Monthly Archives: January 2023

Festivals of India – Rongker

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A major spring and harvest festival in northeast India, Rongker is celebrated by the Karbis who were earlier known as the Mikir and are indigenous to the state. The Karbis are a major important ethnic group of Assam in Northeast India, especially in the hill areas of Assam. The Karbis are the primary inhabitants of the Karbi Anglong district. They are also found in the North Kachar district, Kamrup, Nagaon, and Sonitpur districts of Assam. The Karbis are found in the states of Meghalaya, Arunachal, Manipur, and Nagaland.

The festival does have a specific time although it is usually observed at the beginning of the Karbi New year, Thang thang on February 5. Different villages may observe it at different times depending on their convenience. Rongker is celebrated as a Thanksgiving to God for peace, prosperity and a good harvest as well as asking for their assistance to protect them from any evil harm that may happen to the village. It is a post-harvest festival where the community comes together and celebrates with much pomp and gaiety.

The Kurusar or the priest performs prayers and offers animal sacrifices to appease the Karbi deities and seek their blessings for the welfare of the village and its protection from evil entities and natural calamities. The community believes that non-observance of the ritual will invite misfortune upon the village and its inhabitants. It is a yearly religious festival of the Karbis which is performed by every village. Every Karbi village has an allotted place for performing Rongker and every year, villagers across the entire district form a committee to overlook the preparation for Rongker puja. The festival lasts for three days with all villagers contributing in cash and kind as well as donations collected from neighbouring villages to meet the expenses of the rituals.

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10 earthen altars against all the deities are installed on the eastern side of the site where the festival is to be held. They are constructed in a row heading in the south-north direction and named after the deities. The shape of altars is made in such a manner that the respective Gods can rest there comfortably. Although 12 deities are worshipped, only 10 altars are set up. A gourd with a tapering mouth full of the first-made rice beer is placed on the altars in the name of the respective deities and other than that, nothing else is placed on the altars. However, two small branches of bamboo are erected on the altar of Ningding Sarpo, a few branches of Basil and a few bamboo sticks are erected on the altar of Murti and a branch of Fongrong, a kind of tree used for worshipping is placed on the altar of Arlok.

The festival is divided into four major parts. During Sadi, all the deities are invited. In Karkli, the deities are worshipped in two ways – Kibo-Kaba, offering meals to the deities and Koia-abida, which is the offering of areca-nut and betel leaves to the deities. All the menfolk take part in the festival and gather in the particular site in the morning with all items required to worship. The main task is performed by the Kurusar, the main priest, assisted by some other religious specialists, the village headman, an official of the Karbi Kingdom, the youth leader of the village, and a few elderly villagers well-versed in worshipping the deities. It is not mandatory to take bath before performing the rituals but they must be purified by sprinkling water with the leaves of the sacred basil. All the sacrifices are made in the names of the deities except for the deity Bamun, who is vegetarian. Then the thek-kere, the religious specialists predict the future of the village at the heart and intestine of the sacrificed animals. At the end of the ritual, a feast is organised. Rongphu-Rongling-Kangthin is also called the Ajo-Rongker and is performed on the night of the second day. Here, the evil spirits are driven out from the lower to the upper part of the village through dancing. An altar is made at the end of the village road and a chicken is sacrificed in the name of Ajo-Angtarpi. Langhe Rongker is the concluding part of the festival observed on the third day of the festival. It is performed near a ghat by making an altar and sacrificing a cock in the name of Arnam-teke, the tiger god, to prevent tigers from attacking.

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During this festival, some taboos are observed. The taboos include things like prohibiting husking, not allowing females to participate in the festival, no one is allowed to take part in any agricultural activities during the festival and none of the villagers is allowed to leave the village.

Traditional Dance performance like Ritnong chingdi, Nimso kerung, Hacha kekan, Chong kedam take place as well as displays of Indigenous games.

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There is another kind of Rongker performed on a greater scale which is celebrated every five years and is called Wofong Rongker. Wofong Rongker is performed for the well-being of all the people of the villages that fall within a larger jurisdiction and each village is represented by the village headman and several male village elders and is celebrated for two days.

