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Safed Shamvar at Probartona

What could be the perfect colour to wear this summer? As always, nothing is better than white under the scorching sun. It is always in vogue and Probartana, one of the renowned fashion houses of Dhaka, dresses up in sparkling white this summer.

Once khadi used to be the perfect fabric to encounter the toughest of summers. Probartona is trying to put the item in the limelight once again, which is why Khadi is the chosen fabric for this year's collection. Their designers named it Sofed Shamvar, which include fine khadi, stripe khadi, and more.

Three piece, fatua, panjabi and shirt will not cost more than tk1500 starting from tk400. Exclusive decorations with pin tuck, oyster shell buttons, hand and machine embroidery add an extra appeal to the collection. Probartana is situated at 2/8, Sir Syed Road, Mohammadpur.

Usher in the new year with Anjan's

Season change and Pohela Boishakh…two good reasons for any boutique house to bring out a new collection of clothes. Anjan's is no different. They have a very special Boishakhi line-up for the occasion.

In keeping with the theme of Boishakh, the collection features the traditional white saris with red border in block print and hand paint. There are also cotton saris in other colours, and the price range for all saris is between Tk 350-1150.

There are embroidered, block-printed, and tie-dyed fotuas in silk, cotton, khadi, and georgette, all in many different colours, for both men and women. The women's short kurtis also have matching dupatta and straight pants. The price ranges from Tk 295 to Tk 1150.

There are also cotton salwar kameezes for Tk 995-1895, block and screen-printed T-shirts for Tk 110-130, punjabis for Tk 395-950, and stoles for the punjabis for Tk 150.

The new collection is available at all the Anjan's outlets from April 1 onwards

Pohela Boishakh at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel

It's a day of non-stop fun and frolic, at Sheraton Hotel, as they ring in the Bengali New Year with a Boishakhi Utshob. The "Boishakhi Utshob" will kick off on Pohela Boishakh at Sheraton with the first ray of sunlight. The lobby of Dhaka Sheraton Hotel will be decorated with the traditional theme of Bangladeshi culture. There's food and festivities, with music, and other entertainment. There's even a fortune teller at the lobby. Don't miss out on the traditional phuchka and chanachur that's on offer

The Tea Lounge will serve special Bangladeshi refreshments and pithas such as Patishapta and Bhapa pitha. Bithika Restaurant will mark the occasion with a themed buffet breakfast that includes luchi, puri, khichuri, vegetables, meat curry and chicken bhuna. Lunch at Bithika also follows the Boishakhi theme, with mouthwatering Bangladeshi dishes like kachki, chorchori, shorisha ilish, pangash curry, chingree korolla bhaji, beef kofta, deshi morogh aloo curry, mutton tehari, Sajna dal, Achari chicken tikka, plain rice and nan. Desserts span from rosshomalai to barfi, and shahi tukra.

So, if you want to spend Pohela Boishakh with flair, hurry on over to Sheraton and join in the fanfare.

Padatik celebrates Chaitra Shankranti

Padatik Natya Sangshad is celebrating "Shankranti Utshab 1410". On the day of Chaitra Shankranti (13 April), at 5:30 in the afternoon the celebration will begin amid a colourful kite flying competition. Kite flying will be accompanied by the beats of dhuk-dhol. Biding farewell to the year by children's dance tracks at 6:30 followed by baul songs and more dance tracks. Giti natya "Shojon badiar ghat" by Jashimuddin will be performed. The program will end with shong jatra based on ancient folklores.

Vertical extravaganza

The fourth Vertical, ceramics and wood art exhibition is being held at Jainul gallery at the Fine Arts Institute. Exceptionally good collections of terracota and wood works are being displayed here. A trio of friends came up with this venture to develop indigenous folk motives and styles and present them to the contemporary world in a modern package. Thus their showroom in Aziz market, Shahbag and also their ongoing exhibition, boasts of studio artwork and traditional crafts handmade by literate artists, giving each product a unique style. The show ends on April 14, but before Lifestyle recommends an effort to visit them and you will not be disappointed.

