The Writer’s Flight

  As luxury thresholds climb, the real differentiator at Rs. 15 crore is no longer square footage — but privacy infrastructure, brand equity and managed living By Namrata Kohli Luxury in Indian real estate has quietly redrawn its price map.  A few years ago, homes priced above Rs 1.5 crore were categorised as luxury. Today, that threshold has moved dramatically upward. According to Anuj Puri, Chairman, ANAROCK Group, the ultra-luxury segment now effectively begins at Rs 15 crore and scales significantly beyond.  The shift is visible in market data. ANAROCK reports that luxury housing prices across major cities rose 40% between 2022 and 2025. NCR recorded a steep 72% rise, while MMR saw a 43% increase over the same period. What was once considered a high-ticket purchase is now the launch norm in prime micro-markets. But this raises an important Spending question: If both Rs 5-crore and Rs 15-crore homes offer a carpet area of 3,000–5,000 sq ft, what exactly are buyers payi...

  New tech-enabled spectacles are transforming passive music listening into deep, multi-sensory experiences India’s organised live-events industry was worth $2.5 billion in 2024 and it is expected to reach $5.8 billion by 2030. Namrata Kohli  New Delhi A new luxury is drumming up patrons in India: Immersive music events that blend sound, story and space. Indians are opening their wallets for tech-enabled performances that turn music into a “multisensory experience”. It’s no longer just handbags, watches, or five-star meals that define luxury for urban India. The new aspirational splurge? Immersive music experiences — events that blend sound, story, and space to create emotional theatre. Across metros and even Tier 2 cities, Indians are opening their wallets for tech-enabled, sensory-rich performances that turn music into a full-body experience. From Global Garba festivals at heritage venues like Delhi’s Sunder Nursery to avant-garde audio-visual spectacles like YOUFORIA: ...

  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...