By Papri Das

The resonating beats of ?dhak,? the clear blue skies of autumn, the alluring essence of ?shiuli? and the decked up streets with creative pandals spell out the festive fervour that the five days of Durga Puja brings to every Bengali. Be it big puja associations hatching cutting edge concepts for pandals, ladies planning weeks in advance on what to wear for the five days, or youngsters lapping up stories from the ?pujor shankha? editions of magazines -- these five days transform Kolkata as a city, and see the people of Bengal hailing Maa Durga in all her glory.

However, some don?t have the luxury of celebrating their roots in its true essence at home. They are called ?Probashi Bengalis? or Bengalis who live away from Bengal. And if you are part of the media industry, you are bound to come across quite a few of them. 

As Kolkata gears up for the five festive days, Exec Lifestyle caught up with several Bengalis in the media industry to find out how they are living it up this year. Here?s what they had to say:

Anita Kaul Basu

Durga pujo is very special to our family, Siddharth (Basu) being a hard core Bengali. We usually celebrate the festival together every year, but this year seems a bit uncertain with both of us travelling. We are a bit all over the place this year. Usually we get decked in traditional clothes and visit the pandals, including some of the biggest like Mukherjee family pandal in Andheri. The whole day goes in catching up with friends and family and other bongs within the industry. Then trying all the delicacies is part of the fun.

Pratap Bose

I am not the type of Bengali who goes overboard with Durga Pujo. I like to keep things simple and real as much as possible. For me, the Durga Pujo is not the hustle and bustle of Kolkata. It in the smaller pockets where the community is more interlocked and bonded. For example places like Midnapore and Jamshedpur, where the pandals are smaller and less but the puja is done with more passion. There aren?t too many pandals to go pandal hopping, but just the serenity of the pujas appeals to me.

Having said that, for those who want to relish the true flavour of pujo and have a sense of belonging to their roots, migration to Kolkata, which is the mecca of festivities in these few days, is a must for every Bengali. But unlike me, there are a lot of Bengalis who can?t go back to Kolkata even if they wanted to. For them, wherever they are, even outside India, there is always a community that celebrates the festival in its own unique way.

In Mumbai, my wife and I are associated with the Pujo that is organised in Goregaon East, and we take part in the planning and arrangements.

Pratik Seal

I prefer the Durga pujo in Mumbai than Kolkata. As a probashi Bengali, I have no regrets. I don?t feel Durga pujo back in Kolkata is fun any more. It is very commercialised and money minded. It doesn?t feel your own, or as if you belong there. Most big pandals are owned by some political organisation or the other. I actually miss Delhi pujo more, where all the industry guys would arrange for the pujo themselves. There is a certain beauty in it.

This year, my wife and I plan to shut down our home kitchen for starters, as Durga puja mostly means eating out all the time. There is Durga pujo that happens next to our house in Mumbai, so we plan to spend most of our time there. Then maybe pandal hop a bit to Vashi, Navi Mumbai and Powai areas. Our plan is to basically chill with family and friends, have fun and roam around. 

Nivedita Basu

The Lahiris (Bappi and Bappa Lahiri) are family friends who have been organising one of the biggest Durga pujos in Mumbai along with the Mukherjees, and we have been ardent patrons of their pandals over the last few years. Our bong gang comprising me, Shumona, Kavita Kaushik, and a few others celebrate the puja with Kajol (Devgn) and her family. It?s fun to attend all the cultural activities and programs at night. For example, they would often organise an Usha Uthup night, that totally cheers us up. The best thing is the bhog that this particular puja serves, which people lap up after standing in line for hours. All thanks to the Mukherjees and Lahiris, who bring in a Bengali cook specially for these days.

I know there is a lot riding over fashion on the last three days in Durga specially in Kolkata, where preparations start over a month before. But for us, who hardly get time from our busy schedule our stylists and designer friends come to rescue. I plan to wear a saree on at least one of the days, mostly because my friends get after my life if I skip that ritual. My friend Roshini Chopra has designed a saree for me so I will probably wear that. For another day, I will be donning an outfit designed by Sabbah Sharma.

Sumonto Chattopadhyay

For me and my family, Durga Pujo has always meant mutton curry and rice on Ashtami (eighth day of the puja). That?s like the biggest thing to look forward to. I usually end up being in Bombay most of the years, but this year, my work might actually take me to Kolkata. If I do end up in Kolkata, I will make sure to check out some of the creatively done pandals. One of our clients have been organising ?Sharad Samman,? which basically acknowledges the artisans for their creative inputs in the pandals. I feel like checking that out this year.

