Latest news with #Kanchipuram
News18
28-06-2025
- General
- News18
Silk Sarees Are Forever, But Only If You Care For Them The Right Way
Preserving these drapes may sound challenging, but with a care, mindfulness, and a few simple maintenance tips, your favourite silk sarees can remain pristine for generations. Silk sarees are not just garments, they are timeless treasures in our wardrobe. Whether it's the grandeur of Banarasi silk, the regal elegance of Kanchipuram, the earthy charm of Assam silk, or the vibrant beauty of Bomkai — each weave carries centuries of tradition, heritage and craftsmanship. These sarees often hold more than just aesthetic value. Some might be your very first silk saree, others may carry the soft scent of your grandmother's wardrobe, or perhaps a cherished piece from a special place or celebration. The memories stitched into them are endless. But while they lend us ageless grace and sentiment, they also demand delicate care in return. Preserving these drapes may sound challenging, but with a little love, mindfulness, and a few simple maintenance tips, your favourite silk sarees can remain pristine for generations. Dry Cleaning Is A Must Avoid washing your silk sarees at home. Always opt for professional dry cleaning, especially for sarees with zari, embroidery or vibrant dyes. Store It Right Never wrap silk sarees in plastic. Instead, use breathable cotton or muslin cloth to cover them. This allows the fabric to breathe and protects it from moisture and dust. Refold Every Few Months To prevent permanent creasing or fabric wear, refold your silk sarees along different lines every few months. Keep It Safe, But Skip the Naphthalene Avoid mothballs or naphthalene, which can damage silk. Choose safer alternatives like neem leaves or silica gel pouches. Iron with Care Iron on a low heat setting, preferably on the reverse side. Use a thin cotton cloth on top if needed to avoid any direct heat damage. Extra Care Tips For Silk Sarees You love: Every Silk Saree Is Different When it comes to maintaining a silk saree, understanding the fabric is the first step. For instance, mulberry silk—famous for its natural shine and soft texture needs to be handled with extra care. Even a slight stain or rough wash can dull its sheen. On the other hand, tussar silk, with its coarse and textured feel, is a bit more forgiving but still requires gentle handling. Then there's Kanjeevaram silk, the heavyweight queen of bridal sarees. Its rich weave and zari borders must be stored flat and properly folded to preserve its structure and prevent the zari from getting crushed or oxidised. And like these saree's the examples are countless. Handle With Extra Care While Travelling If you're travelling with a silk saree, especially for a wedding or festive occasion—rolling it instead of folding can help avoid stubborn creases. Wrap it in a soft cotton cloth or place it in a breathable garment bag to reduce friction and keep the weave safe. It's always best to carry your silk saree in hand luggage rather than checked baggage to protect it from being mishandled. Draping Even the way you wear your saree can affect its longevity. Using soft, well-fitted petticoats made from satin or cotton-silk blend can help reduce friction against the inner surface. And while safety pins may seem like a quick fix to secure pleats or the pallu, they often leave tiny holes or tear the delicate threads, especially in lighter silks. Instead, explore alternatives like saree shapewear or fabric-friendly pleat holders to keep everything in place without damaging the fabric. A little attention to these details can go a long way in ensuring your silk sarees remain just as graceful and glorious as the first time you wore them.
