahrain – to witness their stylish cultural show and delectable OnaSadhya. With four diplomats in attendance (Malaysian, Turkish, Nepali, Thai) and a galaxy of businessmen and friends such as Kanoo Group’s Nasser Waleed Kanoo, LuLu Group International Director Juzer Rupawala and government dignitary Yusuf Lori.
PAACT has also made a ne name for its signature OnaSadhya which recreates the avours of Palakkad with the help of specialist chefs from India.
Glamsham Mega Mart Dandiya
There was plenty of glamour at the Mega Mart Mega Dandiya – and a wonderful touch of nostalgia. The music was rmly retro (like the audience) with a brush of Bollywood ‘seventies that won all our hearts. This is one Dandiya event that is fast becoming a favourite among Navaratri dancers for its slick organization (take a bow, Out-of-the-box & Sushma Athilat) and the generosity of the main sponsor Mega Mart.
‘Mega’ Diwali deals make festive season joyful
For all festivals, Mega Mart comes into its own with an excellent range of specialty foods, ingredients for home chefs and all the accessories that make for a grand festival. Diwali, the Festival of Lights is one such occasion and the chain of hypermarkets makes sure to cater to every requirement of the customer.
The sweets counter at Mega Mart is quite popular and there are so many popular fresh-prepared and packaged sweets available. You can choose from the in-store sweets like laddoo and kaju bar or pick up the fast-selling Bikaji mithai and namkeen. The store will put together curated sweet boxes with your personal selection of sweets or gift hampers with mithai, namkeen, candles, beautiful diya and puja items.
For the busy festive season, Mega Mart also offers party time shortcuts in the form of snacks which can be pre-ordered and make planning a delicious spread so much easier. The in-store chefs are well-known for their tasty street food menu featuring items like vada-pav and chaat like samosa chaat which can be pre-ordered and served.
And its not just the food – puja accessories such as beautiful clay diya, candles, incense sticks, toran for doorways and rangoli stencils and powders are all available to make home décor easy this festive season.
Add to the mix a whole lot of promotions on chocolates, dates and nuts and you have the right ingredients for a fab festive season with Mega Mart!
INS TIR goodwill visit
The Indian Navy’s First Training Squadron (1TS) visited Mina Salman Port and an of cial reception was hosted aboard 1TS for delegates from the Indian Embassy, Bahrain Defence Forces, and other military and civilian dignitaries, along with members of the Indian diaspora.
During the visit, members of the squadron aboard INS Tir and ICGS Veera met Bahraini military of cials to discuss maritime security and future cooperation. They also visited the US Naval Forces Central Command to strengthen their partnership. Navy Captain Anshul Kishore, Senior Of cer of the Squadron, held discussions with senior Bahraini Navy of cials, including Major General Salman Mubarak Al-Doseri of the Royal Command Staff and Commodore Ahmed Ebrahim Muhamood.
Discussions with US Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) focused on strengthening maritime cooperation and reinforcing the strategic partnership between the Indian Navy and other maritime forces in the region, the ministry added.
The of cer from 1TS, along with the Commanding Of cer of ICGS Veera, also met with Commodore Mark Anderson of the Royal Navy, Deputy Commander of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF).
In the spirit of camaraderie, naval personnel from both the US Naval Command and the Indian Navy participated in a friendly football match, while the Indian Navy band gave a captivating performance in Manama. A community outreach event was
also held at the Tree of Life Social Charity Society, further strengthening goodwill. According to of cials, this visit has reinforced the strong maritime ties between the two navies.
The sixth Speaker Series from Salaam Bahrain features the famous Harikatha exponent, educator, cultural champion and motivational speaker, Vishakha Hari. In South India, Harikatha is a popular form of spiritual storytelling where the artiste combines the wealth of kirtanams and devotional music across Indian languages to illustrate stories in retelling ancient Indian legends and sacred texts.
CA Vishakha Hari brings a formidable understanding of classical Indian music structure and a wealth of knowledge of songs in all Indian languages to leaven her talent in Harikatha. But the passion she invests in her telling of these ancient stories, the contemporary vision she imbues the concerts and performances with are all her own and have made her rightly famous.