It is interesting to note how the Durga pratima or idols have evolved from being very traditional to topical and even edgy these days. It?s more of an expression of art and social cry in some cases than just an idol you worship. So if I make it to the city, pandal hopping is definitely on my top agendas. Otherwise, I will definitely be eating very well (chuckles).

Pradeep Guha

I was born and brought up in Mumbai, so I guess my perception of Durga Puja and the excitement around it is a bit different. It was never a huge event in my life except that as a kid I would go buy new clothes for the occasion. I see many Probashi Bangalis organise Durga puja in Mumbai, and their passion really amazes me. Most of them have been in Kolkata and came and settled in Mumbai so it's natural they want to recreate the celebration here, and I am all for it too.

Having said that, I don't go all out during Durga puja. I do go and give 'anjali' on Ashtami at Ram Krishna Mission. That is my small way of celebrating the festival.

MUMBAI: After launching their Celestial Time collection of Moon Phase watches, Titan has now launched the Moonlight collection of watches for the Titan Eaga category.

The watches take inspiration from the beauty of objects captured in the luminescent moonlight. Embellished with Swarovski crystals and pearls, with enamel work, the watches are the perfect accessory for a woman this festive season. Designed for the contemporary woman, the watches are an intricate portrayal of stunning beauty stirred by the silver moonlight.

The collection was unveiled by actress Yami Gautam and Titan Company Limited, Watches and Accessories CEO S Ravi Kant.

The watches are priced from Rs 3995 to Rs 18495.

The Raga Moonlight collection showcases a wide variety of designs and is available in World of Titan stores, Helios stores, multi-brands outlets like Lifestyle, Shoppers Stop and other authorised dealer stores.

Kant said, ?Titan Raga has celebrated beauty in its various forms with exquisite collections every year. The Moonlight watches are an interpretation of the beauty of objects touched by the light of the moon ? the Taj Mahal, the fragrant night flowers, the ethereal moonstone, the mystic lake and the starry night sky. Each Raga watch is a canvas of sheer excellence in design and an illustration of the beauty of a Raga woman ? she is elegant, confident, beautiful, and exudes timeless grace.?

Gautam added, ?The Moonlight collection from Raga is absolutely spectacular and is the perfect accessory for the festive season. Titan Raga is a brand that embodies the modern Indian woman, an epitome of elegance, confidence and refined taste in style. I am so delighted to be a part of the Raga journey and unveiling this collection today. The timepieces will definitely add sophistication and style to an occasion ensemble ? with a wide array of choice for every Raga woman.?

By  Jigar Ganatra

The art of storytelling has been in the world for decades. In today?s dynamic world of literature, there are many eminent writers who have mastered this art of storytelling, excelled, made a mark and tasted success. One among them is Amish Tripathi, an IIM graduate, who gave up his fourteen-year-old career in financial services to focus on writing.

His journey as an author started with The Immortals of Meluha, a bestseller, which created a record as the top seller within a week of its launch. And since then, there?s been no looking back for Tripathi. His passion for history, mythology and philosophy clearly reflects in his work.

In a conversation with Indiantelevision.com?s Jigar Ganatra, this ?Eisenhower Fellow? shares his ideas and views as a renowned author and an established entrepreneur.

Excerpts from the conversation:

Tell us about your journey as a writer and choosing ?mythology? as the subject?

As a child, I was never creative. My interest was mostly into sports and I had never thought about writing. My parents and I were always passionate about books and we all have been voracious readers for a long time now. With time, I started to pen down my thoughts, which were appreciated and that is how the journey as a writer began.

As far as mythology is concerned, as a family, we?ve always been proud of our rich history and culture. My grandfather was a pandit, he taught me a lot about the subject. Besides that, my habit of reading has helped a lot. Mythology is an interesting subject and I enjoy sharing my views about it.

Are you trying to modernise and simplify mythology for the audience?

The concept of reinterpreting and modernising mythology has been present for thousands of years. I believe the essence of the story is vital and not the way of storytelling. So, yes, I?m just following the same tradition, culture and the process, thereby modernising and simplifying those stories for the audience today. I?m following the same concept, expressing my thoughts and making it available to my readers.

How important is it to inculcate mythology in today?s education? 

I?m not anti-western, but there is a lot we can learn from our ancient literature. I know Indian history and mythology is not extensively taught in the country, and that could be a flaw in the education system. It is strange that in India, we learn about Shakespeare or world literature more than educating ourselves about the rich Indian heritage, be it mythology, science or historical achievements that our ancestors have accomplished. Educating our children and ourselves about our own history is the need of the hour and I think it is time that the education system is redefined and improved.

Tell us more about Amish as an entrepreneur and now a brand.

The skills have come from education and my professional experience. I believe that every writer is an entrepreneur. It has been the literary scene for many years now. For example ? the great author Charles Dickens used to market his literary work.

