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The Hindu :

Explore the once-grand Palace of Linlithgow, where the journey of Mary, Queen of Scots, began

Photos: Lynn NicolsonSteeped in history The Palace of Linlithgow

The story of Mary, Queen of Scots, is stranger and more tragic than the most sensational fiction. Though it is more than 400 years since the beautiful queen was beheaded on the orders of her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I of England, her name has resonances not just in her native country but throughout the world.

And, it was in the once-grand Palace of Linlithgow that it all began.Ill-fated queen

This was where Mary, who inherited the throne as an infant, was born in 1542. As we stand in front of the castle with the waters of the loch (lake) beside it sparkling like a diamond-speckled carpet, we seem millennia away from the turbulent times of the ill-fated queen.

We recall the incidents in the life of the thrice-wed and thrice-widowed Mary — married as a child to the Dauphin (prince) of France, then to her cousin Lord Darnley with whom she had her only child James, and, after his murder, to the Earl of Bothwell (was the Earl wholly responsible for killing Darnley, or did Mary have a hand?).

The murder made Mary very unpopular and she had to fight for her throne. Forced to flee her country, she sought the protection of Queen Elizabeth in England.

But, Elizabeth had her imprisoned as she thought Mary was a threat to her life and throne.

Mary was shunted from one gloomy castle to another and finally executed — she was just 44.

Linlithgow, a small town, is a half-hour train ride from Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. The ruined palace — it was burnt down in a fire in the 1740s — is just a few minutes’ walk from the station.

The coat of arms above the Eastern gateway is a bit too assiduously…More

The Hindu :

After a slew of spelling changes for luck, actors now flaunt their birthstones

Celebrating success Aishwarya Rai Bachchan sports a huge white lucky stone

From Kajol, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, and Shilpa Shetty to Mugdha Godse, SRK and Tushaar Kapoor, everyone is getting stoned.

Big B’s fortunes turned around after he sported a sapphire on his middle finger, just the way Indira Gandhi did. Sultry siren Antara Mali attributes her success to the ring on her bellybutton. Bappi Lahiri wears, perhaps, more jewellery than his wife. Actor-cum-entrepreneur Shilpa Shetty assigns her career success, including winning Celebrity Big Brother, her IPL stint, and even the success of her yoga CD, to her emerald ring.

Lata Mangeshkar considers her mammoth diamond ring lucky. Aishwarya Rai wearshuge white lucky stone. Kareena flaunts a huge rock, Salman Khan wears a bracelet in almost every film, believing that it ensures a box-office hit.

Shah Rukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan have also been spotted with gem amulets around their arms. AB junior and Sanjay Dutt have their share of gems, stones, charms, amulets and threads. No wonder the astrology market in India is estimated at around Rs. 250 crore!

Says Ravi Kumar, an astrologer: “For ages, film stars have been wearing rings for a box-office hit or well-being. There are 200 varieties of emeralds that differ in clarity, lustre and weight. Each of these varieties has different uses,” he explains.

Since birthstones are prescribed according to the Western concept of sun signs, Indian gemmologists prefer to use the desi calculations based on the number and sequence of each month:

January: Ruby; February: Moonstone; March: Yellow sapphire; April: Gomed or hessonite; May: Emerald; June: Opal and diamond; July: Cat’s eye; August: Blue sapphire and amethyst; September: Coral; October: Ruby; November: Pearl; December: Yellow sapphire.

PRABALIKA M. BORAH

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The Hindu : LAKSHMI SHARATH

The tradition of hand-made Ganjifa cards thrives in Sawantwadi

PHOTO: BY AUTHOR

A Racket-tailed Drongo flew over my head even before I picked up my binoculars. I had just spotted a few Hornbills and could not contain my excitement, when the owner of the home stay politely interrupted my bird-watching. I was in her sprawling farmhouse at Sawantwadi in Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra, barely a couple of hours away from Goa.

Sipping kokum sharbat and munching on delicious poha, I asked her if there are only Sawants in this vadi, or cluster of villages. She laughed and said: “No, but we are a royal clan, and we were ruled by the Bhonsles. Didn’t you see the palace en route?”

I recalled the shadow of a monument standing tall against the dusky sky, and she promised to take me there. Sawantwadi, I was told, was the former capital of the Kingdom of Sawantwadi, which included parts of North Goa and Sindhudurg. Later, when the Portuguese colonised India, parts of Goa went under their rule, and Sawantwadi came under the Bhonsles, who fled the Portuguese regime. The Bhonsles brought with them the arts and crafts, and even today, the erstwhile queen, Satvashila Devi, promotes them.

The town is famous for its wooden toys. However, what really fascinated me was the 350-year-old hand-made Ganjifa cards, made from circular pieces of paper — the cards are an ancient game that date back to the days of the Mahabharatha. The 10 avtaars of Vishnu are painted intricately on these cards.