In My Hands Today…

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Contagious: Why Things Catch On – Jonah Berger

What makes things popular? Why do people talk about certain products and ideas more than others? Why are some stories and rumours more infectious? And what makes online content go viral?

If you said advertising, think again. People don’t listen to advertisements, they listen to their peers. But why do people talk about certain products and ideas more than others? Why are some stories and rumours more infectious? And what makes online content go viral?

Wharton marketing professor Jonah Berger has spent the last decade answering these questions. He’s studied why New York Times articles make the paper’s own Most E-mailed List, why products get word of mouth, and how social influence shapes everything from the cars we buy to the clothes we wear to the names we give our children. In this book, Berger reveals the secret science behind word-of-mouth and social transmission. Discover how six basic principles drive all sorts of things to become contagious, from consumer products and policy initiatives to workplace rumours and YouTube videos.

Contagious combines groundbreaking research with powerful stories. Learn how a luxury steakhouse found popularity through the lowly cheese-steak, why anti-drug commercials might have actually increased drug use, and why more than 200 million consumers shared a video about one of the seemingly most boring products there is – a blender. If you’ve wondered why certain stories get shared, e-mails get forwarded, or videos go viral, Contagious explains why, and shows how to leverage these concepts to craft contagious content. This book provides a set of specific, actionable techniques for helping information spread – for designing messages, advertisements, and information that people will share. Whether you’re a manager at a big company, a small business owner trying to boost awareness, a politician running for office, or a health official trying to get the word out, Contagious will show you how to make your product or idea catch on.

Skincare and Makeup Products: Splurge or Spend?

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I normally don’t write about makeup or skincare but have a few exceptions. The first time I did write a post was on my Korean 10-step skincare and today it is an extension of that post. This post was the result of a conversation I had with GG about spending money on skincare. I had some ideas, but wanted to check if what I thought was true or not and decided to check it out more. This blog post is the result of that journey down the rabbit hole. This is my personal opinion and may not be in sync with conventional views.

I have always believed that if one has great skin, then one can get away with minimal or even no makeup. So I would rather invest in skincare rather than makeup mainly because our skin is with us our whole life and showcases our personality. So what are the skincare and makeup products that one should spend money and what should one save on?

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Facial Cleanser: This is a step in that one does not need to spend a lot of money. Any cleanser will stay on your face for a very short time and its only job is to clean the face. So any cleanser that claims to moisturise or give any benefit is just hype, I mean, what benefit can be gotten from a product that stays on the face for less than a minute and is washed off? Just purchase a cleanser that is suitable for your face type which is pocket friendly and get on with your day.
Verdict: Save

Toners: I am on the fence on this one. Toners help balance the skin’s PH level and prepare the skin for the following skincare products and no matter how expensive the product is, the main ingredient is water. So I would say save on this product, but buy the best within your budget, which means don’t buy anything that will strip the moisture from the skin, so nothing with alcohols in it.
Verdict: Save

Serums: Serums have highly concentrated ingredients and are designed to sink into the skin and treat them with a high concentration of active ingredients. They are formulated in smooth and smaller molecules that will penetrate deep into the skin. So the more expensive serums have more potent and effective ingredients like Argan oil, olive oil, hyaluronic acid and green tea that provide visible skin benefits. Using serums consistently should show results and for this reason, it’s better to splurge on serums.
Verdict: Spend

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Eye Creams: Eye creams are used to hydrate the delicate skin around the eyes. The more hydrated the skin there, the fewer wrinkles will appear. A good quality eye cream will work wonders in depuffing this area and so it is better to spend than to save.
Verdict: Spend

Moisturiser: Another product I am on the fence about. When I did some reading to pent this post, almost all suggested that moisturisers should be in the save section, but I feel that it straddles both sections. Something that sits on your face for more than 12 hours a day should be purchased with thought. Moisturisers act as an invisible barrier that allows the skin to maintain its moisture levels, but it does not absorb into the skin. So any decent moisturiser that does the work of hydrating the skin and protects it from the elements and any makeup applied will do. So maybe instead of splurging, spend wisely, buying according to your budget, but not breaking the bank.
Verdict: Save

