Jaguar and Stella Mccartney bring the New XE to Paris

Ahead of Stella McCartney’s Paris Fashion Week Show on 29 September, Jaguar has joined forces with the leading British designer for the next phase of the FEEL XE campaign as the roll-out of the new Jaguar XE continues. Both Stella and Jaguar represent the best in British design and have a shared commitment to modernity, performance and innovation, and the FEEL XE Experience is an expression of this design philosophy.

Speaking about her work on the FEEL XE campaign, Stella McCartney OBE commented: “Jaguar is a British brand that’s full of heritage, charm and one that I’ve admired for years so it’s a pleasure to be finally working directly with them. It was interesting to adapt my playful Superhero print for the XE, adding a feeling of empowerment to its exhilarating design - I can’t wait to see it on the streets of Paris.”

The FEEL XE Experience marks the next phase in the XE reveal, where Jaguar will announce full details of the entire XE range at the Paris Motor Show, from the exceptionally efficient 99g/km E-Performance model to the thrilling 250km/h supercharged S.

Together, the two prestigious British luxury brands have created the FEEL XE Experience; featuring a fleet of luxury Stella McCartney inspired Jaguars draped in her distinctive Superhero print from her Spring 2015 collection. These vehicles will be taking to the streets of Paris on Monday 29 September, delivering a series of FEEL XE Experiences that have been carefully curated by Stella and Jaguar to provide consumers with an Exhilarating taste of cultural highlights that are unique to Paris.

Two years after graduating from Central St. Martins College of Art and Design, London, Stella moved to Paris and four years later she launched the first collection of Stella McCartney fashion house in Paris. The French capital remains close to her heart and it is still the city where Stella shows her new ready-to-wear collections every season. It is fitting that the streets of Paris will be the only city in the world to have the Jaguar Superheroes on its streets.

Ian Callum, Jaguar’s Director of Design, spoke about his admiration for Stella McCartney’s work and their shared passion for British design and innovation: “I’ve always greatly admired Stella’s work and enjoyed her previous collaborative projects, especially the performance apparel for the GB Olympic Team. It is a beautiful demonstration of Stella’s commitment to elegance, style as well as functionality and, performance which are attributes that I looked to express in the Jaguar XE.”

The FEEL XE Experience marks the continuation of Stella’s involvement in Jaguar’s FEEL XE campaign. Stella attended the Jaguar XE global premiere at Earls Court in London on 08 September, and she also chose to arrive in the XE, the most fuel-efficient Jaguar to date, at The 2014 Stella McCartney Green Carpet Collection earlier this month.

Following the FEEL XE Experience in Paris Jaguar will announce details of its next FEEL XE project with British actor Idris Elba in the coming months. 

Arambagh Puja goes eco-friendly; Recreates mini-Kolkata with food and festivity galore

Arambagh Puja is best known for its uniqueness in celebration and creating Kolkata’s  environment with the city’s sumptuous cuisines and and festivities during the Durga Pujas. The Arambagh Puja, which celebrated its silver jubilee last year with the theme of “Buddha” and “world peace” at a budget of Rs. 1 crore, has consciously decided to keep the budgets low for this year, keeping the major calamities that occurred in Jammu & Kashmir, Assam and Meghalaya recently. For the entire duration of the pujas, Arambagh Puja Samiti will run a special fund raising campaign to collect money and aid for the flood victims of Jammu & Kashmir, Meghalaya and Assam. The pujas, however, will retain its essence with the same fervour creating a mini-Kolkata to woo puja lovers.

Arambagh Puja has adopted completely eco-friendly ways to celebrate the pujas this year in its aim to deliver a message to the society that people should learn to cohabit with nature instead of destroying nature. The idols have been made with different kind of materials which have no harmful effects and do not pollute water. From the goddess’ idol to the murals and illustrations on the walls, everything has been made with organic materials. Even the sari of the idol is made up of mud though it looks like an original piece of garment andthe entire decoration of the pandal has been  done with thermocol and mud. Other eco-friendly materials such as waste paper, herbal colours, straw and bamboo has been used, that have minimum impact on the ecology.

In a major attraction this year, Puja lovers will witness a big, severed head of a buffalo, measuring a whopping 50 feet in height and 30 feet in width, which will serve as the facade of the pandal. The severed head of the buffalo that signifies the demon Mahishasura represents annihilation of demonic and evil power from each segment of the society - whether it was back in the age of Mahabharata or today’s tumultuous times. The organizers want to send out the message that just like Mahishasura, the guilty is always punished and justice is meted out in the end.

Tapan Bose, eminent Art Director has combined brilliantly with Pranab Roy, world famous mural designer, to construct the theme of the pandal and its interiors. While Salil Bhattacharya is making the idol of Maa Durga, two famous artists from Kumartuli have specially come down to New Delhi to design special sarees forthe Pratima. Bapi Bose, one of the most prominent Directors in contemporary Indian theatre, is in charge of lights and effects.