LS Desk

A true taste of Asia by Tommy Miah

Ambot Tik
(A sour and hot dish)
Ingredients:
1/2 Kg fish - shark, catfish or kite fish
salt to taste
10 dried red chillies
1/4 tsp cummin seeds
4 peppercorns
1/2 tps turmeric powder
4 cloves garlic
1/2 inch piece of ginger
a marble sized ball of tamarind mixed in 1 cup of water
1 finely sliced onion
2 tblsp oil
Method:
1. Clean and wash the fish.
2. Cut into small steaks, rub in salt and set aside.
3. Grind all the other ingredients, except the onion, into a fine paste (masala) with a little water.
4. Fry the onion until brown.
5. Add the masala (paste) and fry for a minute.
6. Add 1 cup of water. Bring to boil then add fish.
7. Cook on low heat until tender.
8. A little salt and vinegar may be added if desired. Serve with plain boiled rice

ANDHRA MUTTON BIRIYANI
Ingredients :
8 x Chiles, serrano (or jalapeno stems removed
4 cup Basmati, (or long grain rice)
3 lb Mutton, 1.5" cubes
2 cup Yogurt
1 1/2 x cc Ginger
10 lrg Garlic cloves
2 x Cinnomon stick, 1"
14 x Cloves
10 x Cardomon seeds
10 sm Onions, sliced
1 1/2 cup Ghee
6 cup Water, boiling
1 tsp Turmeric
3 tsp Salt
Method :
1. Wash and soak the rice in water for 1/2 hour.
2. Drain off the water and tie the rice into a cloth.
3. Add the meat to a mixture of the yogurt and 2 tsp salt and set aside.
4. Saute the chillis in 1 TBS ghee
5. Mix the chillis, ginger, garlic, and half the cinnamon, cloves, cardamom together and grind into a fine paste.
6. Rub the ground spices into the meat.
7. Heat half the remaining ghee.
8. Add the meat and spice/yogurt mixture and half the onions and cook over a low fire until the meat is tender.
9. Heat the remaining ghee and add the remaining cinnamon, cloves and cardamom.
10. After they have cooked for a few minutes add the rest of the onions and fry until golden brown.
11. Add the rice and fry it until it is slightly brown.
12. At this point, add the 6 cups boiling water, and then the turmeric and remaining salt.
13. Let the rice mixture cook until the water is almost level with the grains (the rice should be half done by then) and then add the meat and its gravy.
14. Do not mix them, but, after placing a tight lid on the pot, let the biriyani simmer for 15-20 minutes.
15. After this, mix well and serve.

Tips

Magic of Vinegar

Do you know about the magical qualities of vinegar? If you have thought all these years that vinegar is solely used for cooking purposes, then we believe you are mistaken.

This sour liquid has magic abilities to serve so many useful purposes. For instance, vinegar can deter ants. Spray a lot of vinegar around doors, kitchen and along other areas, which are mostly attacked by ants.

If you want to kill the weeds that have thrived in your garden, spray vinegar to kill these unwanted plants.

Vinegar can keep vegetables fresh. You can soak wilted vegetables in 2 cups of water and a tablespoon of vinegar.

The days are sticky now. And to relieve yourself from sunburn, lightly apply white vinegar on the sunburnt areas.

Vinegar also works as a good conditioner for your hair. You can apply vinegar in your hair after each shampoo. Vinegar can also fight dandruff. Rinse your hair with a mixture made from 2 cups of warm water and vinegar after each shampoo.

Vinegar is also great at removing fruit stains from hands.

You can clean your refrigerator with equal amount of water and vinegar.

Onion has a tough smell. To remove odour of onion from your hands, rub vinegar before and after slicing onions.

To Remove tough stains of fruit, jam, mustard, coffee, and tea, gently rub vinegar on the affected area and then wash as usual.

Lastly, you can keep cut flowers fresh and radiant, add 2 tablespoons vinegar and 1 teaspoon sugar for each quart of water.

Vinegar is available in all the superstores and general stores of Dhaka; there are too many brands to choose from, and the price of a bottle costs about tk.20.

By Wara Karim

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Did you know...

That it's always best to wear colours that flatter you, irrespective of what is in fashion. Ochre, mango yellow is a good colour for dark girls and its also popular this season. A suitable shade of orange, like brick red can also be flattering.

That horizontal stripe tends to add width. If you are slim and tall then that won't matter much, but if you are slightly chubby or on the heavier side do not even think of looking at stripes.

Red is a colour that no one should do without. If you are hesitant to wear it as an ensemble, then use it to accessorise your outfit, it gives any drab outfit the much needed pizzazz.

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Outrageous

Army experts guess that at least eight Ak-47 were taken away from the arms cache seized on April 02 in Chittagong. The missing arms may pose a threat to the security of the country. This is of course a matter of anxiety.

A cruel father killed his newborn twin daughters at Bhandaria of Pirozpur in the early hours of April 8. Killing of girl child like this is appalling.