Varma, along with a team of eight designers and more than 55 artisans, created the 55 metre long and 45 inch wide sari in 10 weeks. The Delhi-based designer took inspiration from the mythological character Draupadi’s ‘chirharan’.

It took 26,400 hours to complete the sari, which is priced at Rs.885,000.

“Saris are my forte and I have always looked up to this five yard wonder as a canvas on which I can do interesting things. I like doing out-of-box things with it,” said Varma.

The sari has been especially designed exclusively for Vogue’s Fashion Night Out, a shopping extravaganza that will take place Sep 10 at Vasant Kunj’s DLF Emporio Mall.

When Varma was designing the sari, he never thought he would create a record.

“While I was designing the sari, I had no figures in mind or I was not aiming at setting a world record. It just happened and when something like this happens which you had never expected, it comes as a sweet surprise,” said Varma.

“I was inspired by Draupadi because it was seemingly endless and very very long. So this sari has my own interpretation of what her life was like.”

Varma has also taken inspiration from contemporary India, wedding ceremonies, forests with palm trees, the religious iconography of the gods and goddesses and the birds and animals depicted in Indian textiles.

He used silk-georgette, dyed into myriad colors of yellow, orange, fushia pink, lime green, red and cobalt blue for the sari, which has a running patch work, silk brocade and satin printed three-inch border all around.

Varma has used various techniques like applique of silk georgette, satin printed patchwork, hand sequence embroidery, mirror work, threadwork in aari, hand-sprinkle of bead work and ribbon flowers on the sari.

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Rudraksh. The name spells high voltage style and high profile designers. Pune’s first and largest multi- designer store, Rudraksh is one of those brands which has marked the city in bold on the fashion map of the country. On September 6, this uber chic brand, boasting the best of designer labels, is completing two years. As a toast to this occasion, designers Wendell Rodricks, Priyadarshini Rao, Geisha Designs and Rahul Mishra will present their Autumn-Winter 2010 collections at the Tata Housing-Prive Fashionation. Just like Rudraksh, Prive, Tata Housing’s holiday homes at Lonavala, is synonymous to exclusive style, class and luxury.

Wishing Rudraksh on the occasion of it’s second anniversary, designer Rohit Bal says, “It has been a pleasure working with Rasika and her dynamic team. I wish them the very best of luck, and look forward to a greater and a more fruitful relationship. Rudraksh is like my own store and space in Pune.” Designer Wendell Rodricks adds, “I take great pleasure in wishing Rudraksh a very happy birthday. It is the epicentre for all that is fashionable in Pune.” On the eve of the occasion, the glam quotient will be on a high with top models like Natasha Suri, Deepti Gujral, Shonal Rawat and Shriya Kishore and others scorching the ramp.

Rasika Wakalkar, owner of Rudraksh, says, “We wanted to celebrate our anniversary with our designers, clients and well-wishers. My team and I would like to thank them all for their support and good wishes.” The venue partner for the event is the Royal Western India Turf Club, hospitality partner is Hotel Royal Orchid Central, Good Times partner is Kingfisher and Seagram’s Blenders Pride, and the food courtesy is The Galaxy Grill at Seasons Hotel. The event is by invitation only, but the collections will be available at Rudraksh from September 5. With so much in store for the anniversary, the upcoming event promises to be a scorching and ‘haute’ affair.

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Right from the red carpet to the premier of a film to any other event or casual outing. And if you too are keen on wearing a strapless number, then we give you some tips that would help you in keeping the ensemble comfortable and appealing. Read on:

l Strapless dresses are best suited for women who have a toned upper body structure. So, if you have been skipping the gym for a while, you can avoid this look till you hit the gym again.

l Fit is a very important aspect of looking gorgeous in a strapless dress. When you are buying it, make sure that the dress fits your body perfectly. In the trial room, after putting on the dress, sit down and see if the stitches are not too tight near the waistline.

l Selection of proper inner wear plays a vital role. You need to wear a long-line strapless bra which provides more support and gives proper shape to your body.

l When you wear a strapless dress you reveal your neck, shoulders and hands. But don’t overdo the whole look by wearing too much of chunky accessories. In fact, wearing nothing around the neck and hands would make you look more graceful.

l Pair your strapless dress with sling-backs, peep toes or a pair of stilettos. They’ll make you look elegant and give proper posture.

l You can also wear your strapless top during day time by giving it a new look by simply wrapping a scarf or a colourful stole.