Books are my product and once I have written them, I can?t change the product. The best way to make it available for the audience is marketing. My team and I work on different strategies and promote the book. I?m glad that my team has great expertise in branding and promotions. 

Would you like to see your work adapted as a movie or a digital series?

Yes, absolutely. In fact, I?m happy to announce that all the books from the ?Shiva Trilogy? are being made into a movie by Dharma Productions. I have got offers for the movie adaptation of my first book from the Ram Chandra series, but I?m not ready for that yet.

On the digital front, I believe these are early days and it is a new space for me to venture into. It is going to be a big part of the future and it does seem promising. Further, it is very interesting and there are many perks associated with it. In the years to come and with improving technology, it would have a strong presence, vast reach and better connectivity. I am certain that it will have a strong strategic impact and it is something all of us, from the creative world, will have to keep in mind.

How did you plan to link music and your work?

It was a clearly a marketing move, which happened due to a combination of two factors. Firstly, the credit goes to my management team. I have great advisors whom I have worked with. They give me great ideas and strategies to promote my books. Secondly, I think the budget and the scale, which we set for marketing and promotional activities, allows me to invest in music. We all decided on the idea and loved it, hence it happened. It is produced by a team of experienced musicians and I?m closely associated in the making. 

Do you have a library for the next two decades?

I have various project ideas in my mind and all are based on mythology. I want to tell my readers and followers that there are clues for my future work in the Shiva Trilogy. If my readers come back to Shiva trilogy, after reading any of my series, they would find the clues for my next work. An era or a civilisation that lasted for thousands of years is what links all my books and allows me to have such a vast library. This entire mythological universe is very interesting and clearly set in my mind.

Would you want to write books that address social issues?

I love fiction and I believe in conveying a message through storytelling. This art has been followed for many years and also makes it easy and interesting for the readers to follow the message. With regards to social issues, I may write in the future but there?s nothing in the pipeline.

Can you share some interesting reviews that you have received about your books?

I have received a lot of reviews from the books, which have been translated in foreign languages. I have noticed a mixed bunch of readers, both who believe in the mythology and those who don?t. But there have been instances where the readers are amused about the characters and have fallen in love with them, especially Shiva. It is interesting to know their opinion about it. All I can say is that I?m glad that the books and the art are being appreciated globally.

What advice would you give to budding writers?

I believe that the writers today are fortunate as they have the right to speak their mind. We are thankfully in a country where an individual can voice their thought. So, it would be nice to see the upcoming writers share their views, have a firm opinion about the subject and let their work speak.

Amish?s last book, Scion of Ikshvaku was released on 22 June, 2015. He is currently working on his second book from the Ram Chandra series. More information about his work can be found on www.authoramish.com

By Jigar Ganatra

The journey of a next door boy to renowned chef to now a restaurateur?

Excerpts of the conversation:

How did Masterchef India happen to you?

Firstly, while I am not from the food industry, I was always interested in cooking. I believe it was my hidden passion. I hail from a family of doctors who are well settled and sorted with their careers. They always wanted me to be serious about my life and soon my father asked me to leave for Canada for further studies. That is when I came across Masterchef auditions. I gave it a shot and to my surprise, my journey there began with a bang.

How has life changed after the show?

Masterchef has taught me seriousness. Cooking, which was once just a hidden passion, has now become a career. After the success from Masterchef, my family now believes in my passion. Earlier they did not believe in cooking as a profession, but they do now. So, I owe a lot to the show, my well wishers and my followers.

How is it to be a mentor and a TV presenter?

I was never a TV buff, as I was never allowed to watch TV regularly as a kid. Hence I was never confident about facing the camera, But with time I learnt the skill. Working with kids is an amazing experience, as I was always surrounded by their love, respect and innocence.

What do you have to say about International food formats on TV?

TV shows have changed with time. The audience isn?t aware about the cuisines, but they are keen to learn more. There are regions in India where people aren?t aware of international cuisines. Hence the formats are changing to teach the audience. The change that is being adapted today is the need of the hour. The techniques and awareness about the diversity of food is what we believe interests the audience.

What change do you foresee in the food business?

Food and cuisines have seen a transformation over the years. The audience expects creativity and an interesting platter, which has now become available to them. As a chef and a restaurateur, I see majority of the audience keen to try and experiment with new, international cuisines than taste the wide range of delicacies we have in our country.

Tell us more about your entrepreneurial venture.

I am happy to be a part on the board of directors in Venezia Enterprises. We have recently opened the first restaurant ?Macchiato? - a fine casual dining caf? that will serve true Italian food and wine. We look forward to more such restaurants in the future.