The fact that she is an All-India awardwinning chartered accountant who has opted for a completely different path as a life choice makes it clear that she means cultural and spiritual business and is not just all talk. Indeed, CA Vishakha Hari has even established the Vijayashri Harikatha School where students ranging in age from 7 to 35, learn the nuances of the art, scriptures from which to draw their references and building their repertoire of music and stories. A milestone for the artform was when Harikatha was inducted into the National Education Policy in August 2021. “NEP felt that it would be a valuable addition to the school curriculum. We were told that it’s been integrated into the syllabus of three schools and even a few in Jodhpur and Odisha. In my recent book ‘Katha and Beyond’, on introduction to Harikatha, I’ve included a ne mix of small stories, games, songs, and quizzes to introduce kids to the real history of India. This way, it will be an engaging and creative subject,” informs Vishaka Hari.
In this interview, we have bypassed the fascinating but well-known details of how this star student of the renowned musician Padma Bhushan Lalgudi Jayaraman and the dancer Padma Shri Sudharani Raghypathy came to choose Harikatha as her life’s vocation. Instead, we had a more intimate conversation about her beliefs, parenting in the Age of Information Overload and the contemporary need for women’s rights awareness and implementation.
“WE NEED TO STOP OBJECTIFYING WOMEN IN ORDER TO CHECK BRUTALITY AGAINST THEM”
Vishakha Hari
(AS INTERVIEWED BY MEERA RAVI)
SB: How do you balance your strict personal discipline with your very busy life that takes you all over the world? (Not only is Vishakha Hari a strict vegetarian who follows a saatvic diet but also ritual purity and has rm rules in place that help her stay energised and in the correct mindframe for spiritual work.)
VH: My inspiration are my two Gurus – Sri Krishna Premi Swamigal whose beautiful life values I try to emulate in my own and my music Guru Shri Lalgudi Jayaraman Sir – he used to tell us all that “Your personal discipline is what takes you all over the world. It is like the wind beneath our wings and it is our personal discipline which helps to take us all over the world, helps us travel and achieve our goals. It is not about imposing our discipline on our travel – rather we succeed and travel everywhere with our success because of the discipline. So, I think that is a very important part for everybody to have a disciplined approach to all that they do and make every effort to stick to that discipline.
SB: As parents, what are the biggest challenges you and your husband face in balancing your deep spirituality and ethics with the push of social media and information overload on children (and adults)?
VH: Yes, today because of lot of information overload, social media exposure and distractions, de nitely it’s dif cult for everybody as parents – but we must remember it is just as dif cult for children too, to navigate this confusing world. Parenting is dif cult but once you give the children a foundation it’s like watering the seeds properly, giving them the right atmosphere and sunshine. The seed is a healthy seed, it de nitely will grow into a beautiful tree – like seeds, children too hold the promise of the future within them and must be nurtured. Once, as parents, we put them into the right track and help them (by) giving them a right foundation then I think balancing spirituality, ethics and the school syllabus, college syllabus
all will be a bit easier but without the spiritual background, without the ethical background children will face dif culties.
SB: Do you endorse the right of women to equality and freedom? I know we need to take a gendered view of this but as someone who is immersed in the traditional world view do you nd it different from our contemporary world’s needs?
VH: I am a woman who has always believed that out of all countries, India has always given the maximum freedom, liberty and equality to women because there are Rishikas and Acharyas and Rishipatnis and so many women seers and Vedic seers like Maitreyi, Gargi, Vishwavara, Apala who have had so much of intellect. It was Gargi who moderated the debate in the SageKing Janaka’s court and was considered an intellectual equal with the likes of the powerful Sage Yajnavalkya.
So, women were given that kind of a status and even in warfare, Vedas mention Mudgalini and Vadrimati so our country has always in fact treated women as goddesses. We also have the concept of Shakti and of Lakshmi, Saraswati and Durga - what more do we need? I always believe that in the traditional view, the Indian traditional world has been the most feminist because men worship Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati.
SB: How do you see the present-day unfortunate episodes of brutality against women? It sits oddly with this ancient narrative of power and respect isn’t it?