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Whether you want to accentuate your ensemble or simply steal the limelight, accessories are the way to go. What was once considered a mere add-on to an outfit has now taken centrestage. Less is more when it comes to jewellery, as women are opting for just one bold piece to grab eyeballs — be it a statement neckpiece, a cuff, long earrings or a cocktail ring. In bags, size does matter and large handbags and oversized clutches rule the party scene.

Accessory designer Meera Mahadevia says, “The monsoon weather tends to get gloomy, so big totes in vibrant colours will look good. They are ideal to work on the mood of the person. Though clutches are an eternal favourite, they are now being sported with a mix of leather, metal and stone work, which looks classic and chic. Enhanced with semi-precious stones they’re perfe ct to flaunt any time of the day.”

Designer Felix Bendish says, in fashion jewellery, one can see a lot of metal chains in various forms and sizes clubbed with fabrics or crystals to complete a funky mood. Another element in design is the use of animal shapes. “Contemporary designs inspired through various aspects of Indian art forms and fabric textures created with hand-embroidered surface ornamentation is a major fashion statement,” adds Felix. Statement pieces are the way to go, feels accessory designer Sonali Dalwani. “Bibs are a big rage. Especially, when paired with a plain black dress, it can give a completely different look,” adds Sonali, who thinks they look best with coloured stones and beads. Jewellery designer Shilpa Puri adds that with no weddings happening, people can opt for colourful trinkets. “Light-weight gold and diamond jewellery is in vogue. Coloured stones like rubies, emeralds and yellow sapphires add some brightness and look great with plain outfits. Long chandelier earrings are also perfect for making a statement.” She suggests focussing on one element in your look and keeping it simple but stunning.

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They are just some of the many fans of tattoos. Closer home, it’s B-town actors like Deepika Padukone, Sanjay Dutt, Akshay Kumar, Hrithik Roshan and Saif Ali Khan, who have all got ‘marked’. While the concept of getting a tattoo is very exciting, there are certain things you should know before getting one.

BE PREPARED
Before going in for your tattoo, you should know/remember that it is permanent, hence ensure you choose a design that you can live with. Very often, people get inked on a whim and then regret it. So, ensure you want the tattoo and are not doing it to please anyone else. Choosing a good reputed tattoo parlour is equally important. Take a shower just before your tattoo appointment. Put on some comfortable clothes and eat something before going as needles can make some people faint.

DEALING WITH THE PAIN
Getting a tattoo is painful, so keep that in mind. If you have a low threshold for pain, you can opt for a numbing cream. What also helps is getting some form of distraction. Try bringing along your music player or get a friend along.

AFTER CARE
Taking care of your tattoo properly will ensure it lasts you for years. Your tattoo artist should wipe and clean the tattoo carefully, and use an antiseptic ointment. It’s best to get your tattoo wrapped in a bandage for a while. This will help the skin heal. Tattoos done on certain parts of the body, like the leg, require additional care, so ask the tattoo artist beforehand. Cleaning the area is important to prevent infection, so follow the guidelines that the artist has given you. Keeping the tattoo dry for the first week is essential. Avoid exposure to sun or chemicals.

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Sallubhai sends out a ‘don’t cheat’ message on satellite television. It’s on the show Emotional Atyachaar 2 on UTV Bindass tonight (Saturday) at 7 pm. Salman’s inspecting the case of Sudhiksha, who suspects her boyfriend isn’t loyal to her. After hearing the entire story narrated by host Pravesh Rana, Salman in his inimitable style gave a word of advice to viewers telling them what he feels about a relationship and how one must realise that flirting and cheating are two entirely different things with a line that should not be crossed.

Sudhiksha doubts Manish because he is a compulsive liar and Manish’s ex-girlfriend Shikha called up Sudiksha cautioning her.

It is exciting to have Salman Khan on the show advising the youth on relationships, says Nikhil Gandhi, channel head of UTV Bindass. “This is the No.1 show in the youth television space. Today the youth is very clear about not being taken for granted by anybody and they are ready to face reality. It’s their overall attitude towards life which is the secret behind the success of Emotional Atyachaar, a show that brings the grim realities and raw emotions to the viewers,” says Gandhi.

