On December 21, the sun hugged the horizon. For those in the Northern Hemisphere, it seemed to barely rise before it swiftly set. For months, the orbs arc across the sky had been slumping, shortening each day. The winter solstice marks the shortest day of the year, before the sun reverses course and climbs higher into the sky. This is a good opportunity to imagine what such a day might look like if we had evolved on another planet where the sun would take a different dance across the sky. You might want to feel thankful for the solstices and seasons we do have, or we might not be here to witness them at all.

The solstices occur because most planets do not spin upright, or perpendicular to their orbits. The earth, for example, slouches 23.5 degrees on a tilted axis. This leaves the planets North Pole pointed toward the North Star over relatively long periods of time, even as earth makes its year-long migration around the sun. That means the Northern Hemisphere will spend half the year tilted slightly toward the sun, bathing in direct sunlight during summers long, blissful days, and half the year cooling off as it leans slightly away from the sun during winters short, frigid days. December 21 marks the day when the North Pole is most tilted away from the sun.

But every planet slouches at different angles. The axial tilt of Venus, for example, is so extreme - 177 ° - that the planet is essentially flipped upside down with its South Pole pointing up. Perhaps counter-intuitively, that means that theres very little tilt to its upside-down spin and its hemispheres will never dramatically point towards or away from the sun. As such, the suns dance across the sky will remain relatively stable - shifting by a mere six degrees over the course of a Venusian year. Had we evolved on Venus, its likely that we would not have noticed solstices or seasons at all, said David Grinspoon, an astrobiologist at the Planetary Science Institute, USA.

The same cant be said for Uranus. "Uranus is wild," David said. An axial tilt of 98 ° causes the ice giant to spin on its side. So, whereas one of Earths poles leans slightly towards the sun at solstice, one of Uranus poles points almost directly towards the sun at solstice - as if poised to make a perfect bulls-eye. That means that one hemisphere will bask under the sun both day and night, while the other will experience a frigid and dark winter and not catch a glimpse of the sun for that entire season. "It really cant get any more extreme than that," said Heidi Hammel, a planetary scientist at the Planetary Society, USA.

Such a tilt on earth would mean that the Arctic Circle didnt begin 66 ° north of the equator, but at the equator itself. All of North America, Europe, Asia and half of Africa would spend winters in permanent darkness and summers under constant sunlight. And on Uranus, which takes 84 earth years to orbit the sun, these seasons last for decades. "If there were creatures on Uranus - and I dont think there are - seasonal affective disorder would be a lifetime thing," Heidi said.

But the king of extreme seasons is Pluto. When NASAs New Horizons spacecraft arrived at the dwarf planet in 2015, scientists discovered a unique world overflowing with surface features that look like networks of drainage channels and even a frozen lake. But given Plutos low atmospheric pressure and chilly surface temperature, liquids cannot flow across the surface - at least not today. "That cant happen in the current environment," said Alan Stern, the principal investigator of the mission. "So, neither the channels nor the lake can be."

Scientists now have an explanation: seasons in Plutos past pushed atmospheric pressure high enough to allow liquids of methane and nitrogen to flow and pool on the surface. A changing axial tilt is the biggest driver of wildly varying seasons on Pluto. Over the course of four million years, Plutos slouch shifts back and forth between 102 ° and 126 °, causing its equivalent of an Arctic Circle to grow and shrink. That occasionally creates seasons where the atmospheric pressure is high enough that liquid methane and nitrogen can flow.

Although, astronomers remain uncertain how a planets seasons might affect its likelihood to host life, David argues that such dramatic swings - like those on Pluto - are likely a hindrance because they can make a planet unfit to live on for long stretches of time. Similarly, astronomers have long suspected that life would likely not survive on earth should it have an axial tilt more akin to Uranus.

So, the sun reached its farthest point in the sky on December 21. Never will the sun dip so far below the horizon that it plunges half of the globe into a monthslong night and the other half into an equally long summer. Nor does earths tilt change drastically over millions of years, thanks to the influence of the moon. Instead, the sun appears to trot back and forth between the extremes, keeping the planet cosy while steadily counting off its years.

Any good barista will tell you that if you want to make a nice latte you pour milk into the espresso - not the other way around. But theres another style of latte out there, too - the layered latte, or #layeredlatte as youll find on Instagram. Created by accident, or by baristas experimenting with new drinks, these striped beverages start with a glass of heated milk and then pour in the espresso.

Bob Fankhauser, a retired engineer in Portland, Oregon, accidentally created his own layered latte at home and wanted to know why these pretty layers form. Last year, Bob sent an email including photos of his accidental layered lattes to Howard Stone, a chemical engineer who studies fluid dynamics at Princeton University, USA and inspired him and a graduate student to test this out. The team published their results in Nature Communications on December 12. After recreating the latte with their own espresso and milk, the team created a simulated coffee drink, injecting heated, dyed freshwater into heated, denser saltwater to test the scientific parameters that make this spontaneous layering possible. Pouring hot espresso into warm milk at a certain speed, they found, induced an interaction between temperature and density that caused the drink to separate into layers of different densities.

The same basic phenomenon, called double-diffusive convection, creates layers of water in the ocean. Nan Xue, a graduate student in Howards lab who led the study, found that even if you disturb the layers with a gentle stir, they will reform and stay put - for minutes, hours, even days. As long as the mixture is still warmer than the air around it, the stirring creates another density gradient, similar to that produced by pouring. But stir after the latte reaches room temperature - bye-bye stripes. To create your own layered latte, pour hot espresso over a spoon into a tall glass of milk of about the same temperature. Wait a few minutes for the layers to form as the liquid cools.

The year 2017 saw some tremendous breakthroughs in science. From genetic engineering, to quantum computing, to anthropology and climate science, some discoveries have left us in awe, and some have indeed pronounced a word of caution. As we draw down the curtains on this magnificent year, here is a snapshot on some of the remarkable contributions to science, in no particular order.

Scientists create the first ever stable compound from helium

Chemistry tells us that helium, the most abundant element in the universe, does not react with any other elements or compounds. Hence the name noble or inert gas. In a study published in the journal Nature Chemistry, researchers have proved this false. They have discovered the first ever stable compound from helium with sodium, at very high pressures. With a chemical formula of Na2He, the compound is surprisingly not formed by chemical bonds. Here, electrons fill up the voids in the sodium cubes, holding the compound together and making it an insulator. This breakthrough research may help in understanding more about helium.

Inching closer to realising a quantum computer

The world is expecting a revolution with the advent of quantum computing that promises to be faster by many million times than the best computers at present. Here, instead of electronic signals, quantum-mechanical properties of electrons like superposition and entanglement are used for computing. Theorised for many years, a new study by researchers at the University of Sussex, UK might help us soon see one in action. The researchers have unveiled the first blueprint of a quantum computer, with details of its design and architecture. They are currently building a prototype based on this blue-print and hope to build a full-scale quantum computer in a decade.

First pill with a sensor approved for use

In a breakthrough in the field of medicine, the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) has approved the use of Abilify MyCite, a pill with a sensor that digitally tracks if patients have ingested their medication. Prescribed to patients with mental disorders like schizophrenia, the pill marks the first drug in the US with a digital ingestion tracking system. It works by sending a message from the pills sensor to a wearable patch, which then transmits the information to a mobile application so that patients can track the ingestion of the medication on their smartphone.

Detection of gravitational waves

The year 2016 stood out as a remarkable year for astrophysicists as the first evidence of the long predicted gravitational waves was discovered. This year, not surprisingly, Rainer Weiss, Barry Barish and Kip Thorne, who set up the the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO), won the Nobel Prize in Physics. To add to the body of evidence on gravitational waves, LIGO detected a third gravitational wave produced by merging black holes. After the Virgo interferometer from Europe joined LIGO, another gravitational wave was detected arising from the merger of two neutron stars.