VH: Yes, because in today’s world, women are increasingly reduced to objects of mere desire with no intellectual advocacy. Women are not recognised as holders of the power of the Goddess - they are not seen with that matru bhava ( SB: ‘Matru Bhava’ may translate into gures of maternal power but it refers to perceiving women as more than mere chattals.) It’s so incongruous because today’s women are used more as advertisement props to showcase products. When that happens, perceptions shift and people think they can get away with not respecting women.
Mind you, I am not talking about how women dress. The dignity and the respect, I don’t think it lies in the clothes. Dignity and respect lies in knowledge. And I think more and more we gain knowledge, both male and the female, the brutality will decrease.
You see, when our attitude is to see women as objects, we are going away from dharma and moksha aspects and succumb to just artha and kama is being concentrated out of the chaturvida purusharthas. And that is why the present day unfortunate episodes of brutality take place. In the ancient narrative, everything was equally, equanimously balanced, dharma, artha, kama and moksha. And any aberration of behavior was immediately punished.
SB: We do have so many instances of Ganga Jamuna Tehzeeb in our legends, where devotees from different communities and religions unite in bhakti with God. How can we keep this spirit alive in a world which is increasingly fragmented by differences of community, religion and caste?
VH: Bhakti is one genre, where we have always been inclusive and in fact, I am writing a book which is based on that. It is ‘Sangeeta Saujanya’, which talks of Saujanya or harmony through music. There are only two things in this world which can bring harmony. I personally believe - it is music and spirituality. Music has spirituality, spirituality has music. That’s why most of the saint composers, most of the great people have chosen the path of Nadopasana. And today’s world, I think, they have to keep this Ore Kulam - Tondar Kulam belief. That all of us are devotees of the Supreme Lord and there is no differentiation, no Bheda Bhava. And Samoham Sarva Bhuteshu - in Bhagavad Gita, the Lord says, Krishna says, I am equal to everybody: to a Prahalada as well as to a Hiranya-kashipu. He is equal to everybody. It’s in the way that Hiranyakashipu sees him and Prahalada sees him that is different.
SB: What is your personal favourite instance where you feel your Harikatha changed a listener’s life?
VH: I have a lot of favourite instances where people who have really not understood the language sit for hours together, cry through the programme. There have been so many children who are mentally challenged, on the autism spectrum, who have sung and danced along with me and there are so many parents of those children with Down Syndrome who come back to me and say, the children don’t even know the names of their parents, but they keep saying Vishakha Hari, Vishakha Hari. And that brings tears to my eyes because it’s not my Harikatha or my music, it is the devotion that resonates. The heart of each one is the same.
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Mini Olympics & Meditation at NMS
NMS Bahrain students celebrated their athletic prowess at the 6th School Mini Olympics organised by the Ministry of Education. NMS students brought in laurels by winning gold, silver and bronze medals in various events in which 2000 students, from 83 different schools in the Kingdom took part. The school also made students aware of the need to stay mentally balanced on World Mental Health Day with guided meditation sessions and smile campaigns to share goodwill. Students crafted and displayed reminders around the school, sharing simple yet powerful messages about mental well-being.
SALAAM SOCIETY
Chef Pillai wows Bahrain diners
When you have a deep, inherent talent, nothing can stop you from ful lling a particular role in the universe. That was the case with Chef Suresh Pillai, who has elevated the avours of Kerala to centre-stage on the global culinary map and has movie stars, sports icons and you and me eating out of his hand.
But if you look at his early life, there is no hint of the kitchen magic that awaited him in the future. Having skated through high school with bare minimum marks, Pillai, whose parents were manual coconut coir processors in Kerala, tried to get into college but was turned away because of his low marks (later, he won hearts by posting his marksheet on his social media and telling parents and anxious students that a low marks performance need not stop you from being successful – an important message for marks-obsessed Asian parents to hear)
CUT TO THE START
Pushed to earn money, he joined work as a security guard and later, as a waiter in one of the hundreds of unknown rural tea stalls that dot the Kerala countryside. Here he took to helping the cook with odd jobs – chopping veg and meat, grinding the masala and gradually moving up the ladder to actually preparing dishes.
