Lifestyle

By IANSlife
New Delhi, Sep 17 (IANSlife) The PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry's annual cultural cum award ceremony, Gata Rahe Mera Dil, has grown in popularity. During the "Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav" programme, former union ministers Shri Prakash Javadekar and Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi honoured numerous chosen Bollywood artists and journalists with the PHD Utkrishtata Samman.


On Thursday, the programme was held at the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, where a melodic musical ambiance was established so that attendees could fully appreciate their favourite tunes. The songs "Chahe Meri Jaan Tu Le Le," "Goriya Re Goriya Re," and "Chandni O Meri Chandni" were sung by Jolly Mukerji to the point where the listeners were submerged in the musical sea.

Shailendra Singh transported the audience to an earlier era of music, while Hema Sardesai filled the room with soulfulness with songs like "Awara Bhawre," "Main Kudi Anjaani Hoon," and "Dama Dum Mast Qalandar." With songs like "Main Shayar To Nahi," "Humne Tumko Dekha," and "Hoga Tumse Pyaara Kaun," he captivated everyone.

Poornima Shreshtha connected the audience with devotion and spirituality with 'Itni Shakti Hume Dena Daata' and everyone's favourite 'Sona Kitna Sona Hai'.

Mohit Chauhan mesmerized the audience with his popular number 'Tumse Hi' while Sonu Kakkar made everyone dance to the tune of 'London Thumakda'.

Apart from this, Kishore Bhanushali entertained the audience with songs like 'Bhanware Ki Gunjan', 'Jeena Yahan, Marna Yahan' and Minu Bakshi sung 'Awaaz De Kahan Hai', 'Lambi Judai' etc. Vibhor Parashar and Bhupinder Singh Bhuppi also enthralled the audience with their captivating style and melodious tunes.

Pradeep Multani, President, PHDCCI and Mukesh Gupta, Chairman, Entertainment, Media, Art & Culture Committee, PHDCCI said, "This is the 6th edition of PHD Utkrishtata Samman. To encourage the industry as well as to promote entertainment, media, art and culture, every year this grand event is organized by PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry."

On this occasion, Nandita Jain and Arshad Nizam, Co-Chairs- Entertainment, Media, Art & Culture Committee; Former Presidents- Dr. D K. Aggarwal, Suman Jyoti Khaitan, Sharad Jaipuria, Gopal Jiwarajka, Sanjay Bhatia, K. S. Mehta; and many business dignitaries were present.

(IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in)

--IANS
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By IANSlife
New Delhi, Sep 17 (IANSlife) Chaitanya Nallan, Co-Founder & CEO, SkinKraft Laboratories will clear your doubts regarding what you should apply first, either moisturizer or sunscreen! We all know how important the application of sunscreen is. Sunscreen needs to be applied not just in summers but throughout the year, yes, even in winters. However, it might be confusing when you are layering your skincare products.


To keep things simple, there are 2 types of sunscreens, physical sunscreen and a chemical sunscreen. You must apply your moisturiser first if you are using a physical sunscreen and for a chemical sunscreen apply the sunscreen and then over it you can apply your moisturiser.

Vipin Sharma, Senior Product and Research Manager at Fixderma will guide through the same. Skincare is always dynamic and experimental. With changing formulations and innovation, the steps and method of doing skincare also keeps changing. It has always been CTMS-Cleansing, Toning, Moisturiser and sunscreen. Yes! There has been an addition to the old CTM routine; Sunscreen. Sun protection is indeed the most important step in skincare routine. Any skincare is not 100 per cent effective if you do not seal it with sun protection. But how and when to use a sunscreen is also very important. The thumb rule always goes from treatment to protection. So, one should always start with a serum, then a moisturiser and finish it off with a high protection sunscreen.

But with the changing game of skincare, now even we have moved away from traditional straight forward sunscreens. Sunscreen not only come as per skin type but also now in different concoction. There are sunscreens which are infused with moisturising agents like hyaluronic acid, vitamin E. In such cases, one can skip moisturiser and directly go for sunscreen. But sunscreen always has to be the last step in your skincare routine.