Rewriting the history of human migration

A few discoveries in the year have altered our understanding of human migration from Africa. A study based on radiocarbon dating has now provided evidence that humans first entered North America by crossing the Bering Strait around 24,000 BP (Before Present), 10,000 years earlier than previously thought. In another study, researchers say that Homo sapiens may have migrated out of Africa 2,70,000 years ago, instead of 70,000 years ago once believed. In yet another study based on fossil evidence found at Jebel Irhoud, Morocco, scientists say that Homo sapiens may have originated about 3,00,000 years ago, over 1,00,000 years earlier than previously thought. In addition, an archaeological study states that Aboriginal people have been in Australia for at least 65,000 years, suggesting the arrival of humans on the continent was up to 18,000 years earlier than previously thought.

Are we closer to finding extraterrestrial life?

Our search for extraterrestrials may soon find an answer, thanks to the discovery of an exoplanet, which astronomers believe is best ever candidate in the search for extraterrestrial life. A new study has reported the discovery of LHS 1140b, a rocky "super-Earth", a planet whose mass is greater than the Earth. Present in the habitable zone of a red dwarf star called LHS 1140, in the Cetus constellation, this planet is thought to have had a magma ocean on it surface millions of years ago. This lava could have then fed steam into the atmosphere, hinting at the presence of water, resulting in favourable conditions for life to exist.

The story of climate change gets gory

Climate change is real and it is here and 2017 saw a series of studies reckoning this. First, a study debunked the idea of pause in increase of sea temperatures and confirmed that our ocean temperatures have been steadily increasing in the past 75 years. Then, another study revealed that human activities are changing the climate 170 times faster than natural processes - an alarming pace indeed. Yet another study has found that oxygen levels in the oceans have declined by 2% globally in the last 50 years due to warming and stratification. Increasing global temperatures has affected glaciers all over the world and scientists predict that at least a third of Asias mountain glaciers will be lost by 2100. Oceans are warming 13% faster than previously thought, and satellite record of lower tropospheric temperature shows nearly 30% faster warming since 1979.

Human embryo edited for perfection

With improved gene editing tools, editing the human gene to remove flaws has now turned into a reality. In a pathbreaking study, scientists have, for the first time, corrected a disease-causing mutation for a heart condition in the early stages of a human embryo with gene editing. This technique ensures that the gene defect would not be passed on to future generations, thus promising a bright future free from congenital genetic disorders.

Metallic hydrogen, theorised for almost a century, becomes reality

It was 1935 when Eugene Wigner and Hillard Bell Huntington predicted that molecular hydrogen could turn into an atomic metal at a pressure of 25 GPa. Eighty years on, a new study has made this possible by producing the first metallic hydrogen at low temperature and high pressure. Considered a great challenge in condensed matter physics, the production of metallic hydrogen could answer fundamental questions about the nature of matter. In addition, it has immense potential as a room-temperature superconductor -- a material that offers no resistance to electricity at room temperatures -- thus revolutionising the fields of energy and rocketry.

Scientists decipher what is causing a geoid low in the Indian Ocean

The oceans have a lot of mysteries buried deep inside and scientists have unearthed one such mystery in the Indian Ocean - the mystery of the missing mass. In a pathbreaking seismological study, researchers have examined the Indian Ocean Geoid Low (IOGL), a point of abnormally low gravity. The low gravity is because of the deficit in the mass of Earth below IOGL. Scientists suggest that lighter material present in the upper and mid-mantle below the IOGL could be responsible for this anomaly, thus providing a satisfying explanation for a long-standing mystery.

The Cassiniâ€"Huygens mission

With improved gene editing tools, editing the human gene to remove flaws has now turned into a reality. In a pathbreaking study, scientists have, for the first time, corrected a disease-causing mutation for a heart condition in the early stages of a human embryo with gene editing. This technique ensures that the gene defect would not be passed on to future generations, thus promising a bright future free from congenital genetic disorders.

(The author is with Gubbi Labs, a Bengaluru-based research collective)

A new year is incomplete without resolutions. But why restrict your resolutions only to gymming and travelling? Make some decor resolutions too! Ring in 2018 with some strict decor resolutions that focus on every aspect of home designing and maintenance. Here are some ideas for starters.

Less is more

One of the best and least expensive ways to feel good about your home is to clear the clutter. Each passing year, we acquire a pile of things that need sorting. Regular cleaning and getting rid of unwanted items takes care of those overflowing cabinets and drawers, and makes life easy when you have to look for that matching pair of socks or forgotten gem-studded earrings. "Clutter also makes your house look dated and dirty," says Sarika Sethi, a Delhi-based interior designer. This year, resolve to go room by room, clearing anything that you dont use, wear or like anymore and give it to charity. Its also important to pay attention to the surroundings and see what looks heavy, outdated or simply boring. Once youve gotten rid of it, only then think of getting a new replacement. Group similar items together in boxes or bags and label them. Stack the labelled boxes neatly in an attic or a garage.

Safety first

A beautiful home needs to be safe as well. There are a few things that every homeowner should do to ensure that theyre not living with a potential health hazard or fire risk. Make sure your gas pipes arent cracked or leaking. Ensure wire fittings are not hanging loose or exposed. Same goes for chipped off paint and plaster, or hanging doors and cupboard panels. Door locks can be upgraded with electronic locking systems and video cameras installed for better security. A good ventilation and exhaust system is a necessity. Ensure your chimneys and exhaust systems are serviced regularly. It makes sense to replace your old style chimney with a power-suction chimney to avoid indoor pollution.

Go green

Make a list of plants that need to be sown in different seasons. Collect seeds at the right time and make saplings while the season lasts. Make pruning a habit or hire a gardener. Generally, we start a garden with gusto but over time, lose interest or are not able to take care of it due to a lack of time. Set your gardening goals and plan the maintenance strategy for the year right in the beginning. And, try composting, its simply great.

Within your budget

There are many budget-friendly decorative solutions for almost any decor idea. You can paint, make a slipcover, or reinvent furniture from garage sales, thrift stores or a relatives attic. Makeovers like these are easy on the pocket and give you the pride of ownership as well.

Good housekeeping

Work out a weekly system for keeping your house clean. Make a list of daily, weekly, fortnightly and monthly routine cleaning that works best for your home, including interiors and exteriors.

You may want to hang pretty posters as reminders behind bathroom doors, on the refrigerator door, etc, reminding you of the next cleaning date. For optimum efficiency, divide the jobs among the help and family members and get the whole house done in an hour. Who said cleaning was boring? Make it a fun and happy chore!

Save more

Keep a tab on the big sale months and buy the important, expensive items in these sales so that you save considerably. Online shopping makes for some big savings too. Remodelling a kitchen or bathroom may be an expensive affair. So, how about listing out the work and getting just the most crucial items done on the list. You can also add embellishments to the room to brighten it up and make it dramatic. A rooms look and feel instantly changes with just a wall being the focus. Give a facelift to dull walls by creating a focus wall in a different colour and eye-catching furniture to complement.

Decor resolutions

• I resolve to never let a small budget prevent me from decorating: And why should it when there are economical options available in flea markets, sales and online websites. Creativity certainly rules over budget. And one can make a neat and pleasing home on a shoestring budget.

• I resolve not to rush the decorating process: Avoid purchasing just to fill a room. We often regret such hasty decisions and the products pile up in the junkyard.

• I resolve to commit to a colour scheme: And stay committed, it only makes decorating easier and pleasing to the eye. Learn to lift colour palettes from a fabric or rug pattern, then crosslink these colours with adjacent rooms.

• I resolve to eliminate clutter and get organised: The first couple of months of the year may be the ideal time to start an organising effort. Take one small area of your home each week and give it a makeover. Begin with small projects like a pantry, laundry area, or coat closet and work your way up to larger jobs like a bedroom closet. The results will astonish you.