The episode also saw Salman giving a sneak peak of Robin Hood Pandey, his character from the upcoming film Dabbang, which is an Arbaaz Khan Production with music by T-Series.
Finally when asked what he’d do if such a sting operation was done on him, Salman laughed saying, “If emotional atyachaar was ever done on me, you guys would get stuff that you’d never be able to put on TV.”

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The actor floored everyone with his charm. From his spectacular entry on a khatiya to his famous towel moves to giving 150 pizzas to people present, everything was a lot of fun. It was also an emotional moment when he handed Khurram a piece of date to break his Roza fast. Catch the actor getting stumped when Shreyasi sings a song from the film, “Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam” and says to him, “I felt very bad and helpless with the way Aishwarya left you heartbroken in the end. Had I been her, I would have given up everything and married you!”

Today’s episode also has some fabulous performances from the top 18 and rib-tickling moments between Salman and judges Vishal-Shekhar, Sajid-Wajid and Daler Mehndi at 9.30pm on Zee TV.

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She’s the darling of reality shows. And Rakhi Sawant is again in the news. This time she is going deglam. We don’t mean literally. She is not changing her wardrobe. But she seems to be taking a break from all the latkas and jhatakas. Rakhi will soon be seen in a new show, Rakhi Ka Insaaf where she will give justice to people who are having a social problem.

So what’s the reason behind starting this show and what motivated her to take up the show? “I have lived a very ordinary life. If you have observed carefully, then many news channels have always sought my opinion during natural calamities, bomb blasts, terror attacks and more. I have given my opinion whenever I was asked. I have struggled a lot in my life. Everyone knows about my humble background.

I am sure I can use my experience and make life better for many others,” says Rakhi who’s famous for her outspoken nature. Rakhi adds, “If other people are meting out justice then why can’t I though I am not a lawyer. Kiran Bedi is a police woman and not a judge but she was a part of such a show. So there are no reasons why I can’t try and give justice to all the people who are suffering.”

She further says, “I always think from my heart. I have always worked for the needy and will continue to do so. People believe in me and trust my opinion so I want to get justice for people, not from the law’s point of view but from the heart (Dil ka insaaf karna chahti hu main).”

From dance shows to swayamvar, Rakhi has always worked in different formats and has also been able to grab eyeballs. Does she give a serious thought to the format of the show? “I don’t think about the formats at all. It is the channel’s work. I take up projects if I like it. God gets me work, I believe in him. I will always do shows that will be out of the box,” she says.
The small screen has now assumed a ‘big’ avtaar. And stars like Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan and Priyanka Chopra are hosting shows. How does she feel about this? “Amitabh has an entire star family, Salman has his biceps while Priyanka has her body – they all have stardom and power. I have only God with me. I don’t care who does what, only what I do matters to me,” pat comes the reply.

There are images of Rakhi that dominate the small screen space. But how does Rakhi want to be remembered by her fans? “I want to be remembered as a common person and not as a celebrity. I am an individual and I want them to remember me like that. People follow me, I don’t follow anyone,” says Rakhi who has faced lots of criticism too. “I don’t care who criticises me or what people think about me. God is important to me and what he thinks about me matters to me.”

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Now, with legal glare on these waste lands and stricter norms requiring the government to act, the environment department has embarked on an ambitious clean-up drive that not aims to neutralize hazardous sites.

The $28.9 million project, funded by World Bank, includes capping the state’s largest municipal solid waste dump at Dhapa, Kolkata, and research studies on health hazards from exposure to metals.

“There are many orphan sites or toxic dumps that no one accepts responsibility for. In the absence of regulation and treatment facility, industrial waste was disposed at municipal solid waste dump sites. This project will help turn the clock back and clean up the mess,” said West Bengal Pollution Control Board chief scientist Dipak Chakraborty, who has been designated deputy director of capacity building for industrial pollution management project.

The World Bank is sponsoring a similar project in Andhra Pradesh. The two states were chosen as they had displayed intent in tackling the issue following a Supreme Court order in 2003, say sources. Of the 640 hazardous units identified in 2005, 140 were found to be non-compliant and were taken to task. Some were shut down by the PCB.

