Karina Pandya

    Walking into the black box at  G5A   Foundation for Contemporary Culture , Mahalaxmi was like walking into an open area that is a multifunctional space where performances, workshops, presentations courses, etc   are held.  Excitedly waiting for St. Nicholas, a popular monologue enacted by one actor throughout the play. A play which first was presented on stage in 1997 by Irish playwright Conor McPherson, it is only 26 years later that this gripping tale is being told again in India for the first time!   A philosophical play, Zafar Karachiwala, an Indian actor well known for his films in Delhi Belly, Zakhm, his role in Hip Hip Hurray and many other films; Zafar enacts his first solo performance as St. Nicholas, directed by Bruce Guthrie – head of theatre and film at NCPA.      Coming close on the heels of Halloween, this monologue appears to be supernatural. However, Zafar adds more than humour to this dark and  humourous  tale. Of course, there are plenty of poignant moments throug

Pumpkins are beloved symbols of autumn and over 45 different varieties exist! Right from the skin, leaves, pulp, flower, seeds and stems; almost the entire fruit is edible. Boasting names such as Cotton Candy, Hooligan and Orange Smoothie, pumpkins range from orange, red, yellow and green in colour. It is very fitting to say that no AUTUMN season could be complete without having PUMPKINS in it. Even coffee lattes are popular to have a pumpkin tinge to them! So, whether it is Thanksgiving or Halloween, you are bound to find pumpkins as an integral item on these days.    A yearly tradition that is associated with Halloween is the placing of candles or lanterns within hollowed-out and carved pumpkins a tradition known as Jack-o-lanterns.     Although popular stories such as the legendary headless horseman and hid hurled pumpkin have been around for years, jack-o-lanterns have originated in countries such as Ireland, Scotland and England.    Initially, large turnips/potatoes and other root

  While good health is the most priceless possession to anyone walking this planet, it is also extremely difficult and almost impossible to have an absolutely healthy body. Mental health issues are one of the leading causes of disharmony in the body but other people may have neurological, physical and other disorders in their bodies.   Good health is when we have good physical, mental and social well-being. It is not just about the absence of infirmity or diseases. We all are bound to suffer from one thing or the other at some point of time in our lives.   Is it just when we fall sick or contract a disease that we start to pay attention to our health? Whether it is viral flu, high fever, high blood pressure, epilepsy, cancer, high cholesterol, poor diet, obesity, strokes, osteoporosis , asthma, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson's disease, etc. there is never a time when we can free ourselves of the worries of bad health. Certain illnesses or conditions occur because of age a

  Stress has become more and more a part of life as times have become so fast-paced and we live in a digital age. Whether it is at home, living with our parents and siblings and the obligations that we carry towards our family or it is at the workplace where we have to work long hours and submit some or the other work by the deadline to our seniors. Anxiety and depression are two side effects of stress and we have no other choice but to find a way to deal with these mental health issues.   Headspace | Mini Meditation | Let Go of Stress https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1Ndym-IsQg Whether it is daily stress or chronic stress, this constant mental tension or even described as a state of worry has physiological effects on our bodies. From causing pain, tightness or soreness in the muscles to affecting our heart rate, stress can even worsen skin conditions such as eczema, rosacea or psoriasis. It can also impact the digestive system, trigger tension on your shoulders, head and jaw; weaken y

Sometimes I sit in silence,  a quiet comes over me What I actually need is some sort of guidance. but how can I ever be free? My breath it’s slow it makes me feel so calm.  The silence comes to take over me, As I breathe into my palm The breath just seems to be free! You calm me like no other,  Oh mindfulness you are just like a mother

  Understanding your karma is one of the most important aspects of life in order to change anything about your life. What makes situations go sour and unfixable? What is the root of a hurt soul or illness? What makes things go well and life so joyful? Is it something that we are responsible for or is it something that we create?   What is karma in the first place and can things in our lives ever change? A sum of the actions of a person in his current life state as well as of his past life state creates effects in one's life which is known as karma. Either the good luck or the bad luck that we get is a result of the consequences of the actions in a previous life.  While good karma is a result of good actions from the past, bad karma is a result of intentional harm caused to others. At times, your actions may even result in chronic pain and suffering, resulting in negative or destructive karma.   Signs of good karma include being born into a wealthy family, having a healthy body, hav

  With 15 days left for Halloween, one may wonder how Halloween actually came about. Commonly known as   Allhalloween / All Hallows' Eve ,  or   All Saints' Eve; Halloweens Day has been celebrated across the world on the 31 st  of October. It is celebrated as the  eve of the   Western Christian   feast of   Day. All  Saints Day is observed on November 1 st  and signifies which honours that all saints of the church have deemed to have gone to heaven. This is a day which is dedicated to remembering the dead- inclusive of some saints, martyrs and all the faithfully departed.   A Christian holiday, this day has evolved over the years with many countries contributing to how it's celebrated. In the 19 th  century, many Irish and Scottish immigrants too many Halloween costumes to North America. Through American influence, different Halloween customs spread to other countries by the late 20 th  and 21 st  centuries.    Some of the activities observed on this day include Halloween c