Popular Culture: Is there any nation more obsessed with celebrities than the USA?
US doesn't remotely come close to India on celebrity craziness. At least the Americans only fuss about their celebrities in the tabloids and TVs. In India, it is real. Being a TV/movie/religion/Cricket celebrity can mean vast riches, political power and a fan following that is unimaginable for outsiders. Do Americans elect a soap opera star as an education minister to manage all their education institutions? Do Americans build temples for their moviestars? We do.Dudes in my city washing a 150 feet cut-out of a famous movie star with milk. There were 1000+ such large cutouts just in my city and 1000s more every year in every other city in my state. These poor dudes might not even have milk for their home. The actor is a star for one state in India, but his earnings rivals top Hollywood billings. Meet India's biggest film star There are even temples built for these stars and rural India is often dotted with their pictures. Americans might think of Cricket as a sleepy sport played by snobbish Englishmen. But, in India this is a semi-religion. The best player in that sport has fan following that will make even Lionel Messi blush. In the 70s when TIME magazine decided to feature an Indian on the cover after Mahatma Gandhi and Nehru, they didn't go for any of India's scientists or doctors. They went for a celebrity.My dad used to joke that Parveen Babi (the actress above) is the most important Indian after Gandhi if TIME magazine is to be believed. There are dozens of versions of American idol in India's vast lands. Together they grab an attention of over 1 billion viewers.We now have a new political superstar who just took over the Prime Ministership. He grabbed India's imagination that would make Obama and Putin relatively tame. People go nuts with his face-masks. One of the world's largest funerals was when one of the Chief Ministers in my state died. Millions attended the funeral as he was a demi-god for some. It was bigger than Pope John Paul II's funeral. List of largest peaceful gatherings in history In their other editions, Forbes actually focuses on real businesses. But, in India, movie stars are a category of their own. Here is a popular Hindi movie star (with a divinely glow).
Are the grass skirts and flower garlands in Hawaii, just for tourists these days?
Grass skirts? Never a thing in Hawai’i among kanaka maoli, indigenous Hawaiian people, were likely to have been the product of the early 20th century travel industry in Hawai’i. I’ve only ever seen them imported from China or the Philippines, packaged for sale in tourist shops such as ABC Stores, the former Hilo Hattie’s and such. I’ve seriously never seen even a tourist wear one. Never seen anyone wear one.The “flower garlands” are lei. Local people make them not only of flowers but with ribbon, fabrics, candy, and maile leaves. One of the first gifts on Mother’s Day I received from my son was a lei he made in preschool from cut-out construction paper flowers and cut plastic straws. He’s 22 Now and I still have it. We give them all the time for many occasions; birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, to welcome people, to say goodbye. I would say that visitors to Hawai’i probably underestimate both how much they are used in Hawai’i as symbols of affection and respect as well as how expensive lei can be. Also, I think some are not aware that you don’t buy a lei for yourself, you give and receive lei. Authentic shell lei from Ni’ihau island are national treasures of the Hawaiian people and some are priceless. Other intricately woven flower lei can also be quite expensive, though they last only a few days. We store them in the refrigerator and wear them until they’re too old. Some special lei I have received for memorable occasions, I have dried and saved. When i retired as a Buddhist priest in Hawai’i, I received so many lei they covered my eyes. No, lei are very much a thing for local people in Hawai’i. Visitors to Hawai’i should not expect they will be given a lei when they arrive unless they have either paid for the “lei greeting at the airport” offered by some local businesses and resorts or have local friends picking them up.Oh—and the “coconut shell bras” depicted in some old tourist drawings? Also not a thing in Hawai’i although the same shops that sell the imported grass skirts also sell them sometimes. Ouch! That would hurt!
What are 3 biggest fashion trends in 2017 you will follow?
