Beauty is in Everything Not Just Instagram Shalini Passi
Hyderabad, February 28, 2025: YFLO (Young FICCI Ladies Organisation) organized a power talk, ‘Redefining Glamor & Influence—A Power Talk for the Next Generation,’ featuring Shalini Passi, a visionary art patron, collector, and philanthropist. The talk was held at The Leela, Hyderabad, on Thursday evening.
Ms Ridhi Jain, Chairperson of YFLO, giving opening remarks said, “Shalini Passi is a woman who doesn’t just embrace influence—she redefines it. She doesn’t follow the rules; she creates them. True influence isn’t about status or glamour; it’s about impact, about shaping conversations and driving change. Shalini has done just that—melding creativity with purpose, artistry with advocacy, and luxury with legacy. She is proof that when passion meets vision, boundaries dissolve, and possibilities expand.”
Quoting WEB Du Bois, Ridhi Jain reflected, “There is no force more powerful than a woman determined to rise” she added. “I have always been inspired by women who don’t just follow the path but carve new ones. Today, influence is not just about glamour—it’s about purpose, innovation, and legacy. And Shalini Passi exemplifies this shift.”
Beauty is not what you see and come across on Instagram; There is beauty in everything and everybody, Shalini Passi said in her interaction. Look at your grandparents, your mother, mother-in-law, they all are women of substance. They have age, experience wisdom and beauty behind them. You must see beauty in all and not just on social media sites.
We all love our parents. Your mother is your friend. That doesn’t mean you need to share everything with them, especially your problems. Somehow you will solve your problem, but your mom remains worried about your problem, Shalini shared the secret to handling problems in life.
Glamor to me is being fabulous in your skin. Be comfortable with whatever you wear. A lot needs to be worked behind being the glamorous, she said.
I had a traditional upbringing. I gave up the joy of eating tasty food. I barely watch TV. Being slim is not my motive, it comes naturally. Being fit comes out of wanting to be healthy, she shared the secret behind her fitness and personality.
I am a simple human being with just an ordinary life with extraordinary thoughts. I have a humble background. The motto I live by is Practice makes perfect. I got married at the age of 20. Skincare is very important to me. Skincare is a daily affair, she said
I always wanted to do things beautifully, elegantly and in a blissful manner, she shared. Swans are beautiful birds. They are important for aquatic ecosystems and are also symbolic of beauty, love, and spiritual grace. They are calm and composed, paddling inside the water with the current. We need to be just like them.
.
My love for art just happened with one small incident in life. And since then, I have been an art patron and collector, she shared.
Shalini Passi is interested in photography as well. I take a lot of photographs, as a way to document architecture and cultural heritage. She said that photography is a subjective art form, where each picture has its own life. I like Banaras. It is my favorite city. It is a photographer’s paradise. It is the most beautiful city. It is a magical city. I visit it very often, she shared.
Shalini curated what could be termed as a private museum for modern Indian art. She has a huge collection of paintings, sculptures and whatnot. Speaking about art, replying to a question, Shalini said Rome is the most artistic city. Rome is a very old city. Famous artists, painters, sculptors, and architects made Rome what it is today, the center for artistic activity, creating many wonderful masterpieces throughout the city.
My proud possession of an artwork is one of the paintings painted by my son which I keep at my bedside, she shared.
The iconic image of Monroe’s billowing skirt solidified her status as Hollywood’s greatest actor. Shalini wants to own one dress as a historical thing.
When asked to advise young girls, she said, no one bothers about your struggle. They see the outcome. Be your good version. Give your best. Focus on life goals. Do not worry about people who keep commenting. No train stops at the barking. It keeps moving. Add value to life and society, she told them.
Shalini Passi is the founder of the Shalini Passi Art Foundation & MASH, a platform dedicated to fostering contemporary art, design, and fashion. Her keen eye for aesthetics and her commitment to blending tradition with modernity have positioned her as a transformative force in India’s creative landscape.
Her collection includes works from some of the most coveted names in contemporary and modern art, including Bharti Kher, Anita Dube, Zarina Hashmi, Atul Dodiya, MF Husain, Manjit Bawa, and Ram Kumar, alongside international artists such as Jeff Koons and Damien Hirst. Beyond paintings, her collection extends to furniture, tapestries, and rare antiques, juxtaposed with cutting-edge contemporary design.
