The Writer’s Flight

  Celebrating without guilt: The rise of health-first festive gifting By Namrata Kohli For decades, Diwali gifting was synonymous with pyramids of laddoos, boxes of kaju katli, and overflowing trays of barfi. But 2025 is telling a different story. Urban consumers—especially millennials and Gen Z—are looking beyond sugar-laden sweets and mass-produced hampers. Instead, they are gravitating towards thoughtful, mindful, and wellness-first gifting options. The new gift economy is driven by health consciousness, a preference for artisanal over industrial, and a desire to make gifting more personal than perfunctory. From sugar-free mithais and protein-rich dry fruit hampers to wellness teas, artisanal honey, handcrafted chocolates, and immunity-boosting superfoods, this year’s festive tables are being reshaped by a blend of indulgence and intention. As Bharat Shishodia, Centre Head at Lakeshore Mall in Pune, puts it:  “We’re seeing a sharp rise in wellness hampers—dry fruits, cold-p...

Aadyam, an Aditya Birla initiative, is known for curating artisanal, handwoven, and handcrafted products from India’s rich weaving clusters. Their festive hampers have become quite sought-after, especially among those who want gifting to carry cultural value and sustainability along with aesthetics. Handmade for the Heart By Namrata Kohli This Diwali, the sparkle isn’t just in the fairy lights or the glittering gold jewelry. It’s in gifts that tell a story. Families across India are moving away from imported candles, mass-produced crockery, and boxes of chocolates with predictable branding. Instead, they are gravitating toward presents rooted in Indian craft traditions: handwoven stoles, terracotta diyas, bamboo baskets, and Dokra artefacts. The gifting hampers don’t just offer beautiful objects — they carry a deeper purpose: they celebrate the skill, heritage, and authenticity of India’s weaving clusters. As Prime Minister Modi has repeatedly urged — “Gifts should be those made in In...

  From cryotherapy to courtyard Yoga, there is a rise of new age designer gyms. More than just workout spaces, these are wellness and networking zones where status, style, and social capital converge By Namrata Kohli Walk into D’Monde in Delhi or Fitness First in Mumbai and you realise gyms in India are no longer about treadmills and dumbbells. They’re about status, scale, and sanctuary. From cryotherapy chambers and Turkish hammams to aerial yoga sessions and workouts set to live DJs, India’s gyms are no longer just about weights and warm-ups—they’re reinventing fitness as a luxury lifestyle experience. These high-end spaces are no longer playing catch-up with the West—they’re setting benchmarks in design, scale, and integration. As developers, luxury hotels, and boutique entrepreneurs double down on wellness, the country’s elite now have more ways than ever to sweat in style. As Natasha Narang describes her gym in a luxury Gurugram condominium- "It’s not just a gym—it feels like...

  By Namrata Kohli   Recently, acclaimed theatre personality Sohaila Kapur presented a heartfelt ode to her three celebrated uncles—Chetan, Dev, and Vijay (Goldie) Anand—in a production aptly titled  Anand Hi Anand . Staged at New Delhi’s Radisson Blu Plaza Delhi Airport in association with Media Net Works and  Travel Secrets  magazine, the performance transported audiences into the golden era of Indian cinema through the lives, quirks, and legacies of the legendary Anand brothers. Vignettes from a Storied Legacy Anand hi Anand was peppered with delightful, little-known anecdotes. One of the most amusing: Dev Anand was once “banned” from wearing a black shirt—apparently because he looked so irresistibly handsome in it that women would swoon. His marriage to Mona Singha (better known as Kalpana Kartik) was another secret—so hush-hush that only the cinematographer on set caught sight of her ring. But not all anecdotes were lighthearted. One of the most poignant mo...