The 5 ways to Boost your Human Assets in Hospitality

One of the biggest industries in the world, hospitality is dynamic and is growing as more and more people have money and are ready (and able) to enjoy travel, leisure, and dining activities.However, as a result of this ongoing expansion, HR departments in the hotel industry face a variety of challenges, from keeping top performers to finding enough qualified individuals to fill the positions. A little over 70% of employees in the hotel sector change jobs annually, which is a shockingly high rate when you consider that experts generally believe that the norm for other industries is between 10-15%.Unrealistic employment expectations, low pay, demanding work, irregular hours, repetitive jobs, lack of job security, poor supervisors, a lack of routine, a toxic work environment, and little prospects for advancement are all factors.Even though recruiters must employ a number of specialised tactics to counteract these factors and find candidates who can do the job successfully and fit into the corporate culture, the HR department’s function extends beyond simple hiring.Assuring employee satisfaction, career development opportunities, and training where appropriate, resolving payroll concerns, and creating benefits programmes where feasible are all responsibilities of HR in the hospitality sector.Some Proposed ways to protect the HR in Hotels. A welcoming workplaceHR in the hospitality industry should collaborate with senior management (and sometimes even the legal department) to establish an environment where each employee feels valued and welcomed.Having a diverse staff does not automatically result in inclusion; you must actively work to achieve this goal. Additionally, when you have an inclusive workplace, your business is better able to adapt, be creative, and attract top talent because your employees want to work in the environment you foster.Track performanceUsing workforce or people analytics, for example, you can learn how your staff are doing. You’ll have the ability to identify issues quickly and effectively. By keeping an eye on the data gathered, HR professionals will be able to see trends as they emerge, identify churn points where recurrent employees are departing, and put strategies in place to address any of these problem areas.Build Incentive programsThe pay in the hospitality sector isn’t always excellent, and there’s not necessarily much you can do to influence the pay itself. Consider how you might express gratitude to your staff in your HR function in the hotel industry. According to numerous studies, Generation Z and millennials prefer to work for organisations that provide them with benefits and incentives rather than just a salary.Cultivate your talentUnquestionably, training and development are essential incentives. By developing a plan for your staff members’ personal and professional growth, you may considerably enhance your HR in the hospitality industry. By supporting the future careers of your employees, you will show that you have faith in their ability to perform in the not-too-distant future.Encouragement for employee retention can be greatly aided by having faith in workers and providing for their professional growth. But developing talent doesn’t always entail enrolling staff members in training programmes. It can be as easy and affordable as developing a work environment where respect and growth are valued and where employees feel secure speaking up and valued.Communicate clearlyToo often, businesses believe their workers are mind readers who intuitively comprehend the corporate strategy, but this isn’t the case. Make sure you keep your staff informed on corporate developments, both positive and negative. Treat your staff with respect and you’ll gain theirs in return. Also, don’t forget to get their opinions about the workplace. By doing this on a regular basis, you will stop rumours in their tracks, eliminate time-wasting misunderstandings (ranging from strategic company directives to tactical employee shift plans), improve employee performance because they will know what is expected of them, and have a clearer understanding of your company’s identity, including its values and goals.