I went to the palace in the afternoon. A beautiful façade of red laterite stone stood magnificently against the backdrop of the Moti Talao (pearl lake). Built in the era of Khem Sawant Bhonsale III (1755-1803), this is the royal residence of Satvashila Devi. As I took a picture of the façade, I was interrupted by her secretary, who told…More

The Hindu : y>A growing number of parents are becoming their children’s Facebook friends in a bid to connect, writes APARNA KARTHIKEYAN

Photo: AFPInteracting better Being with family on Facebook is a big advantage to many

Aha, so you thought you know your child well? That you’re this clever, modern, clued-in parent, because you’ve smugly devoured all parenting books, starting with Spock, cover-to-cover? Well, then, perhaps you could try answering these questions — what exactly would your daughter dress as for a Halloween party?No clue? Well, then, could you name your son’s best friend’s favourite football team? Too tough? Right, how about hazarding a guess about which part of the bodyyour child is raring to get pierced? No again?

See? It’s not easy, this “I’m my son/daughter’s best-friend” thingy — it’s hard, way harder than the books make it sound. I suppose, not so long ago, some parents, similarly disillusioned by this whole “friends-with-kids” business raved, ranted, wrung their hands and cried; and God, merciful God — sick and tired of all the tears — had Facebook created. Just so that the whingeing souls could invite their kids to be their “friends”, sing ‘happily ever-after’ and be done with it…

Vaani Anand, Facebook friends with her son and daughter, feels that the popular networking tool is clearly changing the way people relate to each other, and that it’s especially true, with respect to families. “I get to know so much about my kids, which I may not know otherwise. We may not be talking about some things, but I know what they are thinking from their Facebook status message.” Status messages are, of course, just the tip of the iconic FB iceberg; however, if you’re an FB newbie, you might be surprised just how eloquent they can be.

Some precisely tell you what the person is feeling / doing, down to mundane details such as drinking chai-latte; others publicly…More

The Hindu : y>

King size Get a glimpse of the high life

Have you ever wondered how it feels to own mind-blowing yachts and magnificent homes? Do you wish to spend weekends in luxurious spa resorts and palatial hotels and zooming around in the swankiest vehicles?

From lavish spa resorts and hotels to opulent homes and vehicles, experience the high life in Discovery Travel & Living’s “What a Life” series.

The show will be aired at 9 p.m. everyday and will talk and showcase the luxurious lifestyle and the magnificent style from across the globe.

Immerse yourself in luxury and magnificent lifestyle of the riches and be part of the opulence only on Discovery Travel and Living.

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The Hindu :

A soup that has a bit of this and that, but mostly peanuts

PHOTO AFPPACKED WITH PROTEIN Peanuts are rich in anti-oxidants and are heart friendly

Peanuts are ever popular in American culture and are known as ‘goober’ or ‘goober pea’. Goober is a word derived from ‘nguba’ which means peanut in the Bantu language, spoken in parts of Africa. Yet, contrary to what the name implies, peanuts are not nuts, they fall under the legume family. They are available raw, roasted, shelled or unshelled throughout the year. Due to their high protein content and chemical profile, peanuts are processed into a variety of forms, including butter, oil, flour and flakes.

Peanuts grow in a fascinating manner. They start growing as ground flowers but due to their weight bend towards the ground and eventually burrow underground where they mature. To check the quality of peanuts, pick up each nut and shake it. It should feel heavy and should not rattle since this suggests that the kernels are dry. Peanuts are a good source of mono-unsaturated fats and protein. They are rich in antioxidants which are heart-friendly. To lower your risk of cardiovascular and coronary disease, enjoy a handful of peanuts or a tablespoon of nut butter, at least four times a week. An ounce of peanuts or peanut butter each week in a meal plan lowers the risk of developing gallstones and gallbladder disease by 25 per cent.

Now, for a recipe.Peanut Soup

Ingredients

Celery, chopped: 4 gm

Onion, chopped: 1

(small)

Butter: 25 gm

Flour: 15 gm

Vegetable broth, heated:

250 ml

Peanut butter: 50 gm

A few drops of lemon

juice

Salt to taste

Ground peanuts: 75 gm

Method: Sauté the celery and onion in the butter in a large saucepan for five minutes. Add the flour, stirring till it is blended. Add the hot broth and cook for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat.

Strain, discarding the solid matter. Return the liquid to…More

The Hindu : y>Diwali brings out some great offers for travellers and spa enthusiasts

UTV World Movies in collaboration with Kingfisher Airlines will showcase nine movies over the next three months on Kingfisher flights. The movies that will be showcased include “Ariel”, “Match Factory Girl”, “The Man Without a Past”, “Drifting Clouds”, “The Wyvern Mystery”, “Twin Sisters”, “The River Chao Phraya”, “Lights In The Dusk” and “The Last Butterfly”.

They will also present a contest for all Indian Nationals. The contest will be on till 31 October.