Indian Express
20-06-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Pune on My Plate: How Tamil restaurants in city keep their signature flavours, traditions alive
In the lanes of Pune, a quiet cultural revolution is simmering — in the form of piping hot sambar, crispy dosas, soft pongal, and filter coffee. Tamil food, with its regional diversity and deep-rooted cultural significance, has a loyal fanbase in the city. From temple-style meals to spicy street food, restaurants across Pune are offering a taste of Tamil Nadu to the people. 'We don't just serve food, we serve memories of home,' says Aravindh Subramanian, 47, manager of Akshayapatram Restaurant in Pimpri. 'Most of our customers are working professionals or families from Tamil Nadu who miss the taste of traditional meals. Our core strength lies in serving full Tamil-style vegetarian meals — what we call 'Virundhu Sappadu'. It includes rice, sambar, rasam, poriyal, kootu, appalam, pickle, and payasam — all served on banana leaves, just like it is done back home,' he says. On maintaining the authenticity of Tamil food, Subramanian says, 'We source our ingredients like sundakkai, manathakkali, and even our nalla ennai (gingelly oil) from suppliers in Tamil Nadu to retain the same taste. The preparation of our sambar is still done using the stone-ground masala we make fresh every morning — no shortcuts. The rasam here is made with crushed garlic, jeera, pepper, and real tamarind pulp — not readymade powders.' The most popular item on their menu is the Special Mini Tiffin. 'It's a combo of idli, medu vada, pongal, masala dosa, kesari and filter coffee. It costs just Rs 150 and gives a complete breakfast feel. On weekends, we serve over 700 thalis and 900+ tiffin plates,' Subramanian says. 'During Pongal, we serve sakkarai pongal, ven pongal, thalagam kuzhambu, and aviyal — all prepared using temple-style recipes. Customers queue up from 8 am on Thai Pongal day. For us, it is not just business, it is a way to bring Tamil culture alive in Pune.' 'Tamil food is also spiritual food — made with intention, devotion, and love,' says Suresh Kannan, 35, the store manager of Ayyappa Center in Pimple Nilakh. Kannan adds, 'The Ayyappa Center started as a small prasadam counter during Ayyappan puja gatherings, and now it has grown into a must-visit for Tamil folks in Pune. We are famous for our authentic Kanchipuram idli, puli aval, and nei appam — all made using traditional techniques, with no compromise.' Their Kanchipuram idli is a favourite for many. He says, 'It is steamed in lotus leaves and has pepper, jeera, ginger, and curry leaves — just like it is made at temples in Tamil Nadu.' The highlight is their Ayyappan Prasadam Combo, which includes lemon rice, tamarind rice, curd rice, sakkarai pongal, sundal and appalam — all for Rs 90. 'We keep the prices low because our goal is to serve people, not profit,' he adds. During the grand Ayyappa Swamy Makara Jyothi celebration, 'we serve ellu sadam, chakkarai pongal, and kadalai paruppu sundal to over 2,000 devotees who gather from all over Pune. Volunteers help us serve meals continuously for six to seven hours.' Deepa Rajalakshmi, head of Aph Aparna Hotel in Baner, 76, says, 'We bring that ooru (village) feel — whether it is in our Madurai kari dosa, Chettinad chicken curry, or nethili fry. Here at Aph Aparna Hotel, we specialise in street-style Tamil food that you would find in towns like Madurai, Thanjavur, and Trichy. Everything is made with freshly ground masalas, and we don't use frozen meat or canned gravies.' On the dish that is most in demand at their store, she says it is 'our Madurai bun parotta with mutton salna — a soft, layered parotta soaked in spicy gravy. Priced at Rs 210, it sells out every night by 9 pm.' Other crowd favourites include meen kuzhambu and Thalappakatti biryani, besides grand festival menus. 'During Deepavali and the Tamil New Year, we go all out with a 20+ item saapadu, including thengai sadam, inji puli, kari kola urundai, and boondi laddu. We also prepare adhirasam and Mysore Pak in-house — just like our grandmothers used to,' says Rajalakshmi. 'Our sales peak during the Tamil New Year and Pongal. We do 2,500+ parcels a day during those festivals. Tamil food is about diversity, tradition, and bold flavours, and we celebrate that in every dish.' Mr and Mrs Iyer's Kitchen, a humble home-style eatery in Ghorpadi, focuses on sadhya-style meals served on banana leaves. 'It is essential to understand the originality of the authentic Tamil experience. The most famous dishes are part of the sadhya — sambhar, rasam, payasam, avial. Meals are something special during sadhya servings,' says Iyer. They also serve fast-moving items on regular days. 'The Tamil variant of ghee podi dosa is very famous. Ghee podi, sponge onion uttapam, and pongal are fast-moving items. Chakkarai pongal, arisi payasam, chana dal payasam, kesari, yellni payasam, and coconut water payasam are other popular items,' he says, adding, 'It is essential to understand the originality of the authentic Tamil experience through which we forge a deeper sense of culture and belonging in the Indian subcontinent.' Alister Augustine is an intern with The Indian Express. With inputs from Tanay Iyer
India Today
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Lord Ram's attire to have traditional fabrics, reflect cultural unity, heritage
