Explore Indian History, Heritage, Culture and Food Through EPIC and #TATASkyTransfer!!!

Off late I hardly watched TV till one fine day I came across EPIC channel. I had come across their posters, at most of the places around the city during their launch in last November, but never did I check it out on TV. Ever since I started watching it, my whole family has become fond of the channel, and its very rare that we even switch to other channels. 

For those who love to explore History, Heritage, Culture and Food of India,  this is one of the channels, you shouldn't miss. 

Travel: While Sanrachna takes you to different monuments of India, highlighting their architectural significance, Ekaant takes to the ruins of the historical places, majestic states of their time which have lost their significance. And Kahi Suni, takes you to the religious places, narrating the stories from the past, be it to Mathura, narrating Lord Krishna's childhood or Kurukshetra, with the battle between the Pandavas and Kauravas.

Food: Raja Rasoi and Anya Kahaniyaan, one of my favourite shows, for it includes travel as well. An awesome narration of food from different states in each episode, with its history and origin. Lost recipes, as the name says, a cookery show from different parts of the country, with recipes which have lost their existence off late.

Facts: EPIC ke Dus, a superbly crafted show, with handpicked top tens of the country, be it the Novels of India, or the top Indian Brands, or the top ten love stories or top revolutions which made an impact on the Indian History. Made in India, is yet another series, which highlights world's top products or service, which originated in India, but the country has lost the patent. To name a few are Sushruta Samhita, the text on medicine and surgery written years back even before the Western countries knew about Medicine or the board games like Ludo which originated from our own Pachisi. Through short videos on the series on EPIGRAMS, they showcase the origin of different products, be it Saffron or tea, coffee or chilly and their arrival to India. Awesome narration, beautiful animations everything makes it a perfect show.

History: Rakkt and Adrishya, non fiction series on Indian history. A must watch show if you are interested in History of the country.

Through their three new shows, Stories by Rabindranath Tagore, Jaane Pehchaane with Javed Akhtar and Mid Wicket Tales with Naseeruddin Shah, the channel has stepped into Indian Cinema, Indian Cricket and Series on Gurudev's Novels.

If all my narration tempted you to watch EPIC channel and you are worried you wouldn't be able to make time to watch them at home, then worry not, try out #TATASkyTransfer. Record, transfer, carry your favourite TV shows, wherever you go. Check out EPIC channel on TATA Sky HD Channel 133.

Pampers Premium Care Pants Preview!!! #SoftestForBabySkin

It took me 6years to start back my career since I took a break for my daughter. Those years when my daughter really wanted me to be with her, from the littlest born to Grade I student now, I wanted to enjoy every moment with her. Those initial sleepless nights for her playful mood or first day of her school, she wanted me to be along. I cherished my memories of her initial days, at the recent blogging event by Pampers India. 

 

Pampers has come up with the softest diapers ever, the new Pampers Premium Care Pants, and few of we blogger moms(and dads) were invited by Pampers for the exclusive preview of the product. The diaper is so soft that a baby won't even notice.
Hosted by Actress and Television presenter - Mandira Bedi, the panel of Child Sleep Consultant - Ajita Gopal Seethepalli, Actress and Celebrity mother - Tara Sharma and Pampers R & D Expert - Dr. Wei Sang Long discussed on how important skin health in infant is and how a soft and dry diaper can help babies have best skin comfort and happy development. While Tara Sharma and Mandira herselves shared their motherhood experience, Ajita Seethepalli drew interesting connection between softness in a diaper and a baby's sleeping pattern. Scientist & R&D expert Dr. WeiSing Long highlighted the unique features of Premium Care Pants, with live demo of the dryness test and lotion test. All we bloggers tried the softness test, when we were asked to feel the Pampers Premium and other two Diapers and vote for the softer one. Pampers Premium won 92% vote, against the other two.

Actress and Television presenter - Mandira Bedi, Child Sleep Consultant - Anita Gopal Seethepalli, Actress and Celebrity mother - Tara Sharma and Pampers R & D Expert - Dr. Wei Sang Long

Unveiling the new Pamper Premium Care

Demo of dryness test

About Pamper Premium Care:

New Pampers Premium Care Pants 5 star skin protection makes it so soft and dry that baby won't even notice them,

• Soft materials/fabrics: Specially chosen with delicate little bottoms in mind.
• All around waistband and soft cuffs: for a comfortable snug fit minimizing leakage.
• Up to 12 hours of dryness: Pampers core quickly absorbs helping keep wetness away from the skin to help skin protection.
• Baby lotion: A drop of lotion to help protect the baby's precious skin.
• Wetness Indicator turns from yellow to blue when in contact with fluid to help parents know when it might be time to change. 