"With the rising trend of following a skin care regime, the question you need to ask yourself is whether you are layering your products in the right order to achieve the desired result. Let us throw some light on the most used products in any skin care routine, Moisturiser and Sunscreen. What is the order of preference? The answer isn't exactly cut and dry, but my choice is justified by some scientific reasons based on their properties. Application of the moisturiser first will bridge any gaps in the stratum corneum and make the skin soft and supple. Also, moisturisers are typically reapplied every 10-12 hours. Sunscreens on the other hand, if applied directly over a dry skin would increase the dryness further leading to irritation of the skin. Additionally, sunscreens should form the outer layer as they can directly scatter/reflect/absorb the UV rays depending on their physical properties. And sunscreens should be reapplied every 2-3 hours for maximum efficacy, especially in tropical countries such as India where increased sweating is characteristic. At present, there are moisturisers available with SPF and vice versa in the market. Nonetheless, as a rule I prefer to layer moisturiser and sunscreen separately, each catering to its own purpose," adds Dr. Gagana B. Gopal, Consultant Dermatologist, KAYA.

(IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in)

--IANS
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By IANSlife
New Delhi, Sep 17 (IANSlife) With the pandemic situation under control and the implementation of postponed vacation plans, the demand for wellness has grown exponentially. The appeal of wellness travel is fueled by the fact that people are more aware of their health than ever before.


Across the nation, hotels and resorts that are dedicated to a creative and all-encompassing approach to wellness are growing healthily. The 'India-genous Travel' poll by Agoda earlier this year found that 37 per cent of travellers wanted to rest and unwind from the hustle and bustle of their daily routines, making wellness one of the top four reasons Indians travel.

A break from the day-to-day grind that is planned with a special wellness focus is increasingly becoming a mindful choice for all those with wanderlust. It can include spa treatments, therapies, healthy eating, culinary events, fitness activities, adventures in nature and educational programs that share ways to incorporate healthy habits into our everyday lives.

Here are three destinations, situated in different parts of the country that are ideal for one's much-needed wellness vacation.

Captivating escape to nature at the Western Ghats, Maharashtra

Charming and soothing, the stunning Western Ghats region of Maharashtra is perfect for nature lovers and indeed for anyone wishing to get far from the madding crowd. The entire area is known for its canopy of green hills which create a refreshing haven to visit. This picturesque destination offers respite to travellers from sultry weather and exhausting daily routine and thus is an ideal short break getaway.

Spirituality and adventure at Rishikesh, Uttarakhand

Whether it is the spirituality that you are seeking or adventure, a quaint romantic holiday, or a trip with your gang; Rishikesh offers the best of all the worlds that there are. While the flowing Ganges and its white sand beaches surrounded by the hills lure nature lovers, river rafting, morning Yoga and local food are what attract many to India's yoga capital.

This region is rich in exotic flora and fauna and is well known for eco-tourism and wildlife tourism. Some of the well-known national park sanctuaries in the vicinity are The Corbett, The Rajaji National Park and the Govind Wildlife Sanctuary.

Kerala: God's Own Country

Amid lush vegetation and coconut trees, Kerala is the land of wellness. Globally renowned for offering wellness therapies including traditional Ayurveda and Yoga, Kerala never fails to replenish and re-energise travellers' spirits. God's Own Country is often referred to as the birthplace of Ayurveda. The destination takes visitors closer to nature. It is the perfect place where one can actually recuperate from stress and strain.

An equable climate, serene beaches, tranquil stretches of backwaters, lush hill stations and exotic wildlife are the major attractions of this land. Classical art forms, colourful festivals, and exotic cuisine are some of the cultural marvels that await travellers.


(IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in)

--IANS
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Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 17 (IANS) After a year of successful operation of the Kozhikode Breast milk bank, the Kerala health department on Saturday announced that similar banks will be set up at the Women and Children hospitals at Thiruvananthapuram and Thrissur.

State Health Minister Veena George on Saturday after visiting the Kozhikode breast milk bank said this bank has been a huge succour to many mothers and kids.

The whole purpose of this state-of-the-art breast milk bank is to promote breast feeding and to give all the support to kids and new mothers. The Kozhikode breast milk bank since its opening a year back has so far helped 1,813 kids with 1,397 mothers donating breast milk to the bank. So far 1,26,225 ml of breast milk has been collected and 1,16,315 ml has been distributed," said George.

This bank provides collected milk to the needy babies, after all the mandatory tests are conducted at the state of the art laboratory attached to the Kozhikode Medical College hospital.

George said similar banks will very soon open at Thiruvananthapuram and Thrissur.