Revenge shopping

Shopping is an activity which is favourite of each one of us. It is said that many people find shopping, a way to relieve stress .  But what if someone is not able to shop for months or years due to some constraints as it recently happened due to Covid -19. After an endless quarantined period and business closures, consumers faced a lot of pent-up emotions. People were quarantined for more than a year, working from home, wearing same old clothes and of course no makeup looks . After the restrictions were lifted, they were left with only solution that is – Revenge shopping. Revenge shopping is consumers compensating for lost time by multiplying their spending. When customers participate in revenge shopping, after maintaining restraint for months, they choose to spend extravagantly on magnificient items, to make up for the “lack of luxury” they’ve experienced lately. Today, customers all over the world are opting to buy luxury products from brands like Gucci, Hermès, and Chanel and plan expensive vacations  because they’ve been unable to do either over the past 2 years due to the pandemic.  The concept of revenge shopping has already proven true in China. In the year 2020, the French brand Hermes’ Guangzhou flagship store in China reportedly did $2.7 million in sales on the day it reopened in April. This is the biggest single-day shopping at a luxury outlet of Hermes in China . Long queues, fuelled by revenge spending sprees, have been seen outside outlets of brands such as Apple, Nike, Gucci,in Chinese cities. Others luxury brands have also seen the sale surge upto 40-45% in the first two quarters of 2020 as compared to pre pandemic scenario. But revenge against whom or what? Maybe the restrictions of lockdown, living a forced austere life have made consumers eager to jump back into spending.  It also occurs when a customer could not get access to certain goods for a period of time, suddenly now have access and consumer starts buying it impulsively. One such example can be seen when Maggi got banned in 2015 . When it came back, it made a great entry In 2019, Nestle sold  264,000 mt of Maggi products, compared to 254,500 mt in 2014. Maggi lovers were buying or stocking Maggi just because there was a fear of missing out. It is worth noting that millions of people have lost their jobs during covid -19 and still facing economic crisis but there is a huge chunk in society who could save more during lockdown because they could not go out and spend their earnings. After a year spent mostly indoors, with no parties to attend or hot restaurants to crowd into, people started spending exorbitantly to refresh their wardrobes, to avenge what they were denied earlier. For instance in USA, people had excess savings worth $1.7 trillion and in France , people were able to save $66 billion  during the lockdown more than usual. Here the question arises – will India have a revenge shopping spree too?  Well, India’s 1/4th population belong to middle class group and top brands generally attract high income segments or upper middle class. As and when the fear of this pandemic declines, high income segment in India will also start spending for luxuries like USA and China. To conclude, we can say that Revenge shopping is a key driver for retailers after the pandemic and is most likely the only hope that most of them are keeping to recover from pandemic losses.

NETWORKING

Networking means interconnection of multiple computers .In which all computer can communicate with each other. All nodes can send and receive data in networking with easy way. Users can send data in networking with different types. There are four types of networking LAN,MAN,PAN,WAN and with the help of these types user can do their  work easily. We can see number of types in networking with different shapes. These  can use for different place to do work efficiently like, home ,office and buildings each type use for particular place and all types have their own ability & cost.  Local Area Network is a group of computers connected to each other in a small area such as building, office. It is less costly and it is built with less expensive hardware like hubs, network adapters, and Ethernet cables and with the help of LAN data can transfer in less time. Local Area Network provides more security. For example –A school network. Personal Area Network is a network that can cover a range of 10 meters. Personal Area Network is used for connecting the computer devices of personal use is called Personal Area Network. Mostly, it can use for personal device and wireless technologies. Bluetooth is best example of PAN which we use to connect Smartphone and laptops. A metropolitan Area network is a network that covers a larger area and also we can called wide area network it can use in hospitals, offices and large buildings also in cloud storage. For example – Internet which is use in world. File sharing –In this we can easily share data between different users with the help of file sharing. For example –Record of any person. Resource sharing –  It is use for network-connected with other devices like printers, scanners and copiers, and sharing software. When we send a file for printing on that time we use resource sharing. There are multiple types of resource we can share like any file . . Ring Topology– It is type of network  topology . Which each device connect with each other in the form of ring. All devices are connecting with the coaxial cable and data is transferred in one direction as ring. Token ring is a good example of ring. Mesh topology– A mesh topology is use for local area network .In this topology nodes connect directly with each other in a mesh form with the help of mesh topology data can send directly to other nodes in any direction. Star topology– in this topology all devices are connecting with central nodes in star form. All nodes are connected with central device .The center nodes can be hub or switch. Which handle all nodes and complete their requirement which give by other connected nodes. Fully connected- It is a combination of two or more network topologies is called fully connected topology. All nodes are connected with each other in any direction. But take more time to complete their task. Line topology-In this topology host can connect directly with all nodes with the help of bus line called line topology. It use single cable and give response fast. Tree topology – All nodes are connected in the tree form in tree topology and all nodes connected with central node.