As a patron, she actively supports emerging artists and fosters arts education through her Foundation’s year-round initiatives. She is a sought-after speaker at leading art and design forums globally.
Excelia Tourism School Launches Bachelor Program in Paris
28th February 2025: For the start of the 2025 academic year, Excelia Tourism School (France) will be offering its Bachelor in tourism and hospitality in Paris. In addition, it will be structuring its entire range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, Bachelor and MSc, under two distinct banners: the first, ‘Hospitality-Events’, will focus on the 3 pillars of hospitality, namely hotels, restaurants and events, whilst the second, ‘Tourism’, will cover all aspects of tourism management. This reorganisation of its range of programmes is part of the school’s commitment to further develop its position in the hospitality sector. Furthermore, new specialisations have been introduced across its Bachelor programmes, and several new MSc programmes are being launched.
“The structuring of Excelia Tourism School’s offer into two distinct branches is in line with how industry professionals and the general public perceive the various activities in our sector: hotels-restaurants-events on the one hand, and everything to do with tourism-travel- destinations on the other. To ensure we cover the whole spectrum of disciplines, we are already designing two further study tracks, one dedicated to culinary arts, the other to wines and spirits”, explains Richard Ginioux, Dean of Excelia Tourism School.
A new curriculum for Excelia Tourism School’s undergraduate studies
The aim of Excelia Tourism School’s Bachelor programmes is to train students to become operational middle-managers in the hotel, catering, events and tourism sectors. From the start of the 2025 academic year, students enrolled at Bachelor level can choose to specialise in either hotel management and events or in tourism. Throughout the 3 years of the programme, all students follow the same core course modules and will have the opportunity to transfer from ‘hotel management and events’ to ‘tourism management’ and vice-versa.
For the coming academic year, students will be able to study Excelia Tourism School’s Bachelor specialising in hospitality on its Paris campus, in addition to its La Rochelle and Tours campuses.
New MScs at Excelia Tourism School
Master of Science (MSc) programmes are specially designed to train graduates to become managers and executives in the hotel, catering, events, and tourism sectors. From September 2025, Excelia Tourism School’s Master of Science programmes will also be structured under the same two distinct banners as its Bachelors and will be organised as follows: Year 1 will comprise core course modules and electives, whilst Year 2 will focus on areas of specialisation.
A strong International dimension
What differentiates Excelia Tourism School’s offer is the possibility of a work-study track, which further boosts graduate employability, particularly in the international arena. With this in mind, a new international work placement has been introduced in Year 2 of the Bachelor programme (students can carry out their Year 1 internship either in France or abroad). In addition, all specialisations are offered either in English or in a bilingual French+English format. Last but not least, through 4 international partnerships, students have the opportunity to study for a double qualification, spending all of Year 2 in either Germany, Finland, Latvia or Thailand.
|
Hospitality-Events
|
Tourism
|
|
|
Bachelor
specialisations
|
(Paris)
(La Rochelle)
(La Rochelle, Tours, Paris)
(La Rochelle)
|
(La Rochelle)
(La Rochelle)
(Tours)
(Tours)
|
|
MSc
|
(La Rochelle, Paris)
(La Rochelle, Paris)
|
(La Rochelle)
(Tours)
(La Rochelle)
(Tours)
|
Tejasswi’s Risotto Stuns Judges on Celebrity MasterChef
28th February 2025: Sony Entertainment Television’s Celebrity MasterChef continues to serve up high-stakes culinary moment as contestants take on a brand new challenge – Italy via India! This time, the challenge pushes them to showcase their creativity by preparing a dish that reflects one colour from the Italian flag – all within 90 minutes. Celebrity cook – Tejasswi Prakash picks white and pours her heart and soul into cooking a special risotto.
Chef Ranveer Brar takes the first bite, and asks her – “When you tasted this, did you remember your mom? Are you convinced by the emotions you wanted to bring in? He goes on to dramatically tap his spoon on the table, validating her dish, exclaiming, “This is your best dish.”
The surprises don’t stop there – an impressed Farah Khan kisses Tejasswi’s hand in a gesture of appreciation. She states, “This is the best risotto I have ever eaten. I don’t even like risotto – but this is so flavourful.” A visibly overwhelmed Tejasswi gets emotional by the responses.