--IANS
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Chennai, Sep 17 (IANS) Rashmika Mandanna, who was running between the shoot of 'Varisu' and the promotions of 'GoodBye', has been enjoying the delicious food the national capital has to offer.

Recently, Rashmika travelled to Delhi for the promotions of 'GoodBye'. The actress had a great time in the city and shared a picture on her social media with a lot of food on her table. She added a note with the image that said: "When in Dilli..let's hog on-dal makhani, butter chicken, paneer bhurji, seekh kabab, makai di rotti, dahi kabab...Okay I ordered a lot."

As she got ready to depart from Delhi, Rashmika wrote: "Thank you Delhi you were too sweet! Next time, let's go for a momo date."

On the work front, the actress has an interesting line-up with films like 'Pushpa 2', 'Animal', 'Goodbye' under her kitty along with 'Mission Majnu' opposite Sidharth Malhotra, and 'Varisu' with Vijay.

--IANS
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Srinagar, Sep 16 (IANS) It's that time of the year again when the green of fields and the blue of the skies change their colour like a chameleon to the brightest hues of red and the dullest shades of yellow. Known as Harud in the local tongue, Autumn is the time to wrap up the year's walnut and saffron produce.

The process of tending to walnuts in this final phase is a tedious activity made bearable only in the company of fellow fruit-pickers.

The tradition is to sing songs in the glory of nature and her bounty while working on fields.

Migratory birds from Siberia, Eastern Europe, China, and the Philipines also chime in adding to the environment. Therefore, walnut picking is more than a mere activity, it's a celebration in Kashmir.

Known as Dooeyn in Kashmiri, the walnuts produced in J&K are of the best quality in the world.

Approximately 2.66 lakh metric tonnes of walnuts are grown on an area of 89,000 hectares in the Union Territory every year.

This season Kupawara recorded the highest walnut production in the Valley at 30,894 metric tonnes. The UT is responsible for more than 90 per cent of walnuts grown in the country. The three main varieties grown here are - Vonth, Kaghazi, and Barzul.

Vonth is grown predominantly for oil extraction, Kaghazi for its large fruit, and Barzul for its creamy flavour. The nut is grown organically without the use of chemical fertilizers which sets it apart from the rest of the world.

During the insufferable period of Covid-19, the walnut industry of the Valley was in gloom. To add to the loss, the unusual heat of the summer and flooding July rains added to the setbacks. But the J&K administration has come to the rescue through various interventions to revive the industry.

The administration with the help of the Department of Agriculture and Fruit Growers Association will help farmers to sell their produce in markets outside of J&K.

The produce that remains unsold will be purchased by the government at a predetermined price. The government is in process of setting up a dry fruit zone in the Valley to convert this unorganised sector to a regularised one with the least interference from middlemen. This way the farmers will be able to get the best price for their production.

To preserve the quality of walnuts the Department of Agriculture along with experts from SKUAST-Kashmir are coming up with a packaging solution.

Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of doubling the farmer's income, is setting up a committee of experts within KVKs (Krishi Vigyan Kendras) in the Valley to bring about a scientific intervention in the propagation of walnuts.

In the past few years, unfortunately the famed Kashmiri walnuts have suffered stiff competition from cheaper varieties from China, Chile, Turkey, and the Netherlands. This has forced farmers to sell their produce at throw-away prices. To counter this, the administration will impose a 100 per cent import duty to protect the local farmers.

The new hybrid varieties of walnut trees that will help pick up the pace of the industry are in the final phases of testing.

In Kupwara, this 'Chandler' breed of walnuts which are smaller in size with better yield will be encouraged starting the next season. They will be offered to farmers at subsidised rates.

The scientists are also researching the hybrid varieties that will allow farmers to graft the traditional walnut trees.

The Horticulture Department is providing a subsidy of Rs 7 lakh to growers for building walnut nurseries. The department is also rolling out high-density walnut trees which can produce a crop within three years of plantation. With this, the farmers will be able to grow 300 walnut trees per hectare instead of 100 trees per hectare.

With the growing interest of the youth in Agri-preneurship, J&K is witnessing a revolution in its horticulture landscape. Educated youth are returning to their farmlands and experimenting with new techniques of farming fruits, nuts, mushrooms, etc.

The trade and export policy 2018-2028 together with government schemes directed at efficient production and marketing are creating new benchmarks for J&K in the international market.