So, this New Year, resolve to keep up the resolutions and make a happy and clean home for yourself.

The realty sector, both residential and commercial, has witnessed a slew of landmark government policies in the past year that has helped the industry be more organised. Key announcements in the realty sector in 2017 such as affordable housing, Real Estate Regulatory Authority Bill (RERA), Goods and Services Tax (GST), bi-monthly RBI policies have proven to be a game changer for the real estate sector.

Money matters

They have improved the overall market sentiment, reinforced the confidence of investors, infused transparency and brought in much-needed credibility. Furthermore, the festive season catalysed a surge in sales in the housing sector owing to the improved market sentiment.

The realty sector witnessed some ambiguity post demonetisation in November 2016. The decision to scrap old currency notes caused a minimal impact on sales. However, this helped in curbing many inconsistencies and unfair trade practices, and brought in professionalism in the sector. Reputed builders did not feel the pinch as they have been making use of bank channels for transactions.

Post demonetisation in 2016, the government took staunch measures to provide relief and boost the realty sector in 2017. The union budget 2017-18 saw the government granting the infrastructure status to the affordable housing sector, which would provide incentives to developers to construct budget homes and make housing for all a reality. Thereby, developers stand to get access to institutional funding and land in prime locations reserved for such projects.

In line to boost the realty sector, the government reduced the holding period for computing long-term capital gains from transfer of immovable property from three to two years. The government also paved the way for ease of doing business by announcing that construction permits would be issued within 60 days. Furthermore, the government implemented RERA and GST, two landmark reforms that would change the face of the industry.

For some transparency

Post the implementation of RERA, there has been increased transparency and accountability in the sector, which has reinforced investor confidence. With RERA coming into the picture, the fly-by-night operators are facing an existential crisis. However, reputed and credible developers are not impacted by the act, as this has been a standard operating procedure for them.

With respect to taxation, GST has brought in uniform taxation, based on the concept of One Nation, One Tax. GST has created a level playing field for all the industry players, allowing only the ethical ones to prevail. The bill is expected to result in higher transparency in the sector, which is currently facing a perception issue. However, there are talks to bring all real estate transactions under GST.

Currently, 12% GST is charged for the construction of a complex, building, civil structure or intended for sale to a buyer, either wholly or partly. On the other hand, land and other immovable property are exempted from GST. The rate of stamp duty varies from state to state and is in the range of 3-10%. The real estate industry is requesting the government through various bodies to reduce the GST slab on housing to 5% as opposed to the current 12%, which will eventually benefit the end consumer and boost the growth of the sector, making it more transparent and organised.

The festive season of 2017 which commenced from Ganesh Chaturthi saw a slight surge in the sales in the housing sector. Customers, especially first-time homebuyers who were sitting on the fence in anticipation of some changes, were looking to invest in homes. The market sentiment during the festive season was positive as it is considered as an auspicious time to buy a home. To add to it, the developers had various offers and discounts during this period.

The RBI has taken staunch measures to boost the realty sector complementing the central governments initiatives. The current repo rate of 6% has been the lowest so far, which has helped to significantly boost the sector and ease the financial burden of millions of homebuyers.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has given its approval for the Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) platform, which will allow investors to invest in the Indian real estate sector. This would help increase the cash flow in the sector and create opportunities worth billions over the years. The first REITs listing is expected in early 2018 which will provide a significant boost to the commercial realty sector, and position the Indian realty market as an attractive investment option.

What 2018 will look like?

With the government encouraging foreign and domestic investors by implementing various progressive policy reforms, it has contributed to changing the modus operandi of the sector. Its initiative to make Housing for all by 2022 a reality will promote the growth of the housing sector, create employment opportunities, and address the housing needs of millions.

Furthermore, the state governments are also taking measures to develop the infrastructure such as new metro lines, road connectivity, flyovers, coastal roads, sea links, etc, to support the government initiatives to promote the sector. These reforms have had a cumulative effect on the sector and positioned it as an attractive investment hub globally. With the Indian economy set to grow and the country playing an important role in the world, the future of the realty industry looks bullish. These reforms and other developments have resulted in higher transparency, efficiency and accountability in the sector, while protecting the interests of the buyers and developers alike.

(The author is chairman & managing director, Sheth Group)

Ram Walase, MD & CEO, VBHC

It has been a year of disruptions for real estate - demonetisation, RERA and GST. It would take about 18-24 months for the industry to
recover from the effects of inventory overhang and regulatory interventions.

Yet these disruptions are likely to drive the long-term metamorphosis of the sector. But the land prices in urban areas are still higher for developing affordable housing.

While RERA brings a lot of clarity with respect to the developer-customer relationship, more needs to be done to ensure hassle-free approval processes, land record verifications and stamp duty rationalisation. The current trend of limited new launches and muted price inflation would continue in 2018.

The end user demand, especially in the affordable housing segment, would continue to be the bright spot - primarily driven by Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) subsidies and the favourable government policies for the segment.

Surendra Hiranandani, CMD, House of Hiranandani

The Big Bang reforms implemented in 2017 have brought about a significant change
in the tax, regulatory and business environment of India. Post demonetisation, the introduction of RERA and GST improved transparency and accountability in the sector,
thereby catching the attention of investors who are now looking at Indian real estate with renewed vigour.

While we congratulate the government for these achievements, there are many more areas where reforms are eagerly awaited which will boost confidence amongst buyers. We look forward to legal reforms happening in the sector like the introduction of title insurance.

The coming year will see consolidation in the real estate sector as larger players will peak in strength and smaller ones will be eroded or will align with the established ones. Owing to stringent RERA norms, it is clear that only credible developers who conduct their business with transparency will survive in the future and will be able to navigate the roadmap.

Samyak Jain, Director, Siddha Group

Demonetisation made a huge impact on various sectors, including the real estate industry. It has brought about transparency in transactions which have helped strengthen relationships
between the developers and buyers. It brought about an increase in fund inflows in the
banking sector, forcing RBI to cut rates twice eventually leading to a reduction in home
loan rates.

The government also liberalised FDI rules making it easier for NRIs and foreign investors to purchase properties in the country, and facilitate the generation of foreign exchange for infrastructure developments and strengthen the nations economy.

The implementation of RERA brought in much-needed transparency and initially infused accountability in the sector. The introduction of GST in July 2017 aimed to dismantle the multiple tax system and make way for One Nation, One Tax. The countrys first maiden
Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) is expected to be launched in 2018. This would go a long way in bringing further transparency in real estate and also help in curbing benami transactions

Vinod Rohira, Managing Director and CEO, Commercial Real Estate and REITs, K Raheja Corp

The impact of all the regulatory policies that came into play in 2017 will continue to unfold in
2018, strengthening corporate governance and further infusing transparency into the system, making Indian economy progressive and robust.

The changed regulatory framework will positively impact the positioning of the real estate industry. RERA, for instance, has helped boost buyer confidence and infuse credibility into the sector. We will see a lot more organised offerings going forward in all segments of real estate, which will fasten the process of decision making for consumers with less ambiguity and perceived risk.

This will ultimately increase the velocity of sale and create a healthy environment for real estate markets. The spirit of RERA is in the best interest of consumers, they can handhold the process with developers for faster approvals, get more clarity in terms of legislative impact, and it is also going to help the industry perform better.

The next 12-18 months will see speculative supply and paper supply diminish and real supply emerge. The real supply in the short term will be far lesser than it used to be, and with the strengthening of demand, we will see prices firming up because lesser real value & quality residential supply will be available when the consumers want to finally buy.

Jaxay Shah, President, CREDAI National

The year 2017 could go down as one of the most revolutionary years in the history of the Indian real estate sector post-independence. The implementation of a number of critical reforms such as RERA and GST have initiated a new era of transparency and accountability,
which augurs well for the sustainable development of the industry.

