Articles by Divya on burrp! blah

Articles written by Divya

Arts Come Alive: Kala Ghoda Festival

Every year, the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival tries to showcase the best of arts and culture. It takes place on the streets of Kala Ghoda - oft considered the creative hub of Mumbai. This year, it flagged off on January 6 and I absolutely had to find out what all the hype was about. I spotted the statue of the majestic black horse at a distance. This was not going to be easy. Thousands of eager denizens and foreigners brushed by... On my left near the Jehangir Art Gallery , I saw an installation of big black frames surrounding policemen’s uniforms. Done by artist Revati Sharma it read â€...more

Show ‘Em Some Love!

So you are all geared up for Valentine’s Day with gifts and surprises in place for your hottie. But how about planning something special for those who loved you unconditionally, even on your worst hair days? Who else, but your folks! No, you really don’t have to spend the day with them. Stay out of the way and instead, plan an evening to make them relive those mushy times. Sail Into Their World They have done incredible things just to see you smile, and now its pay back time. Book them on a special cruise that leaves early morning, sails around the city all day and drops them back b...more

Charity Just Got Cheaper

There's absolute no doubt about how we need to pamper ourselves as we toil to contribute to the India Shining story. But a cool fact we often miss out on is that the more we spend on ourselves, the more potential we create for charity. Yeah! You read it right. Be it going crazy with designer labels, indulging in a second home or opting for a notebook just so that you can Facebook at 3 a.m., they could actually be your big step towards making the world a better place. Here's how… Matter of difference So you ended up buying just three more pairs of shoes than you actually planned, takin...more

Celebrate The Freedom Charter

Republic Day! Aah… isn't that the day when they came up with what is considered to be one of the most extensive constitutions in the world even today? And wherein we found our fundamental rights in Part III; liberty to sleep until late after a long Monday and even better, the liberty to take that Monday off and enjoy an extended weekend. While there's no harm in enjoying these, let us take a closer look at the 60 year old charter that continues to have a lasting effect on our day-to-day lives till date. For those who came in late, Republic Day is when we adopted the...more

The War Zone Home

When the world comes crashing down on you, the one place you can go to for comfort is your home; what happens when security eludes you at your own abode? When things get bleak the smile of an innocent child can undo the knots in your heart, what happens when you are responsible for the loss of that very smile, the loss of innocence? Many homes are war zones of incompatible couples, while they continue to deal with life as it may be rather as they develop an unconscious keenness toward the constant bickering, the little people are forced to cope with the situation created around them as ...more

Funky DIY Ideas for Hand-made gifts

Tired of gifting folks the same things over the years? Well, do it differently this time, think funky, unique and personal. Here's the lowdown on how you can make your gift truly memorable for that special friend/colleague/family member...whoever! Funky Photo Collage Don't be fooled by the under-statedness of this one. Photo Collages are always good to go and it's more fun when you leave meaningful scribbles all over the frame along with cute pictures and sweet memories.  Get a bunch of your friend's pictures, may be even ticket stubs from a favourite movie that you'll saw together, ...more

Fly ‘Em High

It's that time of the year again when you can send your wishes soaring up into the skies. Whether you are a pro or not, the sheer variety of kites in the market is reason enough to try your hand at the firki … Hunt With an Eagle's Eye For those who play to win, the eagle is the ultimate symbol for precision. Take your pick from a colourful range of bird-shaped kites to announce your arrival among local rivals. Grab the Super-Hero Power From big boys to pretty girls, everyone loves super heroes. With Spiderman finally making an appearance in the...more

2010: Break Free

If life has become increasingly difficult to deal with, rather all is going right yet somehow you feel weighed down, it's time to break free. It is common knowledge that hoarding or accumulation of clutter is a sign of emotional baggage or being unable to let go of the past. Breathe. We can sort this out! At Home: Look around you; wall units, kitchen closets, window grills, bathroom cabinets, even on top of the cupboard. Find anything? Inspect all storage spaces for items that you do not use, broken things, show pieces that don't match your décor & you don't much like either, ol...more

NY Resolutions : To Make ‘em or Break ‘em!

Every year, we think of resolutions that will make our lives and the world a better place. But how many of us actually hold true to our resolves? Let's focus on what we should do this year and what resolutions we should definitely give the axe to! Here's presenting 5 new ones that you probably never thought of (Make 'em): •    Write a short story and get it published! •    Your motto should be: Eat now, starve later! I'll tell you why. The world's supposedly coming to an end in 2012, so you'll die anyway and it's better to die happy and fully satiated rather tha...more

The 2009 Newsmakers

As the year 2009 draws to a close, we take a look at those who stole the show. While some managed with their antics, wit and some sheer talent, there were also those who got trapped under the media scanner for outrageous misdeeds. Varun Gandhi Touted to be the saffron brigade’s rising star, the grandson of Indira Gandhi had all the party patrons banking on him as the GenNext leader on the run to the National Assembly Elections. What followed was a community-centric hate speech that saw him getting booked under the IPC as well as the National Security Act. And even as political analy...more