
Labubu Maker Pop Mart's Profits to Soar by 350%. Here's why Vantage with Palki Sharma
Labubu Maker Pop Mart's Profits to Soar by 350%. Here's why | Vantage with Palki Sharma | N18G
It's got matted hair, jagged teeth, and beady little eyes—and yet, the internet cannot get enough of it. Meet the Labubu: a semi-ugly collectible goblin that's sparked fights, queues, and a 350% profit surge for Chinese toy giant Pop Mart. From blind box marketing to TikTok virality, Labubu's rise says less about the toy—and more about us. Why are adult collectors spending hundreds? What's behind the hype? And will it all just disappear in a year? Palki Sharma tells you.
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Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Watch: Robot walks into Rolex store in New York, leaves people stunned
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India Today
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- India Today
Why Mahjong is beating screen time
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It wasn't just a game, it was a tradition, a bonding ritual, and a brain workout rolled into one," she tells India a networkWhat began as a few friends looking for a fourth player has now grown into The Mahjong Network (TMN), a 700+ member community across South Bombay, Bandra, and Delhi, with Bangalore, Hyderabad, Alibaug, and Dubai up by Ishira Kumar, Ria Bajaj, and Maneka Jain Daswani, TMN lives entirely on WhatsApp. It's not about lessons, it's about play. Members simply drop invites like 'Thursday, 3–5 PM, Bandra, 2 seats open'—and the table fills up. No chaos, no back-and-forth, just clean gameplay and the satisfying click of rise of MahjongKanika Vasudeva, co-founder of Lets Mahjong, an initiative aimed at making the game more accessible and enjoyable in a fun, social format across India, mentions that Mahjong is a game that blends strategy, skill, memory, and a touch of luck. Often likened to rummy, it's played with beautifully symbolic tiles and steeped in cultural tradition, offering both mental stimulation and a social adds that people are actively seeking meaningful, screen-free ways to connect, and Mahjong fits right in. People find Mahjong engaging but not exhausting, fun but also mentally stimulating, and surprisingly addictive once you get the hang of with the rise of global lifestyle influences, Mahjong is finding a beautiful niche in India as a lifestyle experience as much as a this, Rinkey Puri adds that the perfect blend of mental stimulation, cultural richness, and social bonding could be the reason behind the game's popularity."In today's fast-paced world, many people are seeking leisure activities that are both engaging and meaningful. Mahjong fits that perfectly. It sharpens memory, builds patience, and requires strategy, yet it's played in a relaxed group setting that encourages laughter, conversation, and connection," she playing?In a world where everyone is glued to their phones, scrolling through shopping apps, bingeing on reels, and whatnot, Mahjong offers a refreshing change. It gets people to put their gadgets aside and connect in the real world. No wonder so many youngsters are getting hooked on the tells us, "Traditionally, the game was popular in Army households, where it was taught and played by officers' wives as a social and cultural ritual. Over time, it has spread through club circuits, housing communities, and wellness groups as a refined and intellectually engaging pastime." Mahjong is enjoyed by people of all ages | Photo:Lets Mahjong To this, Maneka Jain Daswani adds that because the game works well across ages, it's appealing to younger professionals, working moms, grandparents—everyone. "Older players often say it's meditative. Younger ones say it's addictive. That balance is what's made it click with urban India," she states."We've seen college students, new moms, retired professionals, and everyone in between take a seat at the table. It's become a beautiful mix of generations, often with 20-somethings playing next to 60-year-olds," Daswani Kanika Vasudeva mentions that this game is especially catching on amongst women's circles: social groups, entrepreneurs, homemakers, who love the mix of strategy, ritual, and mobile-first generation is craving real, human experiences, and Mahjong is answering that call. Young professionals and students are embracing it as a screen-free escape that's social, strategic, and calming. In a post-Covid-19 world of loneliness and digital fatigue, Mahjong offers a gentle way to reconnect with others and with a social circleSangeeta Kewalramani feels that Mahjong is inherently social. People come for the game but stay for the energy around the table—the conversations, the laughter, the snack breaks, the competitiveness, and the silence in between."In many ways, it feels like reclaiming how we used to spend time together before everything went digital. More and more, I see Mahjong tables at brunches, birthdays and tea parties. Even in my classes, I've seen strangers turn into friends. They start playing together outside of class, meet weekly and host Mahjong nights. It becomes a ritual," she goes on to say that Mahjong is the kind of game that pulls you in. Once you sit at the table, you forget to check your phone. That doesn't happen often any more!For Kanika Vasudeva, Mahjong is a fresh alternative to small talk or passive entertainment as it engages people. "We've hosted beginner introduction sessions at private events, at cafes and restaurants and even at people's homes where the response has been great. It's been amazing to watch how people connect, laugh, and bond over the tiles," she Puri also feels that Mahjong is making a powerful comeback as a social ritual, and it's doing more than just entertaining—it's building real, meaningful states that across India, Mahjong is finding a place in kitty parties, club afternoons, wellness retreats, cultural evenings, and even birthday creates a natural rhythm of interaction. As the tiles are shuffled and hands are built, stories are shared, laughter flows, and friendships deepen. Unlike quick, competitive games, Mahjong gives players time to engage, observe, and brings calmMahjong is one of those rare games that blends strategy with serenity. It draws you in, quiets the noise in your head, and anchors you in the you sit at the table, the world outside fades. Daily worries and buzzing notifications take a backseat. Your focus shifts to the smooth feel of the tiles, the rhythm of turns, and the patterns forming in your hand. You listen. You observe. You respond. It's not a rush, it's a what makes Mahjong meditative without ever feeling passive. It's mental wellness disguised as the gameWhen a game of Mahjong begins, the first step is to shuffle all 144 tiles face down in the centre. This is known as the 'twittering of sparrows.'Each player then builds their own wall of 36 tiles (in the classic European version/Western rules), forming a square of four tiles themselves hold deep meaning in Chinese culture. For example, the three Dragon tiles represent traditional Chinese values: the Red Dragon stands for loyalty, the Green Dragon for prosperity, and the White Dragon for purity. Then there are the bonus tiles—flowers and seasons—engraved with symbols like the plum blossom (winter), orchid (spring), bamboo (summer), and chrysanthemum (autumn). Draw a tile, make a move, chase the winning hand | Photo:Lets Mahjong Once the walls are built, the game begins. 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Time of India
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- Time of India
Who is Katie Feeney? Meet the 22-year-old TikTok star changing the face of ESPN's NFL content in 2025
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