The longterm benefits of the new laws are already starting to become visible with a gradual increase in demand for both residential and commercial realty. 2018 will witness the continued momentum of the industrys upward trajectory.

Reeza Sebastian, Senior Vice President, Residential Business, Embassy Group

Overall, 2017 has been a positive year despite the short-term turmoil. The implementation of
various game-changing reforms such as demonetisation, GST and RERA may have caused a few short-term hurdles in the nations real estate market but will result in long-term positive
gain and consolidation.

It is imperative that we continue to have a larger vision of three to five years to see significant outcomes of the key measures being implemented this year.

In the residential sector, theres a growing demand for private branded residences.
The year-on-year growth of ultra-luxury homes in the city is at an all-time high and the estimated total value of ultra-luxury housing projects in various stages of construction in
Bengaluru is at Rs 6,000 crores.

As the real estate market continues to evolve with the impact of the regulations in 2017, the sectors future growth prospects in 2018 looks bright

Getting married was "something much more important" than a cricket series for Virat Kohli as he asserted that the three-week break wont affect his preparations for the upcoming South Africa tour.

The India captain opted out of the limited-overs series against Sri Lanka to get married to Bollywood actor Anushka Sharma in a private ceremony in Tuscan, Italy.

Asked how difficult will it be for him to return to cricket post the marriage celebrations, Kohli replied, "Not difficult at all, I was away for something (marriage) which is much more important. That is a period that will always remain special for both of
us."

"Switching back to cricket is not difficult at all because it is in my blood, like it is for every other team member and the team management as well, so getting back to professional front is not difficult at all," he added.

Following their wedding in Italy on December 11, Kohli and Anushka had hosted grand receptions in New Delhi and Mumbai, where several Bollywood and sporting celebrities were spotted.

Just prior to the break, Kohli was in red-hot form smashing 610 runs in the three-Test series against Sri Lanka.

YouTube is what people turn to nowadays for entertainment. Gone are the days when everyone sat around a television screen watching comedy and talent shows.

Today, you can find almost everything on YouTube. Be it comedy sketches, web series, beauty tutorials, covers of popular songs, YouTube has it all. With channels like AIB, East India Comedy, The Viral Fever becoming household names, YouTube as an entertainment platform has definitely shot up in India, especially among the younger population.

Bengaluru has also caught onto this trend and produced some of the top YouTube creators of 2017.
One of them being Jordindian, a YouTube channel run by two friends, who shot up to fame early this year with videos like Fast and Furious India, Types of Sneezes, Savage Dads which went viral and were shared all over social media.

Another popular creator of the year from the city was Niharika N M, who quickly grew popular among youngsters with her extremely relatable comedy sketches. Sh!t Bangaloreans say was another video that received extreme love from the city.

Niharika says, "Growing up as a chubby kid, Ive always been the clown of the group because that made me feel like I finally fit in, in my own way and it made me really happy when people would giggle or laugh at something I would say. When YouTube as a concept was introduced to me, I jumped at the opportunity to do something that Ive grown up doing for the rest of my life!"

Naser Al Azzeh of Jordindian says, "Honestly, it was the lack of good content in Indian digital scene that pushed us towards starting our own YouTube channel. AIB and TVF had definitely paved the way with their amazing comedy content, but the ones that followed were tasteless and crass. This definitely was the push we needed to go ahead and film our first video."

Sriram Aravamudan of Shit Bangaloreans Say fame says, "YouTube and its various creators were introduced to me randomly. Sh!t People Say had been a global meme for a very long time and people from various cities had already done their version of it. So a few of my friends and I thought we could give it a shot just for fun and luckily it was received quite well by the people."

When asked about the perks of being a YouTuber, Niharika says, "Well I personally think it is the coolest job in the world. You get to be your own boss, while you do what you love doing, plus get showered with love by strangers while youre at it. I also get to meet and connect with like-minded people who share the same passion as mine and do what I do."

Sriram believes, "The recognition you receive after your video goes viral and the love people shower upon you everywhere you go is the biggest perk of being a YouTuber. Being recognised for your work that you put great effort into is an amazing feeling."

Naser says, "Recognition of course. Wed be lying if we said we dont enjoy the admiration we receive for our work but the one perk I personally cherish the most is the fact that I dont have to wake up early on Monday mornings."

The hardest part of being a YouTuber, according to Niharika, is "Being able to manage time between my studies and the YouTube. As Im a third-year computer science engineering student and a part-time YouTuber, sometimes, it gets really hard to balance the two, but Ive been pulling through. Also, having to deal with constant criticism about everything at all times gets a bit overwhelming, but hey, we cant have it all!"

Vineeth Kumar, also from Jordindian, says, "Explaining to our parents how YouTube counts as a career is a challenge. But jokes aside, substantiality is always a big challenge as there isnt a module of constant income. Unlike other professions, there is no guarantee of a pay day. So, it is up to us to figure out different modules of income."

To anyone looking forward to starting a YouTube channel, Sriram advises, "Start a channel for fun, not with the sole aim of making money out of it. Keep your content original and if youre good at what youre doing, then the money will surely come your way."

Niharika says, "Dont let anyone tell you who you are or who youre not. If you want to do something, do it for yourself. Not to prove something or someone wrong, but to prove yourself right."

Its actor Nirup Bhandaris show all the way in the action-packed trailer for Rajaratha released recently. Nirup, who comes across as a live wire in the trailer, is content with the way the character is shaping up. The actor, who is currently shooting for the film, feels Rajaratha is special to him in more ways than one because not only is his character is something to watch out for but also that the film has some of the best actors.

In an interview with Nina C George, Nirup shares his experience of shooting for the film.

Your character has been introduced in a very lively way. Tell us about it?

My character is opposite to what I played in RangiTaranga. It is lively, energetic, creative and an extremely spontaneous one. I could easily connect with my character because it is a lot like how I used to be in college. I was a film buff during my college days and I would reel out famous lines from popular movies and even in Rajaratha I do the same. Mine is indeed a very lovable character.

What is the story about?

The story traces the life of an engineering student who falls head over heels in love with a girl. But he is heart-broken when he discovers that she already has a boyfriend. Whether he manages to win over the woman that he loves forms the heart of the script.

How did you manage to rope in so many prominent names for the film?

There is Arya, Vinaya Prasad, Ravi Shankar, Rana Daggubati and Puneeth Rajkumar playing interesting roles. We also have a lot of new faces with a strong background in theatre. There is a lot of improvisation and situational comedy, involved in the film and these actors have done complete justice to this aspect.

How was it to work with these big names?

It was a wonderful experience. I was a bit apprehensive if Tamil actor Arya would agree to our rather early shoot schedules but I was amazed to see that he didnt wear his superstar status on his sleeve. He was comfortable with the team and worked in tune with us. It was also nice to watch how a senior actor like Ravi Shankar was rehearsing his lines before the shoot. He is well prepared and is always thinking about his character.

How was it to dub for the film?

I had to dub in both Kannada and Telugu. I have always enjoyed dubbing. For the Telugu version, I got the lines taped and continuously listened to them just to get the diction and pronunciation right. I didnt want to make any mistakes.

Any interesting moments during the shooting?

I had to stand on the edge of a cliff for about four to six hours. I dont have a phobia for heights but standing at the edge for so long gave me the jitters.

Tripti Arvind was living a happy life as an educator and mother. But earlier this year, she decided to try something new and try her hand at beauty pageants. Little did she know that she will soon win the title of Mrs India-Karnataka 2017 and then go on to being Mrs India 2017.

Hailing from Udupi, Tripti was the first Kannadiga to participate in the Mrs World competition. In a chat with Anila Kurian, Tripti talks about her rollercoaster of a journey and what she wants to achieve with the title given to her.