The last three years witnessed 55 per cent growth in exports, of which agri-produce held the dominant chunk.

Further, the government has introduced machines for post-harvest management including handling, grading, processing, and packaging of walnuts to improve the price of the final product in the market. New walnut processing units will also be raised in J&K. The sick orchards will be rejuvenated and fresh walnut plantations will be drawn on the pattern of apple orchards in the Valley.

In 2022, the government provided safety equipment for tree climbers and made it mandatory. Only skilled labourers with safety gear were allowed to take down the fruit. Helmets, ropes, anchors, and nets are being shared among farmers to prevent life-threatening hazards.

Dooeyn are an indispensable part of the Kashmiri culture. During festivals and celebrations, walnuts are distributed as blessings.

With the latest technologies and scientific interventions in walnut propagation, J&K is sure to reclaim its first position as the top-quality walnut-producing state in the world.

--IANS
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By IANSlife
New Delhi, Sep 14 (IANSlife) It is just as important to dress your bed as it is to dress yourself. A bed is your sacred space, which you want to protect to the best of your ability. It provides you with a sense of comfort and is cosy; it serves as a safe haven for you. A bed is also the first thing that anyone notices when entering a bedroom.



According to statistics, you spend 3000 hours on your bed in a year, can you imagine that?

Rajiv Merchant, President Domestic Retail, Boutique Living, Indo Count Industries says, "Your bed is the most important aspect of your home, because it's where you spend most of your time. It's crucial to have a bed that emits comfort. When you come home after a long tiring day, your bed helps you feel relaxed and keeps you calm. Comfortable and luxury bed linen will be the way to help you achieve the same."

Here are a few tips that would help you make your comfort zone into a bed that looks straight out of a home decor:

Mattress Matters - A great quality mattress is something that should be invested in without giving it a second thought. How it looks is equally as important as how it feels in terms of comfort and luxury. Experts recommend investing in 100 per cent cotton fabrics as it is breathable and provides more comfort as compared to synthetic fiber mattresses.

Pillows Talkin' - The secret to a good night's sleep is hidden in the pillows. Waking up with a sore neck because of uncomfortable pillows is the worst nightmare for many. It is essential to invest in, not just good quality but good looking pillows as well to add that luxurious touch.

Duveting it effortlessly - Switching up the looks of a space is often very exciting but Quality duvets are not always the cheapest. A great solution to this is investing in Reversible Duvets. Neutrals, prints, shapes - there are so many to choose from. When a reversible duvet is styled correctly, it looks tres magnifique!

Throw in some colour - Colourful and chic throw ons are a minimal yet great addition to a beautiful looking bed. Coordinating pillows and throws according to theme or patterns is the key. They should look like they belong together and not clash with each other in your space.

Bedspreads - Bedspreads are minimal yet they add so much to the beauty. Textured, coloured & patterned bedspreads are always a good choice. Laying it at the bottom half of your bed and placing it carefully will make your bed look and feel like it's straight out a Pinterest Board!

Colour Scheme - Colours are beautiful. Incorporate them in your bed's theme, when everything placed follows a colour scheme, it just falls into place and makes a big beautiful picture perfect bed!

Make your bed! - Now this might sound like a task but trust us, all you need to do is fluff up the pillows, straighten the bedspread, adjust the duvet and voila! You're good to go.

Layers & Layers - Layering doesn't always mean a cluttered space. Balance while layering holds great importance. Knowing where to place which element can bring your layering game to a 100!

It's in the Details - Pay attention to even the smallest of details. An uncut tag, a popped out zipper or a button - the smallest things could stand out like a sore thumb in your aesthetic setup.

Finishing it off - The key to a beautiful trip to slumberland is a great scent. Find yourself some calming scents like lavender, that smell great, feel luxe and help you fall asleep faster. A great book by the night stand helps too!

(IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in)

--IANS
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London, Sep 10 (IANS) Scientists have discovered a new mechanism through which very small pollutant particles in the air may trigger lung cancer in people who have never smoked,

Particles linked to climate change also promote cancerous changes in airway cells, they found, paving the way to new approaches for lung cancer prevention and treatment.

Scientists of the Francis Crick Institute and University College London, funded by Cancer Research UK, presented the data at the 'ESMO Congress 2022'.