Modernization of Punjabi Culture

Introduction The Punjabi culture is the richest culture of India. The Punjabi culture represents the royalty in dressing of Punjabis and simplicity in their livings. Punjabi’s are energetic in living although their dances are full of energy as well as grace and there folk music and folk dance is full of energy and power. Punjabi Cuisine Punjabi cuisine is full of spices. There food is full of proteins and fats as they used to do energetic works in crop fields. Some examples of their food are: Modernization of Cuisine People usually start eating western food instead of traditional food. Due to which the originality of Punjabi cuisine is somewhere concerned. Punjabi Folk Dances Punjab state has about seven folk dances. These folk dances are divided according to geographical regions of Punjab. Gidha A famous folk dance of Punjab is performed by Punjabi woman. This dance form is performed at all occasions of happiness whether there is any marriage, anniversary or there is any birth occasion. Sammi A famous dance form of Punjabi woman. This is a folk dance of lower community of Punjab. This dance form represents story of a girl, whose beloved was left her. This dance form is of Sandalbaar region of Punjab. Luddi A famous folk dance of Punjabi woman performed on the beat of Dhol. Kikkali A famous folk dance of Punjabi Girls. This folk dance is performed by small girls in circular form.   Bhangra A famous dance form of Punjabi men. This is very energetic dance form performed on the beat of Dhol. Malwai Gidha A famous dance form performed by Punjabi men. This is a dance form of Malwa region of Punjab. Jhoomar A famous dance form of Punjabi men of Lower cast. This dance form is of Sandalbaar region of Punjab.                          Modernization of Folk dance The traditional folk dances were performed with grace and purity. But by the modernization effect, the steps of folk dances are remixed with western dance- Pop- up, Rock, Salsa etc. Due to modernization the originality of dance is vanished. These dances are become the beauty of stages and are only performed occasionally. Punjabi Folk Music Punjab has abandoned treasure of Folk music. Punjabi folk music not only represents music but also represents story telling. Some famous folk songs of Punjab are: Modernization of Punjabi Music The Punjabi folk music is mostly affected by Modernization. The Punjabi pure folk is remixed now a days with raps. The traditional folk music was performed on the beat of Dhol and Dholki. But the modern music is performed on DJ mixes. Punjabi Costumes Punjabi costumes are rich in look, vibrant in colors and comfortable to wear. Some Punjabi costumes are: Modernization of Punjabi Costumes A major part of modernization is affected Punjabi costumes. The youth of Punjab is attracted toward western costumes. They are forgetting their own Punjabi Costumes. These costumes are now became only the beauty of stages and occasions.