Were you ever interested in being part of beauty pageants?

I used to be a ramp model when I was like 16 and 17. I then went on to pursue my graduation and post-graduation which didnt give me any time to even think of a life like this. I have a nine-year-old now and my life is quite busy. But this year, I decided to apply for the pageant and one thing led to another and Im here now.

How helpful were your family and friends during the entire process?

They were the ones who encouraged me to continue doing what I was doing. My family play a vital role in my recognition. The other day, I went to my sons school for an event and it was great to see how proud the other parents were also of my achievements. I couldnt have done it without the help of everyone.

What was it like representing India on an international platform?

I was one among the 35 other contestants. It was amazing to be a platform like that. I was proud to be the one Kannadiga who went to represent India.

Do you enjoy being recognised on the streets now?

I was not a public figure before so it is a little different. Im getting used to it. Having said that, Im glad that people are recognising me and what I have achieved.

What are some of the things that you want to achieve with your title?

I want to empower women and their education. As per the statistics that I collected, there are very fewer women studying, especially because of the abuse and other problems that a family has. I want to work with organisations that help empower women. I want to do it on a larger scale so that women dont have to be dependent on men all the time.

Do you want to be a part of more pageants?

I am done for now and very blessed and lucky to have achieved whatever I have. But I would like to work with organisations that conduct pageants. I am a keen learner and with my skill as a personality development trainer, I believe that I will be helpful to groom the participants.

Have you been approached for help by anyone so far?

I do get a lot of requests and queries on social media. I am happy to help the society in whatever way I can.

A handwritten note, penning down personal wishes for you for the year ahead. Delightful isnt it?

Are those days passe? Not quite. In these days of forwarded messages and GIFs, the tradition of shopping for greeting cards has managed to survive. Although those who go for it are just a handful, they are doing their best to keep the good old days alive.

"Showing ones love and affection has become a perfunctory process today. With these instant messaging platforms, there is no personal touch to greetings. These days, wishing someone has become more of a formality. Having said that, times are changing now, many people are making an effort to do something intimate for their loved ones," says Trupti Sharma, a crafter.

"Putting in an effort to make someone a greeting card with personal messages can mean so much to the recipient. A gift can be an inexpensive but a thoughtful one. For New Year, one can also make fridge magnets and bookmarks if greeting cards are too mainstream," she adds.

About the importance of choosing greeting cards over SMS and GIFs, Snigdha Kemkar says, "I believe that if you have to say something to someone, you should say it with greeting cards. I have never restricted myself from giving cards to my loved ones. The most important thing about them is they have a personal touch. The handwritten cards instantly make one feel special, unlike the readymade emoticons and forwards."

She says that she has been preserving greeting cards for 25 years now, some of which date back to the 90s. "I have a small box where I have kept them and going through some of them makes me very nostalgic and emotional," she adds.

Parul Gupta, a scientist, says, "Greeting cards have been an integral part of my life. The feeling of sending and receiving a card during Christmas and New Year has a different charm altogether. Though it is slowly losing its sheen and is seen as old-fashioned, there are still many who look forward to greeting cards every year. It is something that people keep close to their hearts unlike the text messages, which go into the trash box after some time. People tend to send the same forward messages to everyone, which has no or little impact emotionally. A 10-word message for the New Year means more than a 30-word forwarded message."

Ramesh Chandiramani, the owner of Archies Gallery, says, "Most of the footfall for greeting cards are the elderly people. They send their wishes to their loved ones through cards. They often come to pick cards especially during Christmas, New Year and Valentines Day. However, when it comes to youngsters, they prefer gifting options for their friends and family."

Original music will make you stand out

Fusion music sensation Raghu Dixit is a whirlwind of cheerful music and colourful lungis. His multi-lingual folk music has reached all corners of the globe and won him a huge fan following over the years. Recently in the city to perform for Red Live hosted by Red FM, Raghu took time off to chat with Rajitha Menon about music, music and more music.

How has the folk music scene changed?

Folk music has changed in the fact that it is more accessible now, thanks to the internet. So the middlemen are removed from the equation and artistes are able to directly connect with the audience.

Why the focus on happy music?

I think theres enough pain all around us. So at least for two hours, people can let go off those worries.

Do you like covers?

I am not a big fan of covers myself. I believe original music will make you stand out. But many youngsters believe that by singing covers they will attract listeners on YouTube and after they have built up a subscribership, they can release their original material. I am not an endorsee of covers but there are certain singers who have given their own flavour to the original song.

What is your mantra then?

I started when there was no internet, not even 2G (laughs). So my philosophy has been to go on stage and give your 100 percent. It took us a long time but now we have a phenomenally loyal fan base who have stuck to us for 8-10 years.

How important are movies for independent musicians?

Young filmmakers are demanding new sounds and thats where independent musicians are finding their space. They can express themselves without compromising originality. For example, Chef was one of those rare opportunities where I didnt have to change my sound. Then there are projects where you discover new sounds and expand your horizons. And the reach that film music has is incredible. After Psycho was released and Mahadeshwara reached the nooks and corners of Karnataka, my band and I became household names almost overnight.

How was the experience of working in Chef?

I dont think I should get used to such a director (laughs). It was incredible to work with Raja Krishna Menon and to get all your songs approved in the first shot itself with very little changes. We became good friends after that.

What kind of music do you listen to in your spare time?

I listen to absolutely everything. For me there are only two genres - good music and bad music. Right now, I am listening to Panic! at the Disco.

One thing about the audience that annoys you?

Watching me through the phone! I am right in front of you and singing for you and you want to watch me through your phone - whats the joy in that?

Three things about you that no one knows?

Oh, everybody knows everything about me! They know that I dont know how to drive or swim. But I can cook really well.

What are your thoughts about Bengaluru?

Its like a son who has become a spoilt brat but yet you love him. I remember how the city used to be and I see what it has become today. Thankfully, the spirit of joy is still kept alive.

Carved out of the erstwhile Yugoslavia, Slovenia is a small country in Central Europe bordering Austria, Croatia, Italy and Hungary. The city of Ljubljana (pronounced Loobliyana), rich in art, culture and architecture is its capital.

My two travel companions and I realised early during the trip that the best way to enjoy the lively city of Ljubljana is to walk, walk and walk. Like most European cities, Ljubljana, with its stunning castle, cathedrals, city square, cafes, bridges, buskers and the serenely flowing Ljubljanica River, is eminently walkable.

The Ljubljana Castle built with a mix of Gothic and Baroque architectural styles dating back to the 11th century dominates the cityscape. Three middle- aged women that we were, we turned into excited school kids taking our first ever funicular ride. The funicular railway took us to the top of the castle providing breathtaking views along the way. If you are the adventurous kind, you could climb up the hill to the castle. Unfortunately, our knees demanded the ride! The large castle courtyard used by the army of the nobility once upon a time is today rented out for weddings and concerts. The Rock Hall is the most stunning part of the castle. Massive rocks that represent the geological structure of the castle took our breath away as we entered this space. In the 19th century, this room was used for storing firewood for the prison guards and administrators. The Panoramic Tower open through the year provides awe-inspiring views of the city. We were lucky to get there on a clear day; we could see the snow-covered Julian Alps stretched out majestically before us, dazzling in the glory of the sun rays bestowed upon it.

The concept of the city squares in European towns is an integral part of town planning from medieval times. These spaces were also put to revolutionary purposes. Today, the squares bustle with crowds, flea markets, cafes and food carts. One can spend hours here without feeling an ounce of boredom.Prešeren Square in Ljubljana is located along the river and its innumerable bridges, each one a delight to your aesthetic sensibility. Once again, we were lucky to be there on a Friday, when there is an open market where you could indulge in some retail therapy. Local products such as honey, the unique and delicious brandy with honey, which we tasted and bought, exquisite glass paintings and candles, while tempting you to loosen your purse strings, also add to the colour and beauty of Prešeren Square.