Sunscreen: Sun damage can cause premature ageing, dehydration, dark spots, and even skin cancer. So, sun protection is essential to protect the skin from sun damage, and putting on sunscreen is essential, especially given today’s climatic conditions. No matter the climate, one must apply it daily to keep the skin free from tanning and other complications later on in life. Some of the more expensive brands use ingredients that contain antioxidants which tend to be less runny and greasy and don’t make the skin oily or give the skin an ugly white cast. Sunscreens should also be selected based on the sensitivity of the skin.
Verdict: Spend

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Sheet Masks: Sheet masks are used as an extra boost or treatment for the skin. Most of them are packed with active ingredients that will give the skin intense hydration in 20 mins. Prices of most sheet masks vary but depending on the need, it may be wiser to save rather than spend. Hydration or blemish control may need a less expensive mask while for anti-ageing masks which need expensive ingredients to work, spending money on them will be better.
Verdict: Save

Lip Balm: An essential product for dry lips, lip balms protect and moisturises lips from cracking and flaking. The skin on the lips is very delicate and thin and needs more care than the rest of the face. Vitamin E, beeswax, and petroleum jelly are the most common ingredients in lip balm. These ingredients are not expensive and in addition, over 80% of lip balms are petroleum jelly based. So one need not spend too much on these products unless the need for a more expensive product is medical.
Verdict: Save

Foundation: With product technology advancing, the foundation is no longer the first step in makeup, but the last step in skincare. According to experts, one should spend on foundations because of the options available at that price point and the technology used. High-quality foundations make the skin look smoother, cover dark spots better, and diminish wrinkles and fine lines, while also incorporating skincare benefits. The best formulation for the face has to be identified based on the skin type so that makeup can go on smoother and the face looks flawless.
Verdict: Spend

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Eyeshadow: Pricier shadows tend to be made with better pigments, will last longer, and blend better. A highly pigmented product will stay on all day, so it’s better to invest in a palette that stays long and withstands tears, sweat, and rain.
Verdict: Spend

Eyeliner: While cheap eyeliners can look the same as the more expensive ones when first applied, the duration of application will prove why cheaper ones should be avoided. These tend to rub or break apart during the day with even the waterproof ones so waterproofed that one will have to scrub the eyes until they’re practically red when trying to take them off.
Verdict: Spend

Mascara: Mascaras have a brief shelf life of a maximum of three months so it’s smart to not spend too much on this product. All mascaras irrespective of their price, tend to dry out quickly, so spending much on them is not advisable. Using a proper brush any mascara that’s available at a decent store, will serve the purpose.
Verdict: Save

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Bronzer/Blusher: Bronzers and blushers give that nice glow and finding the right one is akin for some to find the holy grail. The key to finding the right bronzer and blusher is to know what works best with the skin type. They don’t need a lot to look good, because applying an excess will make one look like a clown.
Verdict: Save

Lipstick/LipGloss: The difference between an expensive glossy lipstick and a simple one is that the former looks prettier on the shelf. Lip products also have a shelf life so one can buy the less expensive ones and go for suitable colours. This also allows to try seasonal trends without spending too much money.
Verdict: Save

Makeup Remover: A powerful makeup remover can soften the makeup instantly making the entire cleaning process quick and easy. If one is using waterproof makeup such as waterproof mascara, gel liner, and lip tint, one will need an oil-based makeup remover. Otherwise, micellar water is a great option. If makeup is not removed properly, then it will lead to problems, so its better to spend than save here.
Verdict: Spend

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Makeup Brushes: Cheap makeup brushes will often shed their bristles on the face, leaving stray hairs that will ruin the foundation and makeup. Spend money and buy good quality brushes because having the right tools and investing in good brushes will ensure the best makeup application. With proper care, they can last years.
Verdict: Spend

So which products do you spend on and where do you save? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so please comment below.

In My Hands Today…

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Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil – John Berendt

Shots rang out in Savannah’s grandest mansion in the misty, early morning hours of May 2, 1981. Was it murder or self-defense? For nearly a decade, the shooting and its aftermath reverberated throughout this hauntingly beautiful city of moss-hung oaks and shaded squares.