Methods of cooking

Introduction The different cooking method is important because there is a relationship between cooking methods, the expected result, and the best types of food to use. For example, it is hard to complete a recipe successfully for poached salmon if one does not know what poaching means. If you understand how a cooking methods works, you can choose the best foods to use with what method. These days with the advent of technology and new equipment, there are many ways of cooking available, which are not necessarily the method of cooking; but can be describe as mode of cooking. Moist Heat method. Moist Heat Cooking method means using the water for making dishes. The word Blanching comes from the  French word Blanc, Blanching actually is not a direct method of cooking , this is the preliminary process followed to prepare the food which would eventually undergo another method of cooking . Blanching is incomplete without ‘Shocking or Refreshing, – a term used the commodity is brought straight from the boiling liquid and plunged into cold water to arrest the cooking, Brighten the colour and preserve the nutrition  of that particular ingrident. Poaching can be defined as a moist cooking process in which food is gently simmered in the liquid, which is brought to, and maintain at a temperature just 70 to 96 C. poaching is that method of coking where a food commodity is simmered in a liquid.  Steaming is one of the most commonly used methods of cooking, especially these days when people are more conscious about their health. It is a principle of cooking where the food is placed over boiling water and is covered with a lid to trap the steam 4 . Boiling.   Water boils at 100 C and that becomes obvious when we talk about the principle of cooking called Boiling. The food gets by convection currents in hot water and this includes all the variants such as Blanching, Steaming, and  Poaching, therefore there are no Maillard reactions. 5 . Braising.   Braising is a long, slow, gentle, and moist process during which commodities particularly covered with a liquid in an container in an oven.  Stewing may be defined as a long slow, gentle, and moist cooking process, during which small, tough, second grade quality meats are made tender and palatable this is generally true but in real sense stewing refers to cooking a food commodity in its own natural juices. Dry Heat metod.  Dry heat cooking method means the food item are cooked in oil and fat. Water and stock are not used in this cooking process. 2 . Frying.  Frying is probably the faster cooking method used in the kitchen. It also involves cooking of only prime quality food. Where emphases is lid on the cuts, as it directly affect the product. Baking is a cooking principle which is applied only in Bakery, confectionery, and patisserie, which would essentially be flour-based products. There are few exceptions as some potatoes are baked with their skin and something pastas are also baked.

INDIAN CUISINE

Indian food is very much varied as its culture and people. Indian food is influenced by its religious, customs and traditions. In every region, techniques of cooking change the flavor of food. It is a country where the climate conditions are very different and varied. Indian dishes are very popular all over the world for its taste and variety. There are so many people who travel a long distance to just have taste of it. There are so many things that we could not forget about India, one of them is tasty dishes. TYPES OF INDIAN REGIONAL CUISINES NORTH INDIA North India covers a large part of the country including the state of Kashmir, Rajasthan, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. The