The bridges - Triple Bridge, Dragon Bridge, Cobblers Bridge being some - that span the Ljubljanica River are worth a close look. The Dragon Bridge, with sculptures of dragons, is the best known of these. Dragons are important figures in Slovenian mythology. Bridges are known to have existed in Ljubljana from as way back as 1280. Mainly made in those times from wood, today they are made of concrete, granite and limestone. Some of the old bridges were redesigned by Slovenias legendary Joze Plecnik who is also the architect of some of the most beautiful buildings in the city.

For a city not so large, Ljubljana boasts of almost 30 museums, the most intriguing being the Museum of Illusions. Filled with brain teasers, vortex tunnel and rooms, this interactive museum with scope for lots of funny pictures is sure to keep you enthralled for a few hours. Its all Maya here! We had a whale of a time clicking pictures of ourselves hanging upside down and with our heads on a plate as if we were being served like roast ducks!

An extremely interesting place that we put on our "to-do" list while in Ljubljana is Metelkova which is an autonomous social centre. The place is as alternative as it can get! Full of artists studios, bars, cafes, art galleries, Metelkova hosts concerts regularly of different genres of music. Metelkova subverts the site on which it sits today - former Yugoslav National Army barracks - with its graffiti, art work and by using it as a space for LGBT and anti-racism gatherings.

Wanting to relax, we went for a walk in the large green spaces with gorgeous chestnut trees, a glass house, a botanical garden and well laid out paths, of the five square kilometer Tivoli Park. The Jackopic Promenade plays host to an open air photography exhibition all year round. Unfortunately, rain played spoil sport when we visited. One cant always be lucky after all!

Besides walking, we hopped on to buses that took us to the different sight-seeing places. People are extremely helpful despite language being a barrier. Walking tours, bike tours and conducted day tours to nearby places such as Lake Bled, Bohinj Valley and Postanja Caves are other thoroughly enjoyable options which we did choose.

(The author can be contacted at gita.viswanath@gmail.com)

Every prominent club in the city has something unique lined up for New Years eve. They have interesting menus, live performances and other entertainment. Metrolife takes you through some of the programmes you can look forward to at these clubs.

Indiranagar Club

The Indiranagar Club is also hosting a Bollywood night from 8 pm onwards. The evening will feature performances by a few artists from Mumbai. Playback singer Ankita will perform live. There will be special food counters in vegetarian and non-vegetarian categories.

Bowring Institute

Bowring Institute is hosting Bollywood -NYE-2018 on December 31 at the front lawn from 8.30 pm onwards. The evening will be hosted by celebrity emcee Kowser Khan and there will be non-stop entertainment by DJ Sai and DJ Anil Boris. There will be limited seating on first-come, first-served basis.

Century Club

Century Club is presenting a grand celebration called Liv it up 2018 on December 31. DJ Clement will be spinning out some groovy tunes along with Fabian and the Astras from 7.30 pm onwards. Members can pre-book their dinner. There will also be live food counters from 12.30 am onwards. The first 150 tables will be reserved for early bookings and the later tables will be available on first-come, first-served basis.

Bangalore Club

The Bangalore Club will have Mumbai-based band Sixth Sense performing live on December 31 from 8.30 pm till after midnight. The menu will be a special one with all the choicest dishes in vegetarian and non-vegetarian category.

Sandalwood actor Chaithra Achar made her entry into show business with the web-series Bengaluru Queens. She played the heros best friend in the movie Vaasu Naan Pakka Commercial, which is directed by Ajitvasan. The actors other upcoming projects include Curious Cases of Yedebedita, where she is cast opposite Ashwin Rao Pallakki. She will also be playing the girl-next-door in Adherna, which is directed by Guruprasad.

I always wait for Saurday and Sunday to arrive. To me, a perfect weekend means spending quality time with the people who matter most to me. I live with my parents, Jagadeesh MG and Prema, and brother Manohar.

During my college days, I wanted to spend time with my friends and stay outdoors. However, things have changed now. Since I have to be outside a lot nowadays, I prefer staying at home.

My mother is an excellent cook and I relish the chapati and palyas she makes. She also prepares pani puri. My brother too does culinary experiments and my parents enjoy his cooking. This makes me quite jealous and I also end up trying my hand at cooking. Cooking can be a quite therapeutic yet challenging experience. I believe that it requires a lot of creativity.

When we are all at home, we just sit and chat or head out for a movie, or a dinner.

My father has a great sense of humour. My brother and I love singing and we hold karoake nights. We also record our performances and make our parents listen to it. I am also learning classical music. I also enjoy crafting and painting as provides an outlet to my creative side.

I sometimes hide in my room and dance away. Though I am trained in classical dance, Im more of a freestyle dancer. Dancing is a stressbuster.
Im a gym addict and have to work out regularly. There are days when I work out twice, morning and evening. The feel good factor can boost ones confidence.

During my weekends, I also practise yoga as it helps me relax. I used to be a short-tempered person but I am now able to analyse situations better and channel my emotions accordingly. My friends are a big part of my existence and I make it a point to spend time with them. I have a deep connect with Manasa who was my classmate in college. She is my safe of secrets and my go-to person at any given time. I joined this particular college because she was a student there. We catch up often at a cafe or a park and we share our stories.

I have other college friends like Kiran, Mumtaz, Komala, Mayuri, Kiranmayee, Nikhil Reddy and Apoorva who I like spending time with whenever they are in town. I like being the centre of everyones attention and being pampered. Im the hyperactive one of the lot. From watching films to discussing them, chilling at restaurants to going for trips, the gang is all about having fun. Apoorva is one friend who I video chat with as often as possible and especially on the weekends.

I am close to my childhood friend Phalitha who stays in Hebbal. I met her during my school days and she is that friend who understands me even when we havent spoken for days together. I visit her as often as I can.

I enjoy spending time at her place because her pet Lucy is a bundle of joy. I used to be scared of dogs earlier but once I started spending time with her, I realised there is no one who can love you unconditionally like dogs. I now enjoy going to dog shows and seeing them perform.

Though I dont make any fixed plan, if I get to do whatever I want to at a relaxed pace, that is a perfect weekend for me.

The year saw many interesting food trends that were publicised and followed almost instantly. Anyone with a social media handle posted pictures of their culinary endeavours, favourite ingredients and recipes. People caught on to the craze and innovated in the kitchen. As a result, some ingredients became popular and found place in every trendy Indian kitchen.

Heres a list of the top ingredients that made it to our favourite list:
* Custard powder: This is a long-time favourite of busy women with little time on their hands and hungry kids to feed. It is also a great way to put up a meal almost instantly on the table. Custard powder was great for whipping up desserts at a short notice, but this year, it crept into savoury recipes as well. Consisting chiefly of corn-starch and in some cases, added tapioca starch or sago, custard powder can be used to thicken soups and even gravy dishes and sambhars. A savoury custard with herbs and cheese or bacon, garlic and thyme is a new addition to the table.

* Salami: A cured and fermented sausage, although western, salami made its way into the Indian plate a few years ago, but peaked over the year. Each type of salami is made differently according to the type of meat eaten in the region combined with garlic, vinegar, spices and herbs. It has a long shelf life compared to other meats because it is dehydrated and can be eaten with minimal cooking, as it is already semi-cooked. It is usually fried and added to pastas, baked into pies, sliced and used in sandwiches, tossed in with onions and peppers into a salad.

* Bamboo shoots: A seasonal ingredient, bamboo shoots are a rare delicacy in our country. As they are natively grown, they are mainly available during the monsoons. Previously, they were part of oriental cuisine, but of late, the indigenous recipes from around India are being revived and brought to the table. In some tribal areas, they are pickled and stored for later, while in some other regions like Malnad in Karnataka, they are used in curries.