ADDA.io Announces Unlimited Visitor Approvals for Housing Societies
New Delhi, 28th February 2025: Gated Communities in India have recognized the benefit of Visitor Entry Apps. However, lately there has been rising dissatisfaction among residents. Residents like to keep a list of pre-approved Guests on the app, so they do not have to rush to their Phones as and when Visitors arrive. However, popular Gate apps were not allowing pre-approvals beyond a certain number. This meant a Resident had to keep rushing to their phone in the middle of meetings and other appointments, just to approve walk-in visitors.
ADDA.io has revolutionized this situation by announcing unlimited pre-approved visitor’s approvals. This means a Resident can set up all their expected Guests in a pre-approved list and have a disturbance free day! This is a blow to existing Gate apps that were expecting Residents to pay for this feature.
“When Residents add pre-approved Guests, it strengthens the security of the Community. By doing so Residents are taking responsibility for their Visitors, proactively informing the Security team about the expected Visitor. This should be prioritised and not penalized by charging them for it! This also inconveniences the Residents if they cannot pre-approve a Guest and must rush to their phone every time a walk-in guest comes. At ADDA we prioritise the balance between Resident Convenience as well as Community Security, this is one such feature,” said Mr. Manjunath, the Product Manager for ADDA.io Gate Management product – ADDA Gatekeeper.
ADDA.io, presently a challenger in the space of visitor apps in India, has provided a fresh breath of relief to Management Committee members/RWA members who were struggling with other gate management apps, through its ADDA Gatekeeper solution for society gates. Notably, ADDA Gatekeeper has already been implemented across at least 1,500+ housing societies/communities across 40+ cities in India.
“We have been struggling with a different Gate App, which was chosen by the previous Management Committee as it came for Free. Lately residents were getting irritated by too many Ads and Spam being forced onto them by this App. Residents also complained that without the knowledge of the Association, Residents were individually asked to pay for essential features. Finally in Dec 2024, we moved to ADDA Gatekeeper.,” said Mr. Nitin (Name changed), the management committee member of a 2,000+ unit apartment community in Bangalore who moved to ADDA Gatekeeper recently from a competitor product.
“Representatives of RWAs, AOAs and estate managers of some notable housing societies in Bengaluru confirmed that the surge in e-commerce and deliveries has made visitor management a key area of focus for Gated Communities. An average Apartment Resident can receive up to 7 visitors on a weekday and up to 20 visitors on a weekend. We are consistent in our mission to ease urban lifestyle and no pre-approved guest limit feature is just another step forward,” said ADDA.io Co-Founder & CEO Ms.San Banerjee.
5 Reasons Why Pilot Salaries Will Continue to Rise
The aviation industry has witnessed significant pilot salary increases recently. From First Officers to Chief Pilots, salaries have been on an upward trajectory. But what is driving these increases, and how do industry experts view the future of pilot compensation? To gain insight, we spoke to Martynas Mazeika, Chief Growth Officer at BAA Training, a leading pilot training provider, who shared valuable perspectives on the factors influencing salary growth.
“The global pilot shortage has been a pressing issue for years, and it is only getting worse. In 2023, industry forecasts predicted a shortage of between 613,000 and 649,000 pilots worldwide between 2023 and 2042. By 2024, the estimates had risen to 649,000-674,000 pilots needed from 2024 to 2043. This suggests that even initial projections underestimated the scale of the problem,“ Mazeika notes.
1. Rapid Airline Expansion
“Airlines are expanding at a massive rate, further intensifying the pilot shortage,” Mazeika explains. “In 2024, Airbus delivered 766 commercial aircraft, with a significant portion going to European carriers. For each new aircraft, airlines often require up to five sets of crews—meaning ten pilots: five First Officers and five Captains. It puts immense pressure on the industry to train and hire more pilots.
“To meet this demand, airlines are increasingly turning to Multi-Crew Pilot License (MPL) training programs. The MPL program, often delivered in partnership with training providers, allows airlines to prepare pilots more efficiently and better prepare them for airline operations compared to traditional training routes. At the same time, pilots benefit from a direct career pathway and structured training.”