Mr Abhijit Bose, Executive Chairman of Arambagh Puja Samiti said, “Our entire Durga Puja arrangements is not only a celebration of Maa Durga and her victory over the evil Mahishasura, but is a call against all the bad practices as well. We urge to end corruption, dowry, violence against women and other sporadic wickedness in society. For years, Durga Puja has become one occasion for people to come out, celebrate, meet and greet, have food and go home. We wanted to redefine the concept of celebrations. So we started putting emphasis on social themes and bring cultural personalities to signify the importance of issues such as this. Kolkata’s famed caterers will join Purani Dilli’s counterparts to serve tantalising food. Over a lakh people are expected to hit the pandal.”

 “We have just witnessed havoc in Jammu and Kashmir and others states continue to face floods. So we have restricted our budgets this year and hope to make a small difference to the lives of the victims via our special find raising campaign,” Mr Bose added.

The cultural activities promise to be an extravaganza, with eminent artistes from Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata performing at ArambaghPuja during different days. While playback singer Babul Supriyo will inaugurate the Puja, Bengal’s Srikanto Acharya and Rathin Kisku will also perform, besides some well-known bands such as Bhoomi. Taal The Beat – a multimedia dance programme will be held to highlight the theme of this year.

The Wine Company hosts a South African Food & Wine Tasting Event

On the occasion of the Indo-South African Week, His Excellency Mr. France Morule, High Commissioner of South Africa to India, hosted the South African Food & Wine Tasting Event at The Wine Company, a hip & trendy restaurant in Cyberhub Gurgaon.

The event was graced by Mr. Senzeni Zokwana, Hon’ble Minister of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries, Government of South Africa and the accompanying delegates.Some of the esteemed guests spotted at The Wine Company were  Designer Charu Parashar,Joydeep Singh, Shalini Arora Kochchar, Chef Saabby,Designer Qanisha Mehta ,Designer Lalit Dalmia,Artist Anjanna Kuthiala, Beauty Expert Suparna Trikha, Entrepreneur Sonal Jindal to name a few

Premium South African wines were paired with a 4 course meal prepared by Chef Xoliswa Ndoyiya, the famed and influential chef who has personally served Nelson Mandela’s family for over two decades. Guests at The Wine Company were privileged to sample a collection of Mr. Mandela's favorite recipes.

Alan Nelson, winemaker and owner of the famous Nelson Estates spoke on the tasting notes of each wine to the guests at the event.

The Wine Company is known to showcase fine wine from across the world & gourmet food and is a hub for all wine & food aficionados. Kriti Malhotra, Wine Director and V.P Operations at The Wine Company states, “At The Wine Company, we always endeavor to invite renowned winemakers and chefs to unveil an extraordinary experience of wine and food pairing. Through such events, we offer our guests the opportunity to sample wine from renowned global estates.”

The Classic Cocktail Jewellery

Ra-Abta by designer Rahul Luthra presents an all new range of exclusive cocktail jewelry by the name ' The Classic Cocktail Couture'. The new collection is an extremely unique blend of both style and elegance.'The classic cocktail couture' is a collection of highly creative jewelry which is perfect for modern day women as it enhances the aura of sophistication and class.The jewelry is designed by using various precious gem stones like ruby, diamonds, emerald, topaz, sapphire etc. to name a few.

Singer Sagarika Deb honored with 'Rajiv Gandhi Excellence Award'

For outstanding contributions in various fields of society, 21 people have been conferred with the Rajiv Gandhi Excellence Award this year. The list includes famous pop singer Sagarika Deb from New Delhi. 

The program was held at the Constitution Club in New Delhi on 9th September and Sagarika has been honored with a certificate  & trophy for her outstanding contribution to Pop Music, Animal Rights and Women Empowerment. 

On this occasion Sagarika says, I am honored to be receiving such a prestigious award for my work so far. To be sharing the stage with so many esteemed personalities is a privileged for me. To know that my work could have inspired people and specially girls to move ahead is overwhelming. I will continue to pour my heart to my work and hope to inspire people in the future too. It has been an honor to be honored by the Prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Excellence Award and I want to thank my family, team members, organizers and the selection committee.

The awardees were honored by J.P Agarwal (Ex President DPCC of Congress Committee), Mrs. Shobha Oza (National President of 'All India Mahila Congress'), Mrs.Mamta Sharma (Ex.Chairperson, National Comission for Women, Govt of India), and Mr. KH Muniyappa (Member of Parliament/Former Union Minister, Govt of India), Mrs.Arpita Bansal (Managing Director of Creative Next Pvt. Ltd.) and Mr.Ramprakash Verma (Editor in Chief, Times India News & Seemapuri Times). 

Other prominent people receiving the award this year are Cricketer Chetan Sharma, National Hockey Coach SAS Naqvi, IAS Officer Sanjay Alang, Police Officer Arvind Kumar Sharma, Media Journalist Amitav Srivastava, Film Producer Rakesh Babbal, and many more.