In the sanctified precincts of the newly inaugurated Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, a grand cultural and spiritual initiative is taking shape, one that goes beyond the sacred rituals to celebrate the diverse and vibrant textile traditions of India. Just as the child form of Lord Ram (Balak Ram) is adorned with love and simplicity, the attire of Lord Ram in the Ram Darbar will now be a rich display of India's traditional fabrics, creating a tableau of cultural is not merely about changing robes for the deity, the initiative will be a carefully envisioned tribute to India's centuries-old craft heritage. The daily adornment of the deities in the Ram Darbar will now become an immersive journey into India's sartorial past, present, and the Balak Ram idol depicts the gentle innocence of Lord Ram's childhood, the Ram Darbar will portray him in his majestic, royal form—as Maryada Purushottam and the King of Ayodhya. This royal depiction will be complete with symbolic elements such as intricately designed crowns, bejeweled belts, embroidered robes, and fabrics embedded with zari, precious stones, and motifs of divine valor. Renowned costume designer Manish Tiwari, who has been given the task of designing the deity's attire, is also leading the aesthetic vision of Ram Darbar's overall presentation. According to him, the attires will not only capture the grandeur and divinity of Lord Ram's court but will also reflect the soul of India's regional aim is to make devotees feel like they are witnessing the rich cultural landscape of India through the very garments worn by the gods,' says spoke to India Today regarding the details of the dresses. He says, 'One of the key features of this initiative is the inclusion of traditional textiles from different Indian states in the deity's attire. Each day, the fabrics used will blend motifs and techniques from at least two or more regions.' This way, Lord Ram's robe may carry the richness of Banarasi silk and the intricate patterns of Rajasthan's Bandhani on one day, and the regal Kanchipuram silk from Tamil Nadu with Odisha's Sambalpuri weaves on another. This initiative transforms every act of dressing the deity into a statement of India's cultural inclusiveness and a revival of its glorious textile Hindu temple tradition, changing the deity's attire daily is a long-standing practice. The Ram Mandir will take this one step further by aligning each day's attire with a specific color and textile tradition rooted in Indian astrology and spiritual symbolism. These color schemes are not randomly chosen—they are imbued with centuries of cultural significance, often associated with planetary influences and divine attributes. Each day, the Ram Darbar will offer devotees a fresh visual and spiritual experience, tied intrinsically to Indian sensitivity is another key highlight of the Ram Darbar attire design. The fabrics will change not only in color and region but also in texture and material to suit the weather, much like the human wardrobe. Manish says, 'Soft and breathable materials like khadi, mulmul (muslin), and handloom cottons will keep the attire light and comforting during summers. However, heavier, luxurious materials like silk, brocade, pashmina, and wool will dominate the wardrobe during winter.' This approach offers a harmonious blend of devotion, practicality, and artistic discipline. It ensures that the gods are adorned not just with reverence but with an understanding of natural cycles and human Watch
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Pavithram actress Nayana Josan ties the knot with long-time BFF Gokul
TV actress and dancer , best known for her role as Radha in the hit serial , has entered a new chapter in her life. The actress tied the knot with her long-time friend, Gokul — a professional dancer and model — in a grand, traditional wedding ceremony. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The wedding was a vibrant and traditional affair. Nayana looked ethereal in a designer Kanchipuram saree, adorned with traditional South Indian jewelry, while Gokul complemented her in an elegant designer kurta and mundu. The ceremony was attended by close family members, friends, and several celebrities from the television industry. The celebrations weren't limited to just the wedding day. The couple's wedding festivities included a colorful bridal shower and a much-talked-about pre-wedding shoot. One set of photos from the shoot, where Nayana is seen dressed in a stunning Christian bridal gown, continues to make waves on social media, earning admiration for its elegance and grace. The couple, who had been in a steady relationship for several years, got engaged in May last year. Nayana had previously opened up about the challenges she faced in convincing her family for the interfaith marriage, a story that resonated with many of her fans. Nayana Josan began her journey in the entertainment industry as a child artist and went on to feature in various TV serials and reality shows. She gained widespread recognition after winning the reality dance competition , showcasing her versatility and talent. Currently, she plays the lead role in the television serial Pavithram, which has further cemented her place in the hearts of viewers. Fans and well-wishers have been flooding social media with congratulatory messages and blessings for the newlyweds.