1). I expect short skirts will be back based on the improving economy. (History shows skirts get shorter in good economic times).2). * More and more men are opening their minds to wearing skirts. Nothing gay about it since men have worn skirts longer throughout history than women have. This may be the year the tipping point is reached making them acceptable for everyday wear as an alternative to boring pants for the last 150+ years. Online Photo Sharing, Social Network, Image Hosting, Online Photo AlbumsOnline Photo Sharing, Social Network, Image Hosting, Online Photo Albums3). Casual will be the norm in office situations for both men and women.*Maybe not in 2017 but this trend is unstoppable as more and more men discover skirts. Of course men who are sexist, homophobic or sexually insecure will not make the discovery. We’ll see if men are capable of opening their minds like women did in the 60’s when they adopted pants in a big way. Society doesn’t have this one right because it makes more sense for a male to wear a skirt than a female…no crotch binding inseams, cooler than shorts and if short freedom of movement is outstanding plus men have worn skirts longer throughout time than women have and top clothing designers say there are no reasons for men not to wear skirts… 2017? (Probably only with help from women who are not selfish (keeping skirts exclusively for themselves). It will also help greatly in leveling the gender gap greatly benefiting women. Less need to be an angry feminist).
What is the lastest fashion trend for women in India?
Experiment With These Bottoms Styles With A Kurta This SummerGone are the days when one had only salwar or churidaar as an option to wear with the kurta’s. They were so repetitive that wearing a kurta bottom was almost a boring affair.But nowadays there are so many variations available like from pants to palazzo and sharara’s etc. and everything has a variation of its own.Wearing kurta’s has never been so exciting with so many options available to team them up with.Here are few options which you can try this summer……Tulip salwars– They are very much in trend, earlier they were worn as a western wear, but now they are also worn with kurta’s for a fusion look. Pair them with short length kurta’s, as they look best in them.Tulip salwars for kurtasDhoti pants– Another great silhouette in trend, Dhoti pants are loose from the top and become narrow like churidaar at the bottom. Wear them with short length or mid length kurta’ s so that the silhouette of the bottom is visible.Dhoti pants for kurtaLoose palazzo– They come in various widths and flare, from straight fits to A line ones, they are here to stay for long. Best for summers, this silhouette is breathable and comfortable. They go with long and short length kurta’s, so wear them with anything.Loose palazzo for kurtasPair kurta’s with straight pants– A nice pants add a fusion look to the kurta and bottom look, also they can be either straight fit or in a tapered slim fit look. You can wear them with long kurta’s, but they look equally good in a short kurta. Infact short kurta’s look best when paired with pants.Pants for kurtasFor more options please do visit our website: Experiment With These Bottoms Styles With A Kurta This Summer
Would you be annoyed if your MIL bought your child a Halloween costume without asking you first?
Yeah I'd be annoyed. All you have to say is to the mother in law, that while it's a nice gesture next time she should ask so you don't have two costumes but more importantly to have the respect that this is your child, and she taking away the fun from you picking out his Halloween costume. She had her own kids to do this with, let you have your kids to do this with. Propose next time a joint effort if she wants to be involved in something like this. At least the kid likes it, be happy about that. one thing I know with women like this is that they are not acting adult. They are acting like high school girls with dirty tricks, mind games, and playing one against the other. You are still acting adult... but you are losing the battle. And this time there is no teacher or parent to run to. Don't talk ill about her to your husband, I'm willing to bet he knows how he is, but just doesn't want to make waves. What you have to do is try to level the playing field. Use your wit! Beat her at her own game, that's how i dealt with girls like this when i was in high school. Once you turn the attention back on them... they learn to stop soon enough. But with you, your weapon is your smile, and a soft chuckle. If you say a come back, always say it with a smile, and even laugh it off as though you were making a joke. She'll know EXACTLY what you mean, but if she takes it the wrong way, you can play her game and act like that was not what you intended at all, thus making her seem like the negative one who wants to start a fight out of 'nothing'. *wink* I know it's dirty tricks, but if she's going to play that game, and you have to live with it, you should at least know the rules. The difference between you are her? NEVER START IT. She's the one making rude comments to begin with, so defend your self in this way. But never opt to be the first to make a rude comment to her. She'll see what you are doing and with any luck she will stop. But beware... this takes practice, and she has more practice at it then you. Don't give up. If you can't think of anything to say at first, think about it later and try to come up with something you could have said back... develop your wit in private, then when it happens again, you'll be more on the ball.