That gave him a taste for a culinary career and he got his rst restaurant break as a raw seventeen year old at Kollam’s anonymous Restaurant Chef King. Today, after reimagining Keralan cuisine for the sophisticated palates of the likes of Tiger Woods and Virat Kohli, working in Michelin-starred restaurants in London and top-ranked ve star properties in Kerala and having participated in BBC Masterchef, Chef Pillai is a social media sensation with over eight million followers.
BAHRAIN BEGINNING
The best news is that this cheerful (no Gordon Ramsay tantrums, here) founder of the ‘Restaurant by Chef Pillai’ chain is now in Bahrain, thanks to a collaboration with Bahrain’s Jashan
Bahrain Punjabis celebrate Karva Chauth
Ladies of the Punjabi community celebrated Karva Chauth with heart-felt prayers for the well-being of their husbands and families. The four organisers of the P.U.B. event were Reena and Kamlesh Kapoor and Amita and Vishal Prabhakar.
Restaurant at the Wyndham Garden in Juffair.
Chef Pillai is part of a new brigade of Kerala culinary stars who are leading the global exploration of the avoursome Keralan cuisine.
“I want to guide diners in their enjoyment of authentic Keralan food. We are more than parotta, curry or even the splendid Onasadhya – our cuisine is the result of centuries of experimentation, in uences of traders and colonial powers and has been shaped by Kerala’s plentiful spices and unique ingredients. One ladleful of a simple sh curry has more expensive ingredients and chef’s expertise than other complex European dishes.”
No wonder Bahrain diners are in food nirvana – the OnaSadhya at ‘Jashan by Chef Pillai’ was booked solid for three days once the Wyndham Garden announced the dates and Salaam Bahrain’s interview on social media went viral! If you have not yet sampled Chef Pillai’s aromatic Keralan cuisine, make your ‘Jashan by Chef Pillai’ visit today!
Madhu-Sumedha pull off a Mirage
Artist-mountaineer-author Madhu Sarda and her daughter Sumedha mounted a stunning exhibition titled ‘Mirage’ with the element of water as its central motif. Inaugurated by Nepali Ambassador Tirtha Raj Wagle, the exhibition has been attracting plenty of attention. The opening evening was full of admirers and friends of the two artists, with husband / father Sandip playing proud supporter.
CHANNEL YOUR HOME’S FESTIVE CHARACTER
Homebox brings elegant and contemporary décor ideas to the fore this Diwali
Sure, the traditional diya and toran are a great way to celebrate the festive season. But if you are looking for some contemporary festive ideas, look no further than Homebox. The wide range of décor accessories have the advantage of looking elegant and timeless while being easy on the pocket so that you can change the look completely for Christmas or a family get-together. Here are some ideas to check out.
Candle Holders: CREATE ENCHANTING AMBIENCE
No Diwali celebration is complete without the soft, ickering glow of candles! Homebox’s captivating candle holders, crafted from a blend of metals and glass, are designed to bring a stunning illumination to your home. Imagine the enchanting ambience created as the light dances through intricate designs, casting mesmerizing patterns on your walls, dining table or cozy corners.
Figurines and Ornaments: A TOUCH OF
DIVINE CHARM
Embrace the spirit of Diwali with Homebox’s beautifully crafted gurines and ornaments. Each piece, featuring Lord Ganesha and the serene Buddha, symbolizes wisdom and strength, radiating spiritual energy throughout Homebox’s space. These exquisite additions not only enhance the aesthetic of Homebox’s home but also carry a deeper meaning, making them perfect for mantels, shelves, or altars. Whether you're decorating for Homebox’sself or gifting to loved ones, these ornaments are ideal for anyone seeking a stylish yet meaningful touch to their decor.
Cases and Home Decor: OPULENCE REDEFINED
Elevate your home decor with Homebox’s exquisitely textured cases and decor items. Crafted from highquality aluminum, each piece exudes luxury and boasts a striking nish that will add a touch of elegance to any room, coffee table or sideboard.