staple diet of the people living in these areas is rice, pulses and vegetables. Only the difference is the methods of preparations of the food. There are also some special recipes from every region which are famous throughout the country like from Rajasthan Dal Bati Churma, from Uttar Pradesh kebab, from Punjab sarson ka saag and Makki di roti. WEST INDIA West India shows a very different cuisine than rest of India. The famous food from the state is Goa, Gujarat and Maharashtra. West India offers us variety of dishes because there is a considerable difference between the people of the three states. Dhokla from Gujarat, bhel puri and pav bhaji from Maharashtra and all the sea food from Goa delights us with their distinct and delicious taste. SOUTH INDIA South India has a different cuisine from the North, East or West Indian cuisine. The people from southern Indian state of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh eat both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. There are lots of recipes from south India that are popular not with the Indians only but most of the foreigners as well. Some of these recipes include idli, dosa, upma, pongal and sambar. These dishes delight our taste and flavor.   EAST INDIA East India includes the state of Bihar, Jharkhand, west Bengal, Orissa and seven north eastern states. Variety of crops is grown up here for making different dishes. For e.g. Bengalis are more fond of macher jhol as compared to the people living in other two states. Bengal is also famous for its sweets likesandesh, rasgulla etc. Non-vegetarian food forms a major part of this cuisine. SOME POPULAR CUISINES OF INDIA PUNJABI CUISINE Punjabis are basically farmers and the cuisine is not highly stylized. The state is blessed with fertile soil and hardworking farmers so all types of vegetables, fruits and spices are grown here.  Punjab is famous for its delicious meals. People love to eat Punjabi food. Punjab is known for its delicious, spicy and tasty food. Sarson da saag and makki di roti, sweet lassi, butter chicken, aloo da prantha, rajma chawal are very famous dishes from Punjab. It is said that people eat to live but Punjabi’s live to eat. RAJASTHANI CUISINE Rajasthan is not only famous for its courageous kings but also for its traditions and rare cuisine. Major Dishes of a Rajasthani meal may include daal baati, Rabdi, ghevar, besan ke gatte, panchkoota, laapsi, kadhi and boondi. Typical snacks from Rajasthan include Bikaner Bhujia. Bikaner is famous for its namkeen products. The famous Haldiram started his namkeen business from Bikaner. Mirchi bada and pyaaz kachori. Dal baati is the most popular dish prepared in this state. JAMMU AND KASHMIRI CUISINE Kashmiri food is a blend of Indian, Iranian and Afghani cuisine. They use ‘WAZWAN’ style of cooking which is mostly non vegetarian and is cooked in a lot of spices. The state of J&K is not just paradise for the tourist even its food also being loved by tourist. Some of the famous food from J&K is Rajma chawal, Dum aaloo, Rogan josh etc. Kahwa (A green tea made with saffron, spices and almonds or walnuts) is a specialty of Kashmir. GUJARATI CUISINE Gujarati cuisine is one of the oldest cuisines of India and is primarily vegetarian. It offered a wide variety of vegetarian dishes, each with its unique and different cooking style. Different kinds of pickles, farsana, chutneys and food are prepared in Gujarat that is always high in nutritional value. Famous dishes from Gujarat are Gujarati Kadhi, Gujarati samosa, Khandvi, Uundhyu, Aam shrikhand with mango salad, dhokla, dal dhokli, methi ka thepla. Khaman is a popular Gujarati snack. 