2. Pilot Retirements
Another major contributor to the shortage is the aging pilot workforce. The FAA estimates that around 4,300 pilots will retire annually through 2042. “In Europe, we are seeing similar patterns, with an aging workforce forcing airlines to accelerate recruitment efforts and even relax selection requirements slightly. For example, legacy carriers that have historically required proficiency in a national language are now beginning to eliminate this requirement,” Mazeika adds.
According to the FAA’s 2023 Pilot Workforce Analysis, the number of new pilots entering the industry is insufficient to replace retirees and meet airline expansion needs. Some estimates suggest that the training pipeline could fall short by 5,000-7,000 pilots annually.
“So on one hand, you have rapid airline expansion of their fleets, and on the other, massive retirements with not enough new people entering the industry or undergoing training. This creates the perfect environment for higher salaries, right?” says Mazeika.
3. A Rising Trend in Pilot Salaries Is Too Pronounced to Shift Downwards Anytime Soon
Over the years, pilot salaries in Europe have followed a clear upward trend, reflecting industry growth and increasing demand for skilled professionals. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, First Officers in Europe earned between €21,600 and €72,000 annually. By spring 2023, salaries had already risen significantly, ranging from €25,000 to €91,000. This upward momentum continued into spring 2024, with First Officers earning between €51,000 and €97,000—nearly doubling the lower salary range in just a year. This steady increase highlights a strong recovery in the aviation sector, with salaries surpassing pre-COVID levels.
In 2024, Chief Pilots in Europe earned between €120,000 and €270,000, marking an impressive 49.46% increase from the previous year’s range of €61,000 to €200,000. Salary growth is expected to continue into 2025 and beyond, driven by the ongoing shortage of qualified pilots.
4. Intense Global Competition for Pilots Between Airlines
“The battle for experienced pilots is intensifying as airlines across the globe compete for a limited talent pool. Some airlines are offering significantly higher pay packages to lure pilots away from rivals,“ explains Mazeika.
For instance, according to The Times, in Europe, easyJet has been offering up to £191,000 for Captains, while British Airways pays around £138,000. However, British Airways counters this with a lower retirement age of 55, compared to easyJet’s 65, using early retirement as a recruitment incentive. Additionally, they offer opportunities to transition to long-haul aircraft, which come with significantly higher salaries down the line.”
“But it is not only about the salary,” Mazeika points out. “Work-life balance, retirement plans, and benefits are now key factors in pilot recruitment. Airlines are going all out to make their offers as attractive as possible.”
New airlines, especially in Asia and the Middle East, are aggressively entering the market. “For a new airline with no established reputation, offering above-market salaries is often the primary way to attract pilots,” Mazeika explains. “This creates a ripple effect, pushing salaries higher across the industry.”
5. Rising Travel Demand
Global travel is rebounding strongly, with projections showing a 4.3% annual growth rate over the next 20 years. Airlines are increasing flight frequencies and expanding routes to meet the growing demand. For instance, Ryanair recently reported a significant surge in passenger numbers, surpassing 20 million per month.
Initially, many industry experts predicted it would take years for air travel to return to pre-pandemic levels. However, the recovery has been much quicker than expected, particularly in North America and Europe. In 2024, European airports welcomed over 5 billion passengers, a 7.4% increase from 2023, and exceeded 2019 levels by 1.8%.
Bry-Air Celebrates 60 Years of Innovation and Sustainability
New Delhi, 28th February 2025 – Bry-Air, a global leader in dehumidification and environmental control solutions, celebrates its 60th anniversary, marking six decades of innovation, technological advancement, and sustainability. As a flagship company of the Pahwa Group, Bry-Air’s cutting-edge, energy-efficient products and solutions touch people’s lives around the clock globally.
Founded in 1964 in the USA by Art Harms as an offshoot of Bryant, a division of Carrier Corporation that manufactured desiccant-based dehumidifiers, Bry-Air is today a global leader in adsorption-based technologies.
At Bry-Air, energy efficiency and sustainability are not mere futuristic goals rather very pertinent present-day frameworks on which all its products and solutions are based on. With continuous advancement in material science, today Bry-Air has managed to push the boundaries of adsorption based technologies to create the most cutting edge products. In the month of October 2024 itself, Bry-Air filed 7 patents for its future technologies. Today, Bry-Air is poised to enter new domains such as Carbon Capture, NMP Recovery and Air to Water Generators for Green Hydrogen. These technologies are revolutionary in solving the most pressing issues like climate change.
