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India is a land of numerous and perpetual festivals. Nobody has counted the total number of fairs and festivals celebrated throughout the country. There are some festivals which mark the passing of season, while others are cultural events on religious festivals which transcend the barriers of creed and are joyously celebrated all over the country.

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All About saree and how to drape it too!!!

India has been known to have wonderful dresses and costumes. The most common and accepted attire is the saree.

For a single length of material, the Indian saree must be the most versatile garment in existence. A saree is a rectangular piece of cloth that is five to six yards in length and sometimes nine yards. Yet, this dress is worn by millions of Indian women and is, by far, the most elegant. It is not merely an outfit but an ornament, lending both grace and glamour to the wearer. saree is for all purpose - party wear, daily wear, bridal wear and so on.

The age old saree has kept its popularity throughout the centuries because of its total simplicity and practical comfort combined with the sense of luxury and sense of sexuality a woman experiences.

saree is an Indian women's statement to the world. What is a typical Indian saree like??? The saree can be a shimmering silk, or fine cotton or an elegant chiffon material. It can have the most intricate embroidery with silk threads or even silver and gold threads. The colors can be vibrantly bright or subdued pastels. There are sarees to match every mood and every occasion to suit every budget. The saree has an ageless charm since it is not cut or tailored for a particular size. This garment can fit any size and if worn properly can accentuate or conceal. This supremely graceful attire can also be worn in several ways and its manner of wearing as well as its color and texture are indicative of the status, age, occupation, region and religion of a woman.

The Indian saree has retained its beauty over centuries. This attire has retained its innocence through its original form but it has evolved in tremendous variety. A more feminine dress has never been seen anywhere. This attire can cover the body from head to toe, making a woman look modest and coy. But just shift the pallu, wear it with a stylish blouse and it could give any Western dress a complex.

saree is one piece of clothing which fits all….. fat or thin short or tall!!! The traditional 6 yard saree allows for generous pleating, and draping around the body and over the shoulders almost Grecian in style. The loose end of the fabric, which is thrown over the left shoulder, is known as 'Pallu'. Pallu usually has extensive design or embroidery woven into it. saree is very flattering to all shapes and sizes and forgiving of the various flaws. It can ingeniously conceal the extra flab of fat, or it can accentuate the well-proportioned curve -- It is just a matter of how you drape the saree. This garment is in style for over 5000 years for the simple reason of its simplicity and practical usage.

The most popular sarees are:

1. Silk sarees
2. Bangalore silk sarees
3. Embroidered sarees
4. Chiffon sarees
5. Crepe sarees
6. Printed sarees

To drape a saree, you need two essential accessories matching blouse and a petticoat.

Steps on how to drape a saree

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The palu should be about a yard (90 cm.) in length, just touching the fingertips, as it falls evenly behind you.

If you still feel it is hard to drape the saree. Designers have come out with a novel solution, pre-stitched sarees. Pre-stitched sarees makes saree wearing a one step easy process. These sarees are draped and stitched together with a petticoat to make it an easily wearable garment, just like putting on a skirt, without the fuss of tucking, pleating and adjusting the pallav length. This easy to wear, pre-stitched saree can be worn by any body without the bother of actually draping it.

saree is the only garment in feminine apparels that has stayed 'In Fashion' for 5000 years. Why? you wonder.. It is after all, only 6 yards of unstitched material, but look what it can do to any woman --- Make her look even better!!!

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History of Indian Cinema

In 1886 the Lumiere Brothers Cinematographe unveiled six soundless short films at Bombay's Watson's Hotel. Soon after, Hiralal Sen and H.S. Bhatavdekar started making films in Calcutta and Bombay, respectively. Like Lumiere Brothers Bhatavdekar made India's first actuality films in 1899. Tough there were efforts at filming stage plays earlier India's first feature film Raja Harishchandra was made in 1913 by Dadasaheb Phalke who is known as the Father of Indian Cinema. By 1920 there was a regular industry bringing out films starting with 27 per year and reaching 207 films in 1931. Today India makes about 800 feature films every year.
Alam Ara (1931) was the genesis of the talkie feature films. The film's popular Hindustani dialogues and seven songs made it a big hit which resulted in other filmmakers to raise the number of songs in their films till it reached a whooping 71 in "Indrasabha". Film songs became a Pan-Indian phenomenon.
	The post independence period saw the golden era of Indian cinema with melodious socials & melodramas. International recognition came with Satyajit Ray's Pather Panchali in 1955. Satyajit Ray is considered as one of the greatest directors of all times. He was awarded an Oscar for life time achievement short before his death in 1995. The 70's saw the birth of the parallel cinema which promoted realistic cinema. At around the same time was born the long lasting trend on the angry young man pitted against the Establishment as represented by Amitabh Bachchan, the superstar of the Indian Film Industry. Amitabh Bachchan was virtually a one man industry and this trend is still on though now we also have Shahrukh Khan to keep him company.

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GENERAL / ORGANIC SPICES
Spices are strictly speaking, the dried parts of aromatic plants the seeds, flowers, leaves and bark or roots - although a few are used fresh. Some spices are worth more than precious metals and gems. Spices are essential ingredients in any good cook's kitchen. They are also used in the manufacture of incense, oils, cosmetics, preservatives and flavorings.

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