FASHION 9 to 5

What is the office uniform code? The office dress code refers to the level of formality you can wear to work. Most organizations don’t write rules about what their employees should wear. Instead, use generic terms such as “business professional,” “business suit,” “business casual,” and “casual.” By learning more about these categories and determining which categories apply to your workplace, you can excel in the way you dress.  How to Dress Like a Business Professional Professionalism In business is the most conservative dress code in the office. This traditional business attire is everyday work wear in industries such as finance, banking, government and law. A suit or trousers and a button-down shirt (usually with a tie) or a pencil skirt and knee-length blazer are business attire requirements. Beautiful ballet flats, loafers and oxfords are also suitable. How to dress respectfully to work A professional version of business attire is a suit. Black suit or skirt, shirt and dress shoes. Neckties and square pockets must be silk. Complete the look with a minimal belt and simple jewellery or cufflinks. How to Dress Casually for Work Business attire doesn’t necessarily mean casual. How to Dress Casually for Business  Business casual doesn’t necessarily mean casual. It means you don’t actually have to wear a suit and tie. Business casual work attire typically includes a collared shirt (buttoned-up or polo shirt) or sweater over, trousers, khakis, chinos, or a pencil skirt underneath. You can add a blazer or sport coat, but you don’t necessarily need a tailored jacket. Whether you choose boots, heels, flats, moccasins, mules or oxfords, your footwear should be closed and professional. How to Dress Casually at Work   A casual office dress code is less strict than a business dress code, but that doesn’t mean you have to dress as casually as you do outside of work. To maintain a professional look for everyday wear, look for button-down shirts, solid colour blouses and t-shirts, and dark or black jeans with no rips or holes. Clean sneakers are fine, but wear closed-toe shoes and always avoid slippers. Casual and smart casual at work   Smart casual is an upgraded version of casual that is generally more suitable for job interviews, customer meetings, and casual workplace events. For the smart casual dress code, wear trendy items such as work clothes, blazers and stylish shoes. To feel satisfied and productive in your career, your work environment must match your personality type. A professional environment should provide a positive atmosphere characterized by effective communication, appropriate resources and career opportunities. Diverse working environment  The work environment is also influenced by values, personality type, and work type. Here are six types of work environments suitable for a variety of people and professions. 1. Working environment of general experts  A typical work environment is well-structured and organized and includes systematic activities such as working with data and numbers. These environments are characterized by routine, stability, tradition, and well-defined rules and procedures. This work environment typically includes office work and regular hours. Jobs that fit well in the work environment of the competition:  Key Roles: the Minister, also known as the Administrative Secretary, performs administrative tasks such as registration, answering calls, sending e-mails and faxes, keeping records and organizing courier services. Because these professionals typically work at the company’s front desk, they also greet and assist customers, so you must act professionally and respectfully at all times. This task requires organizational, communication, and computer skills. Managers typically work 40 hours per week, with very little overtime. 2. Entrepreneurial Professional Work Environment  Entrepreneurial work environments focus on achieving organizational and financial goals and typically include activities such as persuasion, management, and selling. These environments are characterized by competition, achievement, power, money, competition, and may include activities such as sales and management.  People who thrive in such work environments are usually outgoing, ambitious, and assertive. Tasks compatible with this environment:  Key Role: Sales managers lead the organization’s sales department. Their responsibilities include hiring new sales staff, planning sales strategies, mentoring and training employees, preparing budgets and managing costs. Sales managers need good interpersonal, leadership and communication skills as they have to work not only with their own team, but also with other departments such as marketing, customers and suppliers. 3. Work environment for social experts  The social work environment is people-centred and includes activities related to teaching, guiding, healing, and understanding people. You must have great communication, language and interpersonal skills. These environments may include working in an office, working in the field, consulting with clients, teaching at a school or university, or working in a hospital. Tasks in this category:  Key Role: Social workers help communities and people facing challenges in everyday life, such as unemployment, abuse, poverty, addiction, or divorce. For example, in the case of child abuse, a social worker may step in and arrange for the child to be removed and placed in foster care.  These professionals require good interpersonal and communication skills, as well as empathy and emotional intelligence. Social workers may work in offices, schools, or visit clients and communities. 4. Work environment for creative professionals  The artistic work environment is unplanned and emphasizes freedom of expression, creativity, aesthetics, imagination and originality. People who are drawn to such environments are generally unconventional, free-spirited, intuitive, and goal-oriented. These work environments may include theatre productions, musical performances, design work, writing, and artistic creation. Examples of tasks in this category:  Key role: Fashion designers are creative people who study fashion trends and create their own clothes or accessories. Their work includes sketching new designs and building first prototypes that include pattern making, fabric selection, sewing, and fitting. Working independently, fashion designers are expected to promote their creations by organizing runway shows and showcasing their work on websites and social media.  These professionals must be creative, visually minded, and have a sense of fashion. They may work for manufacturing companies, they may work full-time or for themselves. This will take a long time and the ability to sell yourself and your designs.  The research environment is focused on math and science and includes problem solving, creative and abstract thinking.  Those who thrive in such an environment are innovative thinkers who prefer to work with their minds rather than deal with… Continue reading FASHION 9 to 5

Digital Marketing Trends-2022

Marketing has always been about interacting with your audience at the good spot and time. That means meeting them where they already spend their most of time: hooked over the internet. In this technological era, we can reach out to our audience digitally as easy as falling off a log. This fusion of digital technology and traditional marketing can do wonders for business houses if use tactfully. Businesses can use digital channels to engage with present and prospective customers, such as search engines, social media, email, and other websites. Communication via text or multimedia communications can also be included. On the contrary we have come a long way with regard to digital marketing tactics and corporates must know the latest trends in digital world to change their basic game of marketing. Every year, we experience new and surprising digital developments that create the groundwork for the future of marketing. Even in a year as turbulent as 2021, we have not been disappointed. Conclusion: Digital marketing has changed the whole traditional scenario of marketing. These emerging trends can give a totally new shape to business profit if chosen wisely.