John Berendt’s sharply observed, suspenseful, and witty narrative reads like a thoroughly engrossing novel, and yet it is a work of nonfiction. Berendt skillfully interweaves a hugely entertaining first-person account of life in this isolated remnant of the Old South with the unpredictable twists and turns of a landmark murder case.

It is a spellbinding story peopled by a gallery of remarkable characters: the well-bred society ladies of the Married Woman’s Card Club; the turbulent young redneck gigolo; the hapless recluse who owns a bottle of poison so powerful it could kill every man, woman, and child in Savannah; the aging and profane Southern belle who is the “soul of pampered self-absorption”; the uproariously funny black drag queen; the acerbic and arrogant antiques dealer; the sweet-talking, piano-playing con artist; young blacks dancing the minuet at the black debutante ball; and Minerva, the voodoo priestess who works her magic in the graveyard at midnight. These and other Savannahians act as a Greek chorus, with Berendt revealing the alliances, hostilities, and intrigues that thrive in a town where everyone knows everyone else.

2022 Words of the Year

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With the end of yet another year, most dictionaries announce their word of the year. This word sums up how the English language morphed in the preceding 12 months, to recognize a trend in mainstream vernacular and comment on the human condition at that moment in time. So what did the various lexicographers choose as their word for 2022, one that reflects the world around us in that period?

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The Oxford Dictionary which was chosen by the public for the first time is “goblin mode”.
According to Oxford University Press (OUP), publishers behind the Oxford English Dictionary, the slang term refers to a type of behaviour that is unapologetically self-indulgent, lazy, slovenly, or greedy, typically in a way that rejects social norms or expectations – traits that may have become familiar to many during the lockdowns. Social media can portray idealised versions of self-improvement, from waking at 5 a.m. and drinking a green smoothie, to keeping a journal, exercising and planning your weekly meal prep. That era may be on the way out. In its place is goblin mode – the opposite of trying to better yourself.

A group of lexicographers at OUP gave people a choice of: “Goblin mode,” “metaverse,” and “#IStandWith.” “Goblin mode” triumphed, racking up 318,956 votes or 93% of the total. “Metaverse” came in second and “#IStandWith” came third. ‘Goblin mode’ was the most popular word because it resonates with all of us who are feeling a little overwhelmed at this point. It’s a relief to acknowledge that we’re not always the idealised, curated selves that we’re encouraged to present on our Instagram and TikTok feeds. Although first seen on Twitter in 2009, goblin mode went viral on social media in February 2022, quickly making its way into newspapers and magazines after being tweeted in a mocked-up headline. The term then rose in popularity over the months following as Covid lockdown restrictions eased in many countries and people ventured out of their homes more regularly. Seemingly, it captured the prevailing mood of individuals who rejected the idea of returning to ‘normal life’, or rebelled against the increasingly unattainable aesthetic standards and unsustainable lifestyles exhibited on social media.

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Over at Merriam-Webster, gaslighting is their word for 2022. In this age of misinformation, of fake news, conspiracy theories, Twitter trolls, and deepfakes, gaslighting or the act or practice of grossly misleading someone, especially for one’s advantage was looked up 1740% more in 2022 with high interest throughout the year. The word comes from the title of a 1938 play and the movie based on that play, the plot of which involves a man attempting to make his wife believe that she is going insane. His mysterious activities in the attic cause the house’s gas lights to dim, but he insists to his wife that the lights are not dimming and that she can’t trust her perceptions.

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‘Permacrisis’, a term that describes ‘an extended period of instability and insecurity, has been named Collins Word of the Year 2022. It is one of several words Collins highlights that relate to ongoing crises the UK and the world have faced and continue to face, including political instability, the war in Ukraine, climate change, and the cost-of-living crisis. Six words on Collins’ list of ten words of the year are new to CollinsDictionary.com, including ‘permacrisis’.

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At the Cambridge Dictionary, homer, or the informal American English term for a home run in baseball was the word chosen to represent 2022. The word saw more than 65,000 searches for homer on May 5, when it was the answer to that day’s Wordle with 95% of searches outside North America.

I had not heard of Oxford’s word of the year, but I am loving it and I am going to use it as much as I can this year. What is your favourite word of 2022?