* Wheat bran: The hard outer layer of the wheat grain, bran contains most of the nutrition within the wheat. Until a decade ago, the outer part was discarded while milling the grain, and the soft part of the grain was made into flour. Having discovered that bran is high in dietary fibre, it has found its way into kitchen shelves. Diet-conscious Indians surely store cereals containing wheat bran in their homes and it is used in rotis and khichdi. These days, it is also added to bread, waffles, pancakes, dosas, sweet and savoury muffins and every other health food.

* Tofu: Soya was quite the rage a few years ago as flour and nuggets. But when studies pointed out that it could be harmful in larger quantities, the alternative provided by dieticians was tofu, which was the fermented bean curd. Up till now, tofu has been a chief ingredient in vegetarian Chinese recipes and preferred by vegans too. High in protein, calcium and iron, it is now being used in Indian recipes like tofu butter masala, bhurji and even skewered and stir-fried starters.

The other ingredients which also made it to this list include khoya, amla, macaroni, pudding gelatin, okra, dried fish, lotus root, barley flour and date syrup.

(The author is lead India operations, Cookpad Inc)

Anyone, who wants to be seen as "hip and happening" and part of the it crowd, has at some point in time posted a picture of food from their travels or visits to posh restaurants on Instagram. Food has universal appeal, makes for a great picture, arousing envy in the viewer, as it sets a bar on the kind of place you would be seen frequenting, and is aspirational for those, who want to show that they can do it too.

The competition for posting the most viewed photos has set some trends across the world, which people have emulated. Here is what we loved this year:

* Unicorn food: When Adeline Waugh, a Miami food stylist, decided to experiment with a pop of natural food colour in her picture, she never dreamed that it would start the biggest Instagram trend. What has followed is history - every imaginable pastel colour, sprinkles, marshmallows, cream and butter has been used to create ice creams, lattes, cakes, milkshakes, doughnuts and cookies to name a few. Even mundane food like soups and toast have been splashed with rainbow hues, with cafés vying for the most photographable images.

* Lattes: This on-the-go drink made it big this year. The milky glasses drenched in interesting colours and swirls of foam were a favourite among teeny boppers, who make Instagram popular. The world specially caught on to turmeric latte, which has been around in our country for centuries as a health drink. Popular coffee chains started offering them on the menu, and everyone in the world wanted to be seen drinking them and posting pictures.

* Sushi: This is an eternal favourite when it comes to pictures. Japanese food has always been popular for its clean Zen lines with muted colour-fills. Lately, sushi has been reinvented as fusion food, with a combination of flavours from different regions in the world. The rice-packed rolls interspersed with layers of coloured sauces, salmon and prawn has taken the shape of burritos, burgers and doughnuts in Instagram clicks.

* Ice cream cones: Who can resist the appeal of an ice cream cone with myriad hues of ice cream dripping from the top! It is not just children, who instagrammed decadent ice cream cones, but adults as well. When the cone is layered with different flavours of ice cream followed by marshmallows, cookies, sprinkles, fruits and nuts, it becomes a whole new level of snobbery. And some parlours went "goth" with their black ice cream dyed with activated charcoal that made waves on social media.

* Healthy juices: The world is tripping on everything healthy right now and Instagram is not behind on this trend either. It is now au courant to announce your fitness fad, with a mason jar of health juice. The uglier the colour, the healthier it is deemed. Dirty greens, muddy yellows and beet-stained reds became fashionable because of their absolutely natural sources of vegetables, fruits and greens. The one with the ability to churn out juices from prickly pear, fennel root, curry powder and the like, became social media stars.

* Buddha bowls: The concept of a Buddha bowl is a layered one, with food groups of every type being fused in one big sumptuous bowl. Every cuisine across the world came up with their own version of the bowl, combining traditional foods with modern mash-ups. Instagrammers worldwide started competing on who could make the most interesting Buddha bowl and what they would put in it. Local Indian ones turned up with variations of rice, sambhar and curry along with exotic salads and ingredients taking it a notch up in the pictures.

* Going native: Across the world, people started rediscovering their roots. The Italians reclaimed their pizzas, the French their cheeses and the Chinese wanted their dimsums back. We Indians, never too disconnected from our home food wherever we go, started finding roti, dal, pongal, ragi mudde, masala dosa and sambhar more attractive than ever before. These foods started appearing on our Insta feeds, titillating the taste buds around the world.

(The author is lead India operations, Cookpad Inc)

2017 is falling off the calendar. Are you tempted to stand on the weighing scale to take stock of all the lard you added or shed in the past 365 days? Dont. Not yet. Just go back to your meal plate and decipher whether you were food-trendy in 2017 or not.

Was there pulverised insect in your muffin? Cricket (insect, not the game, silly) in the pancake. Did you gulp Yucatan pickle for good gut flora? To add a briny tang to food did you used healthy dulse (seaweed) as a salt substitute? Shunned the whiskey and tried turmeric shots, charcoal-activated water, cold-pressed juices and non-alcoholic spirits like Seedlip? Added hemp and sacha inchi in your munch-list? Algae, pea, duckweed and shiitake mushrooms as alt proteins. Like Beyoncé, did you sip watermelon water? Or threw succulent cactus in it? Well, if you answered yes to at least 5, you should be fit as a fiddle and ready to roll light as air into 2018.

Purple pride

The year began with hot trends screaming headlines predicting the reign of all things purple. Whole Foods upped the purple-puff by stating that the pricey purple cauliflower, potatoes, corn, asparagus that once sat on shelves with expensive tags was all set to become Everymans nutrient-pumper. Sterling-Rice Group talked of dessert for breakfast as chocolate improved cognitive function; Google drooled over edible cookie dough as 2017s indulgent trend, McCormick revved to bring the much-maligned egg yolk back into the kitchen and Mintel, a market intelligence agency, blabbered about sleep protein that promotes "calmness and relaxation to encourage sustained quality sleep". Nations Restaurant News, a restaurant industry news organisation, went a step further harping on drinkable desserts and boozy twists on childhood favourites (Think: bourbon-spiked smoothie or floats).

Alt-pasta

If you think sleep protein and boozy childhood twists sounds like a recipe gone wrong, then didnt you hear the 2017 buzz around zoodles? It is not noodle from a zoo, its zucchini noodle. That is spiralising an alt pasta - it is not pasta, it is spiralled zucchini faking as pasta. Chefs around the world were making classic dishes with zoodles - from shoestring fries to beef stroganoff.

The 2017 alt-pasta concoction went beyond the zucchini spirals. There was quinoa-based spaghetti; lasagna sheets made from beans and lentils; moong bean noodles that are excellent for slow carb, gluten-free, and paleo eaters; Japanese shirataki noodles made out of konjac yams; high-protein, vegan, gluten-free black bean spaghetti. Even a cauliflower pizza crust.

Superfood war

Then, there was the superfood war. The seeds puffing their nutrients and winning the battle. Pumpkin and chia moved over to let watermelon seeds feed every munch-lover. Chaga mushrooms emerged as the new kid-on-the-block edging out kale; a new breed of fancy cold-pressed nut oils came to town, from almond to cashew, walnut to hazelnut; vegans and vegetarians courted algae fats for the essential omega-3 fats (flaxseed can take a backseat for now!). In the berry front, it was Maqui berries, Chilean berries rich in vitamin C and antioxidant anthocyanins, purple in colour, bitter but packed with nutritional punch. If 2016 hailed the muscle and fat-burning benefits of beetroot, thanks to its nitric oxide content, 2017 brought blackcurrants to the centrestage. For the same reasons.