FASHION TRENDS

Introduction  Fashion trends come and go, while social values become established and characterize their beliefs and culture. Fashion is not an ambitious projected image that reinterprets good old values to fulfill a function or agenda as well, but rather a concept that is evocative and refreshing enough for society to appreciate more instinctively. In society, an individual’s physical appearance even makes us the ticket to communicate signals, such as possible clues about their nonverbal body, values, and lifestyle. Projecting a basic image of how we look and feel and expressing our emotional experience through interactive tools in clothing. The success of fashion trends lies in how society interprets and judges them. Today’s consumer culture is driven by a desire to bridge the gap between the wealthy and the economically unsustainable, for example, when it comes to embracing trends.     2. Modern Consumer Behavior  Modern youth (ages 15-20) are the life makers of fashion trends because of their predictable boldness, propensity to shop, high risk-taking, trial and error, and experimentation. In a globalised world well connected by network technologies, geographic distance is no longer an obstacle to achieving and observing experiences. Rather, the entanglement of populist models and theories helps to better explain the phenomenon. A classic example of this is not following cultural stars and spotlights or rich and wealthy people but being governed by their attitudes and lifestyles when making product purchasing decisions. Today’s world is driven by knowledge and experience, so everyone can experience and appreciate the moment, regardless of their financial situation. Rich people are not the best judges of taste or worth. And knowledge is a common platform on which we compete on an equal footing. In fact, a new line has been drawn between the ignorant and the intellectual, rather than between the rich and the economically weak. 3. The face fashion phenomenon of daily Fashion is not limited to European or Western haute couture but can be divided into haute couture and casual fashion. This unique style is also based on fashion trends, style conventions, and trendy codes of modern life. It is a concept developed by designers and prediction services, street fashion, the evaluation of aesthetic experiences, and observations of social environments. In other words, since appearance is social etiquette and an effective form of non-verbal communication, the purpose is to communicate one’s values in order to make friends or respect them. The social agenda of fashion trends In fact, clothing and fashion have many ideological meanings. Fashion trends reflect the visual culture and clothing styles that shape a consumer’s identity in a given context. In other words, if you set standards, you are giving them the right style and way to dress. This dress code was, in fact, based on social values and emotional expectations of the time. 4. Characteristics of Generation Jeans, nice sneakers, and tousled hair have become the dominant style for many young people, while jeans, nice sneakers, and well-groomed hair have become the dominant style for women. Gen Zers are also called digital natives because they can write, edit documents, post photos on Instagram, and make phone calls all at the same time. Conclusion Attitude is the expression of emotion, and value is the driving force or guide that helps consumers make judgements. When value attitudes towards a product are expressed, consumers are motivated to use the product as a form of self-expression. The pursuit of freedom of expression and unlimited anonymity challenges the very nature of the social agenda of forecasting institutions. As a result, forecasting agencies have introduced a new modeling environment by changing the forecasting parameters. Indulgence is emulating and demonstrating how others interact and make decisions that you and your close teammates value and cherish.

A nation’s culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people.