Festive Cushions: A LIVING ROOM MAKEOVER
Give your living room a delightful makeover with Homebox’s stylish festive cushions! Made from a blend of cotton and polyester, these cushions are not only beautiful but also designed for lasting vibrancy. With intricate patterns that add sophistication, they are perfect for creating a cozy atmosphere for gatherings with family and friends.
BEATING THE FESTIVE SUGAR RUSH
A blueprint for staying healthy in the midst of Diwali parties
BY ADITI NAGAPPA
he amount of sugar we consume during the festive season can be shocking - and what about the amount our children are eating? Trying to keep our blood sugar in some sort of balance at Diwali can be a mine eld. So, let’s plan how best to take care of your sugar levels this festive season while still enjoying a treat or two.
With the mithai trolley being unavoidable, Diwali can be really challenging. Willpower is often overestimated. That juicy gulab jamun and crispy, sugary jalebi, whether home-made or store-bought, are chemically designed to be addictive – that combination of sugar and fat somehow manages to bypass those signals telling you that you have had enough. But you can plan ahead – from today – and put a routine in place that will counter the desserts and fries you will eat.
REMOVE THE LABELS. The rst step is to remove the labels we give food and not to think of foods as ‘good’ or ‘bad’. This narrative is not helpful and is what drives a lot of our behaviours around the foods we really enjoy. Give yourself the freedom to eat the foods you love alongside foods that nourish your body and energise you.
GET THE ROUTINE RIGHT. Since we all know Diwali will mean a bit of overindulgence, start putting a sensible and careful eating plan and exercise in place today. Even if you are used to a sedentary life, start incorporating some stretches and a brisk 15-minute walk into your day. You will be surprised how many muscles this simple routine tones!
If you’re dealing with a sugar spike that’s already happened, the best thing to do is go for a lovely Diwali walk and get some fresh air but any exercise will be effective. Try and get your body moving to help metabolise the sugar.
ALSO, CUT BACK ON CARBS like rice, white bread, pasta especially late at night. Build a daily diet that’s high on protein and bre – if you do that from now, by the time you hit the Diwali party circuit, your system will automatically help you to resist the second round of mithai and fry-ums. To prevent sugar spikes, eat protein-dense foods rst, followed by high glycemic carbs and desserts.
At the party buffet, try to avoid the crisps and instead go for dips – ideally with vegetable crudites. Given a choice, opt for paneer bites and cutlets instead of samosa, salsa instead of sour cream as these foods are rich in protein and bre and will help reduce your appetite.
SLEEP WELL. If you are sleep-deprived, you will take over the sweets trolley. That’s because your body will demand sugar to boost energy. When we’re tired or stressed we’re more likely to reach for sugary, high-energy foods to keep us going.
HYDRATE. Often we confuse thirst for hunger or a sweet craving. Staying hydrated helps to ght the urge to feed on too much festive sweets.
HIDDEN SUGARS ARE TROUBLE. These are sugars which have been labelled differently and are usually the words which end in “ose” For example, dextrose, maltose, fructose. It is always important to read labels and check for these hidden sugars before giving them to babies and young children. This is especially true for storebought avoured yogurt, juices and jams but also for salted treats, processed sauces and gravies.
SAVE YOUR TREATS for tomorrow. Remind yourself that these foods are readily available throughout the year. One of the reasons so many of us struggle with this time of year is because of what happens next –the “New year, new you” diet pressure OR because we tell ourselves that once October starts, we’re going back to eating healthy and there will be no more chocolates. This narrative encourages us to eat ALL the chocolates and delicious foods now. If we know we are allowed to have these foods after Diwali, there’s suddenly less of an urge to eat as many of them as you can now.
HAVE HEALTHY SNACKS ready. As a host, make the effort to hand a healthy snack board for guests with nuts, fresh fruit, air-fried goodies and treats that are tasty and healthy. Indian cuisine has plenty of steamed treats and baked classics like a, the savoury Gujarati lentil cake. Explore these options.
It is important to make sure that we – especially children - brush their teeth twice a day for two minutes with uoride toothpaste, especially may be consuming more sugary treats. In addition, not only should the quantity of sugary treats be controlled, but also the frequency with which they are consumed. This can be done by limiting the number of servings to one or two per day. Scienti c research has shown that children who consume sweets daily, particularly before bedtime, have a greater risk of tooth decay than those who do not. Drinking plenty of water during the day can help wash away food particles and keep their mouth hydrated.