Within the existing domain of Dehumidification, Bry-Air is set to break new grounds in energy efficiency as it reaches rotor regeneration temperature at 80 degree Celsius significantly reducing the operational cost of running a dehumidifier. Additionally, its Low Dew Point Dehumidifiers are setting new standards in dehumidification for Lithium-ion Cell manufacturing globally.
All its technology, both current and future, is designed to deliver maximum output with least amount of energy consumption, making it the most sustainable and energy efficient choice. With Carbon Capture, Bry-Air is looking to create solutions to actively remove carbon from the atmosphere and with Air Water Generation it will not only help the water scare areas but also participate in the Green Hydrogen revolution.
With a strong commitment to reducing the global carbon footprint, Bry-Air integrates sustainability in every aspect of its operations—from product design and manufacturing facilities to corporate responsibility initiatives. Through relentless innovation, the company ensures that industries worldwide benefit from energy-saving solutions that enhance operational efficiency while preserving natural resources.
Mr. Deepak Pahwa, Chairman of the Pahwa Group and Managing Director of Bry-Air, shared his thoughts on this momentous occasion: “It is a moment of great pride to complete 60 years in the industry. Our continuous innovations have resulted in 84 patents, and we look forward to the next decades of progress through a wider reach. Our focus remains on innovating and empowering our product offerings to meet the changing dynamics of the market with a strong customer focus and an eye on the future.
Staying true to our commitment, our offerings transcend commercial and industrial applications and go a long way in addressing the pressing issue of climate change. As a responsible organization, we are making significant strides aimed at reducing energy consumption across industries with the help of our pioneering adsorption technologies and are determined to keep innovating in the future as well.”
Momentum Index Funds Attract Investors as Confidence in Factor Investing Grows
Bangalore, 28 February, 2025 – Momentum investing has gained strong traction, driven by the growing interest in factor-based index funds. The National Stock Exchange (NSE) now offers 31 factor-based indices, reflecting the rising demand from mutual funds.
Factor investing relies on persistent return drivers such as momentum, low volatility, and value, enabling investors to gain exposure to stocks with specific characteristics that historically influence returns. The Nifty Midcap 150 Momentum 50 index, for instance, tracks the top 50 stocks from the Nifty Midcap 150 index selected based on their Normalized Momentum Score.
Over the past four months, the market has experienced corrections and remained volatile. Most major indices have posted negative returns during this period, erasing all year-to-date gains. Despite this sustained market turbulence, index funds tracking the Nifty Midcap 150 Momentum 50 index have continued to attract inflows.
The Tata Nifty Midcap 150 Momentum 50 index fund is one such fund underscoring the rising traction of momentum investing. In 2024, inflows into this fund through digital and direct channels tripled year-on-year to ~Rs 500 crore from 199 cities. In Delhi, inflows surged to over ~Rs 27 crore in 2024, a sharp rise from ~Rs 1.25 crore in 2023, while new PAN registrations in the fund jumped to 169 from just 15. Similar strong inflows and new investor participation were observed in Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Chennai. (Source: Internal Data)
“Momentum investing allows investors to capitalise on strong price trends while eliminating emotional bias. The Tata Nifty Midcap 150 Momentum 50 Index Fund provides a disciplined approach to factor investing, balancing risk and reward. Given its track record and the historical resilience of midcap stocks, investors may consider allocating a portion of their portfolio to this strategy for potential long-term gains,” said Anand Vardarajan, head of passive investment at Tata Asset Management.
Mr. Kapil Menon manages the Tata Nifty Midcap 150 Momentum 50 index fund, which was launched in October 2022.
With the increasing adoption of factor investing and the momentum-based strategies, the Tata Nifty Midcap 150 Momentum 50 Index Fund stands as an option for investors seeking to enhance portfolio diversification.
South Indian Bank Launches SIB QUICKPL A Fully Digital Personal Loan Platform
Kochi, 28 Feb 2025: In a move to make personal financing faster and more accessible, South Indian Bank (SIB) has launched “SIB QUICKPL”, an in-house Digital Personal Loan platform designed exclusively for new customers. The innovative platform enables both salaried and self-employed individuals with good credit profiles to avail unsecured personal loans through a fully digital, paperless process in just 10 minutes, and the money gets credited to a Savings account with any bank in India.