Shop smart

On super mart shelves were peeled oranges wrapped in cling; peaches shaped like a babys bum; cherimoya, that Mark Twain described as the "most delicious fruit known to man" vied for glory; and yellow-red stripped returned to the aisles. But if these were not enough to lure everyone to eat fruits and vegetables, bottled fruit smoothies crowded for attention. The really-food-aware shunned it because a 15-ounce bottle can have 40 to 50 grams of sugar. That is about 10 to 12 teaspoons of sugar. Not a good trend. If you did not skip the bottled smoothie in 2017, walk past it in 2018.

For those who think smoothie is kid-food, rum was the new tequila in 2017, aquavit the new gin, and paloma (Mexicos most popular drink, which is a mix of tequila and grapefruit soda) was the next Moscow Mule (cocktail made with vodka, spicy ginger beer, and lime juice, garnished with a slice or wedge of lime).

As the year draws to a close, foodies around the world are beseeching the food-lord to kill a few 2017 food trends before they hop into 2018. Please, no more birizza (biryani pizza). No more of the Unicorn desserts - cupcakes, cake, doughnuts, cookies, macarons, ice creams jazzed up with food colouring, sprinkles, sparkles, and perhaps a horn, candy-floss mane and ears too. Never again freakshakes, topped with cream, cake, sauce and a handful of sweets. Food-lord, please make liquid nitrogen vanish on January 1, 2018. And last on the kill-list is deconstructed food. This food that the diner has to assemble himself is not classy. It is lazy. You can step on the weighing scale now. If it tips dangerously, eat healthy in 2018. Damn, the food trends.

From runway looks, pastel plays, embellished nails, unpredictable lip colours, the year 2017 revealed many stunning new beauty trends to try out on your eyes, lips and cheeks. From make-up to skincare and everything in between, check out the stand-out beauty trends that set the tone for 2017.

Pick the styles thatll allow you to embrace colour in the coolest way possible in the coming year and prepare to get all the attention, as you make a bold make-up statement. With 2017 coming to an end, it is time for big events and parties, a chance to shimmer and shine. In fact, the 2017 trends - most classic to most daring - are made for parties. Read up on these foolproof beauty and makeup trends to up your fashion ante as the year draws to an end

* Very berry lips: Dark-berry tones, shades of blackberry and wine-stained lips were much sought after in 2017. The mirror-like sheen was a rage this year. If you truly want to shine, then youve got to try the glosses in dark and vibrant hues to keep your lips on fleek. Do not add coloured glosses on top of these lip colours, instead use a clear gloss for a better mirror-like finish. Lip gels in magenta, purple and grape were popular this year.

* Shimmer skin: Adding a touch of gloss on your cheeks is passé, as this season was more about glow and shimmer. Many ditched the oil-based or cream-based highlighters. As mineralised foundations made a comeback to give the skin a satiny glow, along with bronzed-shimmer look in gold and deep brown, pearl highlighters on the cheeks for lifted cheekbones enhanced ones natural beauty. The idea was to make the skin look fresh and give it a peachy glow.

* Graphic eyeliners: The year was all about graphic eye make-up. Let the eyes do all the talking with double-winged eyeliners, flick, colourful eyeliners and white eyeliner. While black remained the classic choice, aqua blue, yellow, mint green, etc were really popular. Fuller, volumised lashes were also widely used to accentuate and highlight the eyes.

* Highlighted eyes: Highlighting the tear duct of the eyes with a bright highlighter, in some cases with soft glitter in pearl, gold or white and keeping rest of the face make-up clean, ushered in the era of minimalism. This look created bold statements on otherwise bare faces.

* Glitterati: Metallic eye make-up with soft glitter made a huge comeback. Its out there, flashy and is the perfect way to add that glamorous touch to any party make-up.

2017 has been a year of DIY facialists. Heres a sneak peek into the skincare trends of the year:

* Skincare products including oils and serums, which have a high concentrated portion of vitamin C, flooded the markets. The antioxidant properties in vitamin C gives an instant boost to the skin. Vitamin C enhances skin texture, adds smoothness, radiance and leaves you with a younger-looking skin.

* Face masks were a rage this year and this trend is only going to continue in 2018. A wide range of face masks containing natural extracts like green tea, vitamin C, aloe vera, wild rose etc, have hit the shelves. These can revitalise your skin for that instant glow.

* Honey-based serums and oils were also a popular choice. Not only do they contain the benefits of honey, but they also offer vitamins, minerals and amino acids for an added dose of nourishment and hydration. Honey has always been an active ingredient in most of the DIY face packs. In 2017, the beauty industry has picked this natural home ingredient and added it in all popular skincare products.

* Harsh exfoliators and scrubs will take a backseat and gentle cleansing creams, gels, oil-based and water-based cleansers will be in the limelight in the upcoming year. Other than these, dry brushing on your face and body will gain popularity, as it gives fresher-looking exfoliated skin. It will also be a good way to beat cellulite.

* Oil-enriched creams seem have gained quite a following. There are extra nourishing face creams, oil plus light/thick creams that are mixed together to provide instant results. When applied on the face, the oil gets absorbed in deep layers of your skin and the moisturiser settles onto the surface to give a hydrated and smooth skin texture.

(The author is a hair & make-up expert with Oriflame)

In these dark, chaotic times, it would not be unrealistic for someone, when asked what colour will represent 2018, to look around and guess, say, black. Or maybe deep, bloody burgundy. Wartime red? Fake-tan orange? At the very least, soot grey. Any of them would seemingly match different shades of the general mood.

And yet the self-proclaimed "colour authorities" at Pantone sent approximately 10 people to blanket the globe for weeks at a time, searching for colour signals in food, cars, cosmetics, clothes and housewares. They reconvened, pooled their findings, did their analysis and declared the colour of 2018 to be ... Ultra violet.

Huh?
Yup, the highlighter-purple shade that has also been the name of a Warhol superstar who died in 2014; a 2006 dystopian action film starring Milla Jovovich as a rebel infected with a vampiric virus; an online activist community founded in 2012 to combat sexism and violence toward women; and a kind of light that can cause skin cancer (ahem).

Those things may not be exactly what you think about when you think about whats coming, but the history does demonstrate that the idea has a broad reach. Ultra violet can be many things to many people.

It "communicates originality, ingenuity and visionary thinking," Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, said by way of explanation. It is found in the cosmos (think of all those swirling purple nebulae!), the wellness movement (amethyst crystals!) and was a favourite colour of architect Frank Lloyd Wright, who, Eiseman said, used to wear a purple cape when he was trying to be creative. Ditto Wagner, who liked to surround himself with purple when he was composing. Also, of course, Prince.

"Its also the most complex of all colours," she said, "because it takes two shades that are seemingly diametrically opposed - blue and red - and brings them together to create something new."

Thats an optimistic view of things. And, if the current standoff in Washington is any indication, one that seems more like wishful thinking than reality. But that, it turns out, is part of the point. At least this year.

"Its truly a reflection of whats needed in our world today," said Laurie Pressman, vice president of the Pantone Color Institute. Not, note, "whats going on in our world today." Which is kind of an interesting distinction. It suggests that Pantone is not just observing and predicting, its going proactive.

In the past, Pantone has skewed more reflective. In 2015, for example, it took the relatively radical step of naming two colours for 2016: rose quartz and serenity, a pink and a blue, in acknowledgment of our increasingly gender-fluid world. Last year, it went for a green tone to suggest new beginnings (and quite a beginning this first Trump year has been).

But for 2018, Eiseman said, "We wanted to pick something that brings hope and an uplifting message." This is effectively the colour-psychology equivalent of the theory that says that when you make yourself smile, you feel happier. Or the Field of Dreams mantra: "If you build it, he will come."

In the Pantone version, if you wear it/drink it/drive it, solutions may appear. Thats a pretty ambitious belief. Will people buy it? Well, at this stage, a lot of us may try anything. Gird yourself. We may be in for a new kind of purple reign.