According to them, the particles which are typically found in vehicle exhaust and smoke from fossil fuels, are associated with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) risk, accounting for over 250,000 lung cancer deaths globally per year.

"The same particles in the air that derive from the combustion of fossil fuels, exacerbating climate change, are directly impacting human health via an important and previously overlooked cancer-causing mechanism in lung cells," they informed.

The risk of lung cancer from air pollution is lower than from smoking, "but we have no control over what we all breathe".

"Globally, more people are exposed to unsafe levels of air pollution than to toxic chemicals in cigarette smoke, and these new data link the importance of addressing climate health to improving human health," said Charles Swanton from the Francis Crick Institute.

The new findings are based on human and laboratory research on mutations in a gene called EGFR which are seen in about half of people with lung cancer who have never smoked.

In a study of nearly half a million people living in England, South Korea and Taiwan, exposure to increasing concentrations of airborne particulate matter (PM) 2.5 micrometres (Im) in diameter was linked to increased risk of NSCLC with EGFR mutations.

In the laboratory studies, scientists showed that the same pollutant particles (PM2.5) promoted rapid changes in airway cells which had mutations in EGFR and in another gene linked to lung cancer called KRAS, driving them towards a cancer stem cell like state.

"We found that driver mutations in EGFR and KRAS genes, commonly found in lung cancers, are actually present in normal lung tissue and are a likely consequence of ageing," said Swanton.

However, when lung cells with these mutations were exposed to air pollutants, "we saw more cancers and these occurred more quickly than when lung cells with these mutations were not exposed to pollutants", suggesting that air pollution promotes the initiation of lung cancer in cells harbouring driver gene mutations.

"The next step is to discover why some lung cells with mutations become cancerous when exposed to pollutants while others don't," said Swanton.

Tony Mok from Chinese University of Hong Kong, who was not involved in the study, said that the research is intriguing and exciting.

"It means that we can ask whether, in the future, it will be possible to use lung scans to look for pre-cancerous lesions in the lungs and try to reverse them with medicines such as interleukin-1I inhibitors," said Mok.

"We don't yet know whether it will be possible to use highly sensitive EGFR profiling on blood or other samples to find non-smokers who are predisposed to lung cancer and may benefit from lung scanning, so discussions are still very speculative," he added.

--IANS
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By Vishnu Makhijani
New Delhi, Sep 7 (IANS) Archana Doshi donned an apron at eight to help her mother in the kitchen, trained as a software engineer and then junked that to establish a hugely successful food and recipe platform that actively promotes mindful cooking and healthy eating with its advanced features like weekly meal plans, catering to special dietary needs like diabetic meal needs, lunch box needs and more. It is accessed by 10 million-plus users every month as it takes forward her credo that "health resides on the dinner table".



"My love for food and cooking started at a very young age. At the age of eight, I put an on apron and began cooking with my mother and have never looked back," Doshi told IANS in an interview of her book "30 Meal Plans From Archana's Kitchen" (HarperCollins) which, apart from its 150 recipes spanning various regional cuisines, also provides valuable tips on topics like important food groups, eating mindfully, mindful eating practices, portion control, the katori diet for portion control and kitchen essentials.

"Even though I was formally trained in software engineering, my heart remained in food. Over the years, as I cooked for friends and family, the single most problem which they would share with me was they found cooking too difficult and intimidating. I would listen and tell them, 'It's not difficult, just start experimenting with ingredients and things will slowly start falling into place'. I realized it was easier for me to say that and harder for them to do," Doshi explained.

Losing her job in the 2001 dot-com bust after two-and-a-half years of working as a software engineer, in fact, came as a blessing in disguise as it enabled her switch careers and build the "Archana's Kitchen" website with the primary aim of enabling cooking to be easier by way of recipes and videos which can be accessed anywhere around the world.

"Everyday, I dream and work towards empowering people with skills for easy and effortless cooking which will enable them to lead a healthy life. I strongly believe that health resides on the dinner table," Doshi maintained.

"Archana's Kitchen" provides the world with credible DIY solutions, empowers people to easily cook nutritious food through its recipes and videos enhanced with rich content like quick healthy breakfast ideas, dinner ideas, lunch box ideas, party menus, festival recipes and much more.