Indian culture is the heritage of social norms, ethical values, traditional customs, belief systems, political systems that originated in or are associated with its people and its various regions. Indian culture and traditions are something which has now become renowned all across the world. Indian culture is full of several unique customs and traditions, which outsiders might find intriguing. Most of these originate from the Ancient Indian scriptures and texts, which have dictated the way of life in India for thousands of years. Fascinating Indian culture, traditions and customs includes salutation, religious customs, festivals, family structure, symbols, cuisine, food, clothing, dances, epics, mythology and various languages of India. Talking about the very first culture is to greet or the importance of salutation in India. The Namaste is one of the most popular Indian customs and isn’t just restricted to the Indian territory anymore. Presidents of various countries can be seen wishing Namaste at the Times Square in New York on the first International Yoga Day. India also sees a large number of festivals, mainly because of the prevalence of diverse religions and groups. The Muslims celebrate Eid, the Christians have Christmas and good Friday, the Sikhs have Baisakhi (harvesting of crop), and the birthdays of their Gurus and the Hindus have Diwali, Holi, Makar Sakranti, the Jains have Mahavir Jayanti, the Buddhists celebrate the Buddha’s birthday on Buddha Poornima, and quite honestly, the number is endless. Also, in India, there exists the concept of a joint family, wherein the entire family (parents, wife, children and in some cases, relatives) all live together. This is mostly because of the cohesive nature of the Indian society, and also reportedly helps in handling pressure and stress. Further, talking about the ‘Fasting’, it is an integral part of Hindu Culture. Fasts or Vrats or Upvas are a way to represent your sincerity and resolve, or express your gratitude to the Gods and Goddesses.  People throughout the country observe fasts during various religious occasions. Some people also observe fast on different days of a week in favor of a particular God or Goddess associated with that specific day. It is widely believed that by doing so, you are depriving your body of a basic necessity and thus, punishing yourself to cleanse off the sins that you have committed until the day of fast. The rules and regulations of a rapid are in accordance with the particular occasion. The origin of fast probably comes from the Vedic ritual of kindling the sacrificial fire for sacrifice purposes. Since the word ‘upvas’ has been used for denoting both fasts and kindling sacrificial fire, it can be thought that people observed fasts when they had to kindle or rekindle the domestic fires kept in their homes to perform daily sacrifices. Cow, in the Indian culture, is considered to be a Holy animal. She is worshipped as a maternal figure and is a depiction of the bounty of Mother Earth. Lord Krishna, who grew up as cow herder is often depicted as playing his flute among cows and Gopis (milkmaids) dancing to his tunes. Interestingly, Lord Krishna is also known by the name of ‘Govinda’ or ‘Gopala’, which translates to the ‘friend and protector of cow’. Hence, cows have an auspicious significance in Indian Culture and religion. Even Lord Shiva’s trusted vehicle is Nandi- the sacred bull. Thus, feeding a cow or making contributions for cow shelters is of immense religious importance for Indians. The Vedic scriptures, in various verses, have emphasized the need to protect and care for cows. Cows are a source of life-sustaining milk. Even the cow dung is an essential and energy-efficient source of fuel, especially in rural India. Killing the cow or consuming cow meat is considered to be a sin. Hence, several states in India have banned the slaughter of cows by law. Mother cow is, however, not worshipped as other deities. The religion and culture of India appreciate and expresses its gratitude towards this innocent animal who gives back to mother Earth and its people in more than one form. Most temples are located along magnetic wave lines of the Earth, which help in maximising the available positive energy. The copper plate (called Garbhagriha or Moolasthan) buried under the main idol absorbs and resonates this energy to its surroundings. Going to the temple often helps in having a positive mind and garnering positive energies, which in turn lead to healthier functioning. It is also a practice to take off footwear before entering places of worship because they would bring in the dirt to an otherwise cleansed and sanctified environment. The Indian traditions and scriptures contain various signs and symbols which have multiple meanings. For example, the usage of the Swastika, in the Indian context, does not point towards Adolf Hitler or Nazism. It is the symbol of Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles. The arms of the Swastika have various meanings. They signify the four Vedas, the four constellations, or the four primary aims of human pursuit. India is a land of ‘unity in diversity’, and our dances are no different. Different forms of dance(classified as folk or classical) find origin from different parts of the country, and they are a way of representation of the particular culture from which they originate. Eight classical dances, which are classified as Indian classical dances and find a mention in the Hindu Sanskrit text ‘Natyashashtra’ are: All the dances mentioned above forms are a complete dance drama, wherein a dancer or performer narrates an entire story, almost entirely and exclusively through gestures. Such stories are mostly based on the vast Indian mythology. Classical dances in India are strictly classified as and performed according to the rules and guidelines prescribed in the Natyashastra. Just like Classical dances, folk dances in India too originate from different regions of the country. These performances are mostly based on stories which are orally passed on from one generation to the other. Folk dances mainly trace their importance to the rural areas, where performances depict the day to… Continue reading A nation’s culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people.