South Indian Bank has been offering Pre-approved personal loans to its existing customers through digital channels, which could be availed in less than a minute, since 2019. This time, SIB has leveraged the digital infrastructure of the country to develop a seamless platform to serve the customers’ needs. With “SIB QUICKPL”, securing a personal loan is now as simple as a few clicks. The entire process is fully digital and paperless, with no requirement for document uploads, as it leverages the Account Aggregator framework and integrates directly with the Income Tax portal for seamless verification.
Explaining more about the initiative, Mr. Sanchay Sinha, CGM & Head – Retail Assets said, “SIB QUICKPL reflects our vision of blending trust with technology. While our customers have always trusted our service levels, through the platform, we are offering seamless financial solutions to new customers. We are confident that the initiative will provide people with the financial power to fulfil their dreams and aspirations. The platform is yet another milestone in our journey of digital transformation as we endeavour to offer quick, transparent, and customer-friendly financing options tailored to the modern Indian’s dynamic lifestyle.”
Laiqa Launches AI-Driven Wellness App for Women’s Hormonal Health
Gurugram, 28th February 2025: Gurugram-based femtech start-up, Laiqa, is set to redefine women’s wellness with the launch of its pioneering health app, LAIQA, on February 10th, 2025. Designed to address hormonal imbalances and related health concerns such as PCOS, thyroid disorders, gut health, sleep, stress, and weight management, LAIQA integrates the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda with cutting-edge AI technology, offering a holistic and personalized approach to women’s well-being.
LAIQA is not just an app—it is a personalized expert, a constant companion, and an unwavering support system for every woman navigating the complex journey of hormonal health. From the onset of the first menstrual cycle to postmenopausal wellness, LAIQA evolves with its users, offering tailored guidance to help women achieve optimal health. Whether it’s balancing hormones, managing PCOS, regulating periods, alleviating menstrual discomfort, supporting fertility and pregnancy, or navigating menopause, LAIQA ensures that every woman’s health journey is empowered and well-informed.
Women’s health is dynamic, deeply personal, and often underserved. LAIQA redefines hormonal wellness by integrating advanced AI-driven analysis with Ayurvedic principles to offer women unprecedented insights into their health. Utilizing non-invasive methods to assess hormonal patterns, the app provides personalized, science-backed recommendations that help women take charge of their well-being.
One of LAIQA’s standout features is Cycle-Synced Wellness, which aligns nutrition, fitness, and self-care routines with a woman’s natural hormonal rhythms, ensuring optimal balance throughout her cycle. The app’s AI-Powered Insights use sophisticated algorithms to analyze hormonal patterns, offering tailored recommendations for diet, lifestyle, and stress management. Additionally, Expert-Led Support provides instant access to a diverse panel of doctors, Ayurveda specialists, and nutritionists for holistic health guidance.
For women focusing on fertility and pregnancy, Fertility & Pregnancy Health offers customized tracking and expert insights, supporting pre-conception wellness, pregnancy care, and postnatal recovery. Meanwhile, those approaching menopause can benefit from Menopause Management, which provides tailored nutrition, fitness, and mindfulness strategies to ease symptoms and improve overall well-being.
The app also incorporates Prakriti-Vikriti Analysis, identifying an individual’s natural constitution (Prakriti) and current imbalances (Vikriti) to create a personalized health roadmap. To enhance menstrual health, LAIQA features a Menstrual Wellness Questionnaire (MWQ) that tracks hormonal fluctuations, helping women identify patterns and symptoms for improved cycle health.
By addressing critical gaps in hormonal health management, fertility, and menopause care, LAIQA is pioneering a new, personalized approach to women’s well-being. The app is more than just a wellness tracker—it’s a scientific guide, a supportive community, and a revolution in self-care.
Commenting on the launch, Monica Bindra, Harmeet Bindra, and Meenakshi Singh, Co-founder of Laiqa, said, “With LAIQA, we are introducing a transformative approach to women’s wellness—one that merges ancient Ayurvedic wisdom with state-of-the-art AI to deliver personalized, science-backed health insights. Our vision is to equip women with the tools and knowledge they need to take control of their hormonal health confidently, ensuring that they feel supported at every stage of life.”