Here, for example, are just two of the 30 meal plans the book has to offer:

Huli soppu saaru (tangy curry with fresh greens), badanekayi palya (crunchy and spicy green brinjal stir fry), methi carrot jowar thepla (fenugreek, leaf carrot, spiced millet bread), tomato onion cucumber raita (vegetables in spiced curd), rice with ghee.

Khatta mag (green moong dal in yogurt curry), ringna no olo (spiced smoked brinjal), sev tameta nu shaak (fried gram flour vermicelli in spicy tomato curry), bajra na rotla (pearl millet flatbread), lacha pyaz (pickled onions), gud and chaas (jaggery and savoury buttermilk).

The weekly meal plans are immensely popular on a platform where users are given ideas on how they can plan their weekly meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

"Meal plans led to planning every individual meal and how to plate it and make it wholesome and yet delicious. And thus began my quest to nail the problem of over-eating and food-related diseases. I began my research and personal practice on mindful and portion controlled meals and found huge benefits from not just reduction in weight but ability to not eat right for good health," Doshi pointed out.

Thus, the book was born out of this personal practice of portioning meals into small portions keeping in a balanced nutrition.

"Having such a wide exposure to cooking various cuisines every day, oftentimes I would find myself pairing dishes across various cuisines and making a delicious meal. Each one of the meals you find in this book is what I have cooked at home for my family. And yes, there are so many more combinations and plates which I guess will see the light of volume 2 of this book - hopefully one day," Doshi said with a smiley.

Is there any reason she has chosen only vegetarian recipes?

"I am personally vegetarian and cook only vegetarian dishes for my family. It keeps us light, refreshed and satiated," Doshi said.

Has she noticed a trend away from non-vegetarianism to vegetarianism?

"I would think that is purely a personal preference on the diet one prefers. What I truly believe that is important is - no matter which diet you follow, keep in mind the quality and the quantity along with mindful eating practices," Doshi maintained.

How important is home-ground masala against the packed variety? How much of the flavour is lost in the latter? How often does she use the home-ground variety?

"I would score a 6/6 for a home ground masala at home, baring a few key ingredients like turmeric, chilli powder, pepper and salt - I roast and grind all my spices and masalas. There is certainly a very huge flavour difference in using fresh masala and whole spices.

"Having said that, sometimes convenience does beat the charts for easier cooking, so do go ahead with the experiment with homemade and store bought and you will personally strike a balance that suits you the best," Doshi said.

What next? What's her next book going to be on?

"The next book is on my favourite topic of packing wholesome and delicious meals for kids - school lunch boxes. I want to spread the message and the need to un-junk for a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle," Doshi concluded.

One more reason for going to school - enlightening your classmates about the 'ghar ka khana' your mother rustles up!

(Vishnu Makhijani can be reached at vishnu.makhijani@ians.in)

--IANS
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New Delhi, Sep 6 (IANSlife) Multi-platinum singer-songwriter Ananya Birla, is preparing for her debut in the international fashion world. She is well-known for her eclectic sense of style and will be walking the runway for celebrated Indian couturiere, Archana Kochhar.

The designer will be showcasing for the first time at prestigious London Fashion Week.

Ananya Birla states: "I'm looking forward to being a part of the London Fashion Week and supporting the Make In India campaign on the world stage. Archana Kochhar is a talented designer and I can't wait to walk for her."

The show, in collaboration with the British Fashion Council, will take place on September 17, 2022, at the Hyatt Regency, London - The Churchill. Kochhar, who has worked with Bollywood stars, is also the first Indian designer to be designated to propel the Make In India campaign, which was launched by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in 2014 on global territories.

Alongside Kochhar, Elizabeth Emanuel, a British designer best known for designing late Princess Diana's wedding gown, currently on display at Kensington Palace London, will appear during the nightfall slot.

Kochhar's collection 'Le Gehna', focuses on emerging bridal trends from the modern world. The collection will be a vibrant showcase of royal hues, avant-garde cuts, and seamless textures, with a striking medley of artisanal Indian embroidery and western silhouettes. Birla is expected to dazzle in a bespoke emerald saree gown, with an emphasis on promoting Indian heritage on the global stage.

Archana Kochhar states: "Craft and handiwork are at the core of my work and I'm pleased to associate with Ananya Birla who enjoys a distinct cultural and artistic lineage. My collection's overall theme is all about inclusivity and consciousness and to inspire forward-thinking fashion conversations in the bridal fashion circuits."

(IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in)

--IANS
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