The event ended with photo session and we walked back home with a pack of Pampers Premium Care Pants and a hamper with few P&G products.

Check out for my upcoming post on the review of the Pampers Premium Care Pants and my own experience as a mom.

“This blog post is written for the Pampers #SoftestForBabySkin activity in association with BlogAdda”

Skywatch Friday, Golden Temple in Light!!!

It was 6:30, by the time we reached back Amritsar from Wagah Border. I had heard a lot about the famous Bharawan Da Dhaba, a Punjabi Restaurant in Amritsar and we asked our taxi driver to drop us there. They have their other counterpart too, Brothers Dhaba near Golden Temple, but the original one is near town hall. The food is very good and authentic but they are very bad at service, few customers left in front of us, for not been attended on time. Heard from few later, Brothers has gained popularity recently for their better service. We had the authentic Makki ki Roti and Sarson Ka Saag, which non of the  Restaurants around the country can match theirs.

After dinner, we planned a visit to Golden Temple again, to have a look in lights.

The temple's beauty is no less in day light or in lights at night. The temple is a mark of great architectural beauty, divinity and holiness. I so wanted to visit the langar kitchen, but couldn't get enough time as next morning we had to leave for Dalhousie.

Stay tuned for my post on Dalhousie, where I experienced snow fall(natural) for the first time.

Do check out the complete series on this trip of mine here. 

The Beating Retreat at Wagah Border

We were done with Golden Temple and Jallianwala bagh by 1 and planned to leave for Wagah Border after lunch. Amritsar is one of the best places for Foodies especially if you are a Vegetarian. No non veg is allowed till a km or two from the Golden Temple. The only place where you find Pure Vegetarian Pizza Hut, McDonald's and Domino's outlets too, isn't it surprising. As a pure vegetarian, it was a feast for me, the Amritsari Kulchas, burgers everything veg. After lunch, our taxi was ready to pick us for Wagah Border. The drive from Amritsar to Border is one awesome one, with Sarso ke kheth(Mustard fields) on either side. 

Wagah Border is around 32km from Amritsar. While Wagah is on the Pakistan side and the last Indian village at the border is Attari, its well known as Wagah Border in India as well than Attari Border. The Beating Retreat Ceremony, the lowering of the flags ceremony, is the daily military practice that security forces of India(Border Security Force(BSF)) and Pakistan(Pakistan Rangers) have been following since 1959, when the flags on either side of the border are lowered before sunset.

We were dropped at the parking lot, where our driver asked us to make note of the place, as there wouldn't be mobile network to get in touch with him later. That parking area seemed like a fare in itself with stalls selling snacks, flags, CDs about BSF, kids and adults getting flag painted on face. We walked for few steps and the board read the border was a km ahead and there were two separate queues for ladies and gents which looked never ending and couldn't even spot the border gate from there. We joined the queue, and the gents queue seemed too long and me and kiddo wanted to wait till we could find hubby, but security personal insisted us to move on as ladies security check in would rather take more time and hubby would join us by then. It took almost an 1hour to finish the check in and reach the Swarn Jayanti Dwar, the border gate on Indian side. Though it seemed we had reached quite on time, by the time we reached the parade area, it was full and we got seats somewhere in a corner.

The two sides of the border, each with their flags flying high and the huge photographs of father of their Nation on their entry gates. The crowd was no less enthusiastic than at any cricket stadium. The patriotic songs been played, made everyone zoom with the tricolour. The ceremony started sharp at 4:30 and it was a pleasure to watch the armed men and women marching for the ceremony. Its a moment of pride, when the security personal from both side march towards each other representing the pride and power of their nation. The Beating Retreat ceremony is a must be event for any Indian.

Pakistan Tourism Bus

As the flags get lowered

The Flag on the Swarn Jayanthi Dwar is lowered too

 

The ceremony lasted for almost 20mins, the crowd dispersed and we started walking back towards the parking lot. We could find people walking to the border even then. Heard, they stop the crowd at the starting gate itself when the parade area gets full and people wait there till the ceremony finishes and visit the border to just get the glimpse of the border area.

Travel Tips:

• There are many private vehicles which play from Amritsar to Wagah Border. You can easily find them near Golden Temple, but not sure at what time they reach the border.
• If you are planning to go by taxi on your own, better to leave early to reach border at least by 2:30. The gate opens by 3 and there is already a big queue even before the gate opens.
• Apart from the ceremony, the border is open for rest of the time for visit, when people can reach till Swarn Jayanthi Dwar.
• Hand bags, eatables not allowed. There are stalls just before the Swarn Jayanthi Dwar, where you get snacks and water bottles. Leave all your other bags and stuff in your vehicle in the parking lot or at your hotels. Its also better to be light without baggage to take the long queue.

Do check out the complete series on this trip of mine here.