The LAIQA app not only prioritizes physical health but also emphasizes emotional and mental wellness by comprehensively tracking mood and energy levels. With an unwavering commitment to continuous innovation, Laiqa aims to foster a supportive community where women can share experiences, seek expert guidance, and embrace holistic well-being. Future updates to the app will integrate user feedback, further enhancing its capabilities.
Maha Shivratri Celebration at Anand Dham Ashram with Sudhanshu Ji Maharaj
New Delhi, India – The Maha Shivratri Mahotsav at Anand Dham Ashram witnessed an overwhelming turnout of devotees who gathered to experience the divine synergy of Lord Shiva and Goddess Shakti through Shiv Katha, Rudrabhishek, Maha Rudra Yagna, Shiv Dhyan, Shobha Yatra and Shiv Tarang. Under the spiritual guidance of Pujya Sudhanshu Ji Maharaj and Dr. Archika Didi, the event celebrated the cosmic balance between Shiva’s stillness and Shakti’s divine dynamism. Soon the event transformed into a sacred confluence of devotion, wisdom and divine grace.
The event was a soul-stirring experience where devotees engaged in powerful prayers, Vedic rituals and devotional chants, all dedicated to seeking the divine blessings of Shiva and Shakti. The air resonated with the rhythmic sound of mantras, filling the hearts of all present with peace, positivity, and devotion.
Reflecting on the essence of Maha Shivratri, Pujya Sudhanshu Ji Maharaj shared:
“Maha Shivratri is not just a festival, it is a cosmic phenomenon where Shiva and Shakti unite in divine harmony. Shiva represents stillness, while Shakti is the force that moves the universe. When we align with this energy, we experience transformation, bal
The divine essence of the event was further enriched by the esteemed presence of Shri Karnail Singh Ji (MLA, Shakurpur Basti, Delhi, Bharatiya Janata Party) and Shri Ghanshyam Gupta Jaweri (National President, Khatu Shyam Mandir, Delhi) who graced the occasion with their reverence and devotion.
Key Highlights of the Maha Shivratri Mahotsav
Grand Rudrabhishek
One of the most sacred rituals, Rudrabhishek, was performed on 1.25 lakh Parthiv Shivlings which is meticulously crafted from the sacred soil of the Narmada River. Amidst continuous Vedic chanting, devotees offered milk, ghee, honey, and Belpatra to invoke Lord Shiva’s divine tranquility and Goddess Shakti’s boundless energy.
Maha Rudra Yagna
The Maha Rudra Yagna which is known for its immense power to remove negativity and attract divine energies, saw thousands of devotees offering oblations into the holy fire. The flames of the Yagna are believed to burn away past karmas and align one’s life with the grace of both Shiva and Shakti.
Soulful Shiv Katha and Devotional Discourses
Pujya Sudhanshu Ji Maharaj and Dr. Archika Didi enlightened devotees with the profound wisdom of Shiv Katha. They narrated how Lord Shiva and Goddess Shakti complement each other. Their discourses beautifully explained how Shiva, the infinite consciousness, finds expression through Shakti, the universal energy. A balance that every soul must seek to attain spiritual awakening and inner harmony.
The Mesmerizing Maha Aarti & Shiv Darshan
As the evening culminated, the majestic Maha Aarti was performed at the Sumeru Parvat and Mansarovar Lake in the ashram premises. The sight of 1.25 lakh glowing diyas, reflecting on the sacred waters beautifully symbolized the eternal radiance of Shiva and Shakti. All the devotees stood in awe and got deeply immersed in the spiritual energy of the divine union.
The Maha Shivratri Mahotsav was not just a gathering, it was a celebration of cosmic unity, devotion, and self-transformation. Thousands of devotees chanted, meditated, and prayed together. This created an atmosphere of immense spiritual power. The celebration brought forth the divine play of Shiva’s wisdom and Shakti’s creative force, leaving all in a state of inner balance and deep spiritual fulfillment.
Devotees left the ashram feeling rejuvenated, blessed, and deeply connected to the divine energy of Shiva and Shakti, carrying forward the sacred teachings and blessings received on this divine night