Log on towww.flykingfisher.com and fill an online contest form and answer a few questions. Participants can also text their answers to 59995. The winner will get an opportunity to win a trip for two to Hong Kong. A host of other prizes are also on offer.

*** The Rejuve Spa at The Lalit Ashok offers a special Diwali Package. The package is available till October 18. The Package One Diwali Spa Day Out will provide a choice between the Swedish and aromatherapy massages, the use of steam and sauna and swimming pool facilities and a buffet lunch for Rs. 3,000 plus taxes per person.

The Package 2 Diwali Spa Day Out includes a choice between Swedish and traditional Indian massage, steam and sauna treatment and use of swimming pool and fitness centre for Rs. 2,250 plus taxes per person. All customers will be provided a welcome drink on arrival.

For reservations, call Prasida V, Spa Manager at The Lalit Ashok on 30527777.

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The Hindu : y>

The recent floods in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh have been dubbed the worst floods in a century in this part of the country. Relief operations by both government and non-government agencies are on full swing.

As help pours in, MetroPlus asks city residents on their take on the relief operations and what could be done to help those affected by this tragedy. Most people felt that efforts like the padayatra were helping in generating money and other material. They felt that the common man, by providing resources in cash and kind could help those affected tide over this crisis.

Some felt that though the Government has been proactive in providing relief and has received help from the common man and corporate offices, much more should be done to ensure that the people affected by the floods are rehabilitated .

They felt that the Union Government must also step in and help in the relief operations. It shouldprovide more funds to help the State governments deal with the crisis.

We sample some responses

The State Government has done a good job and has provided a great deal of relief material to those affected by the floods. Initiatives like the padayatra have helped collectfunds and material for the relief operations. More help is needed though.

SantoshAccountant

The State Government has been proactive in providing help for flood relief. The Union Government must also help the State in dealing with the crisis and provide the funds and material needed to ensure that those affected can rebuild their lives.

TinkuEngineer

The State has helped a great deal in the rescue operations, but a lot more could be done. The corporates and State governments must adopt villages and towns ravaged by the floods and help in reconstruction work andrelief operations.

RashmiEngineer

The State effort has been decent, but not enough. The Union Government shouldtake a more proactive stand in providing relief. The…More

The Hindu : y>Catch some interesting films on UTV World Movies

The Platinum Collection on UTV World Movies presents “Offside” on October 13 at 8.30 p.m. In Iran, women are officially banned from men’s sporting events. In June 2005, Iran’s national soccer team has an important game against Bahrain in the Azadi Stadium for the qualification of the World Cup.

A group of Iranian girls and lovers of soccer dresses like boys make an unsuccessful attempt at entering the stadium and are arrested.

Krzysztof Kieslowski movie “Three Colours- White”, which revolves around the destructive dynamics of a relationship based upon great inequality, will be shown on October 14 at 8.30 p.m.

Karol loses all of his earthly possessions and is literally driven out of France by his estranged wife. He then fights to resolve his deep passion for Dominique with his own helplessness.

Shashank Ghosh’s “Violent Cop” will be aired on October 15 at 8.30 p.m. The film takes you through the life of detective Azuma, who often uses violence and unethical methods to get results.

“The Adventures of Sebastian Cole” on October 16 at 8.30 p.m. is set in New York is about Sebastian Cole’s self-destructive adventures.

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The Hindu :

Four dancers, winners of four reality shows, are in the city for a workshop on Bollywood dancing

Photo: Bhagya Prakash k.FOURSOME Reality show is the best thing to have happened to television

You’ve seen them on TV and now you will see them live. They are the four dancers from various reality shows from TV. Deepak Singh (winner of the 2008 “Jhalak Dikla Ja”), Nicole Alwaris (2009 runner up), Mayuresh Wadkar (a participant from “Dance India Dance”) and Marischa Fernandes (a participant) are in the city for a 10-day workshop on Bollywood dancing.

The workshop, which began on October 5, is organised by Arun Kumar — the brain behind the Salsa school Studio 5,6,7,8. “My school teaches Latin dance. As Bollywood dance is becoming a genre by itself I decided to organise a workshop that will focus just on that,” explains Arun.

The four sit down to talk about their experiences. ‘“Dance India Dance’ is a great show. Actually any reality show is. It boosts your chances to national and international fame,” starts Deepak, a Bangalore boy, who has now shifted to Mumbai seeking brighter opportunities.

“Yeah, reality shows are the best things that has ever happened on TV,” chips in Mayuresh. So they are okay with the nasty comments by the judges? “You see, they too have struggled their way up the ladder. They just speak things to us in such a way for they know that we can do better,” adds Deepak.

“No one knew who I was. Today everyone knows who I am, thanks to such shows,” says Mayuresh, who also dreams of becoming an actor. “TV might give you instant fame, but it’s up to you how you maintain it,” says Marischa, and Nicole adds: “Dance and choreography was not a well-structured field. But now people recognise the different techniques and styles. Dance can be a profession and is not just limited…More