In 2006, a common hazardous waste treatment storage and disposal facility was created in Haldia followed by an incinerator plant the next year. Though a Hazardous Waste (Management Handling Rule), 1989, was enacted, no one really complied, leading to a PIL in Supreme Court in 1995 by Research Foundation for Science Technology Natural Resources Policy.

The SC appointed a committee of experts, which found that there was no hazardous waste management in the country. This led to amendments in the Environment Protection Act, 1986, in 2000 and 2003. The rule was thoroughly revised to Hazardous Waste (Management, Handling & Trans-Boundary Management Rules), 2008.

“One of the decisions taken by the court was to identify illegal dump sites and find remedies. In Bengal, the National Productivity Council was appointed to do the survey and they identified eight sites in Howrah and Hooghly. However, remedial measures were not taken up. The World Bank project will attempt to make these sites inert so that they are not harmful to the environment any longer and do the same with more sites identified through remote sensing technology,” said Shyamal Adhikari, senior environmental engineer at the waste management cell of PCB.

The eight sites are Domjur and Nibra in Howrah, Ashalata Brick Kiln, Sarkar Weight Bridge, Minu Weight Bridge, Zenith Timber Product, East India Flour Mill and Chakundi in Hooghly. The cell will scan industrial zones in Asansol-Durgapur belt in Burdwan, Kalyani in Nadia, Haldia in East Midnapore and Siliguri in Darjeeling to identify more sites.

Incidentally, all 127 municipal dump sites in the state are illegal and could be laden with industrial waste, particularly those with industries in the vicinity.

“Each site that is identified will be examined to determine the present condition and status. Thereafter, feasibility study will be carried out to check whether it can be treated on site or off it. If it is the latter, the waste will have to be excavated and transported to the facility at Haldia,” he said.

There are two other components to the project. The first will involve study on how the contamination from an organic or inorganic dump site spreads. Scientific models will be used to determine the nature and spread of toxicity. The second component comprises capping eight hectare at the Kolkata Municipal Corporation dumpyard in Dhapa. This site will be sealed in such a manner that does not cause leaching during rains.

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The revival is being executed by the Bengal chapter of the Crafts Council of India (CCI) but it would not have been possible without the painstaking research by a former IAS officer who pieced together the lost heritage of undivided Bengal’s fabric she found forgotten in the stores of the Indian Museum.

As chairperson of the museum’s verification committee, Kasturi Gupta Menon laid her hands on numerous magical fabrics woven over two centuries ago. It immediately struck her that the designs and fabrics could help revive the state’s ailing handloom industry.

The fabric specimens were given to several handloom clusters a few years ago, triggering a wave of enthusiasm in a moribun industry. So far, CCI had only focused on reviving old textiles of Dhenekhali, Shantipuri and Fulia’s Tangail. “Bengal handloom in particular and Indian handloom in general is passing through a most crucial phase. It must excel to survive or pass into oblivion. We are making an effort to restore the glory of Bengal fabric,” said Menon, a former development commissioner of handloom.

“One of our priorities will be the revival of Jamdani and Baluchori. The Bishnupur clusters, where world class Baluchori was woven, have just two or three weavers left. It is a huge task to bring back the lost Baluchori,” says Menon.

Neelambari is also on the priority list. The USP of this indigo-dyed, midnight blue cotton handloom saree, lay in the fineness of the yarn and dyeing quality. Very fine hand-spun yarn of 250-300 count was used for weaving, resulting in a powder fine texture. A heady mix of fine weaving and subtlety of design, Neelambari was the last word in sophistication.

Some of these lost and re-invented textiles will be exhibited at an unique show at Tagore Centre of the Indian Council for Cultural relations ( ICCR) building from September 4 to September 11.

Experts at the Weavers’ Service Centre, Kolkata, say the battle is now with powerlooms and mills which produce mass-produce cheaper textiles. Though the Handloom Reservation Act prohibits mills from producing 11 textile products like sarees, dhotis, gamchas, lungis, bedcovers and bedsheets, these fabrics made in mills are all pervasive in the market, say experts.

In fact, it was the East India Company that began the destruction of handloom to forcefully open up a market for machine-woven fabric from Britain. The import of cheaper machine-made clothes from Europe and the subsequent advent of power-looms and textile mills rang the death-knell for handloom. Many designs and fabric simply perished. By a stroke of luck, they have what might be the last chance ever of bringing back the lost glory.

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