A SEASON FOR PRAISE
AAGHOSH 2024 the annual day of the IIPA featured a stunning local theatre production and performances by students and teachers.
Bhayaprastav was a revelation in its use of local talent who brought some fine skills to the production.
That Tagore anthem “Ekla Chalo Re” – "If no one responds to your call, then go your own way alone" is clearly the song close to Dr. Nidhi Menon’s heart. The creative force who nurtures the public performances of the Indian Institute of Performing Arts (IIPA), she has made a name for herself with her sure-handed direction of epic dance drama – rst ‘Bhavahara’, a Mahabharata retelling from the battle eld and now with ‘Bhayaprastav – the Season of
Fear’, a ‘shock and awe’ rendering of an ecological message.
Why ‘Ekla Chalo’? Well, because despite many reservations from advisors, she boldly went ahead and stuck to her original plot and chose not to water down the rather gory end to her dance drama, preferring to let the brutality of a killing driven by sheer lust for blood drive home the message that we need to live in step with all life forms and none is superior in the eyes of Nature.
Bhayaprastav was a revelation in its use of local talent who brought some ne skills to the production. The choreography by Falsad Khalid was top-class, dazzling in its movement and in its understanding of the purpose. The lighting by Vishnu Natakagramam and make up by Sajeevan and Sreejin were both very effective, re ecting the many moods of the play. Dr. Nidhi had directed the play with superb depth –getting amateurs to act as animals and re ect the interiority of their farm life is no mean feat and each character was beautifully executed.
Overall the production was yet another triumph for Dr. Nidhi and IIPA. A special note of praise for Dr. Ambilikuttan Aravindakshan, the Director-Founder of IIPA. He has made the institution not just a place of learning the ne arts but also a sanctuary where artists can joyfully experiment and showcase their talent. The day-long Aaghosh 2024 programme featured over 175 students and 12 faculty in performances and was a treat for the audience and performers alike. The lighting by Vishnu Natakagramam was excellent and the make up by Sajeevan and Sreejin professional.
MEERA RAVI
Its funny how we inhabit parallel universes – on the one hand the headlines shriek of war, climate change, natural disaster and displaced people. Yet, on the other, we prepare to celebrate our festivals, shopping for new clothes, giving our homes and of ces a new look, investing ourselves in prayerful submission to God and rituals. On the third front, we continue to lead our everyday lives, children going to school, adults to workplaces and we soak up the comforting humdrum that insulates us from the terror of the tragedies taking place.
We are approaching Diwali, the Festival of Light, which celebrates the return of a righteous and triumphant exiled king, Lord Rama. It is a celebration of joyful welcome which renews our spirit. In many parts of North and Western India, Diwali is marked as the start of a new year, especially for businesses, with new books of accounts formally opened. Why then can we not tweak the trajectory of our lives too, with new resolutions and goals just like we do for January 1? But because of the spiritual nature of this new beginning, perhaps we can go beyond the self-improvement route of losing weight and learning a new language and think about interacting with the community.
I have said it before – we can take a leaf out of the way Eid and Christmas are celebrated and make giving back to our society the central motif of how we mark our festivals. Just like people mark Ramadan with charity and special Iftar for the needy, we should build a strong charity component into our festivals – a womencentric social initiative to mark Navaratri when the feminine power is venerated; children’s scholarships for the day when new learning begins on Vijayadashami; food banks and clothing distribution for Diwali. This is the onset of autumn and winter is snapping at our heels. Now is a good time to think about protecting needy families not just by handing out blankets but repairing their homes and neighbourhoods, maybe.
We can also build outreach programmes that address more contemporary issues such as mental health management, tness and health, diversity and inclusivity – the scope is endless. Festivals are periods of rejoicing and they help us lower our hostility and open our minds and hearts to new perspectives. Our sacred rituals are the fulcrum of our festivals – but to be truly meaningful, we have to connect with our society and make a difference.
