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<p>Milan's catwalks may be the epicentre of global fashion this week, but it's Seoul and K-Pop fans who are front and centre in the battle for new luxury customers.</p>

<p>Outside Prada's fashion show on Thursday, the biggest squeals of excitement came from fans of Jeon Somi, South Korea's blonde singer with 16.6 million Instagram followers.</p>

<p>The hordes of pushing, screaming fans straining for a view of their favourite K-pop or Korean film and television stars are expected to come out in force for the duration of Milan Fashion Week -- underscoring the strategic importance of the South Korean market to Italian fashion.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I've been here since 11 o'clock in the morning to see Somi," 20-year-old Italian fan Serena Danimarco told AFP. "I love her, her music, her look."&nbsp;</p>

<p>She held up a sign reading "Somi I'm so Dumb Dumb for you," a reference to the singer's 2021 single.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Such enthusiasm also greeted the arrival of Korean actress Song Hye-kyo at the Fendi show Wednesday, which kicked off fashion week.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Fan Giulia, 20, was crushed behind a barrier outside the show, holding up her handmade sign with photos of her idol and an "I love you" written underneath.</p>

<p>"I knew she was coming through the networks of Neverland, one of the Korean Idol fan groups. I am also a Blink, a Blackpink fan!" she said, referring to the chart-dominating girl group named by Time Magazine as 2022's "Entertainer of the year".&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Ambassadors of luxury</strong></p>

<p>Luxury brands, whether based in Milan, Paris, London or New York, have been snapping up South Korean stars as brand ambassadors, including Bulgari, Chanel, Celine and Giorgio Armani.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Jimin, a member of the best-selling K-pop boy band BTS, became Dior's latest global brand ambassador in January, while Valentino announced its collaboration with Suga -- another member of the band that is on a temporary hiatus -- who plans a solo tour this spring.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Gucci, meanwhile, has seized on Hanni, the lead singer of NewJeans, another South Korean girl group who released their debut single last summer. Hanni is expected in the front row of Gucci's show on Friday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Like Dior, which held its first runway show in Seoul last year, Gucci also plans to hit the South Korean capital for its upcoming cruise collection in May.</p>

<p>A show planned for last November -- which would have been the South Korean debut for Gucci's former creative director Alessandro Michele -- was cancelled following the Halloween stampede in the city centre that killed more than 150 people.</p>

<p>Sales of Italian fashion to South Korea rose 31 per cent in 2022, according to Italy's fashion chamber (CNMI).</p>

<p>Seven out of the top 10 Italian exports to South Korea relate to fashion, the Italian Trade Agency said.</p>

<p>The biggest chunk comes from leather goods, comprising 21 per cent of total Italian exports to South Korea, up 5.8 per cent over 2021, followed by footwear.</p>

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Milan's catwalks may be the epicentre of global fashion this week, but it's Seoul and K-Pop fans who are front and centre in the battle for new luxury customers.

Milan's catwalks may be the epicentre of global fashion this week, but it's Seoul and K-Pop fans who are front and centre in the battle for new luxury customers. Outside Prada's fashion show on Thursday, the biggest squeals of excitement came from fans of Jeon Somi, South Korea's blonde singer with 16.6 million Instagram followers. The hordes of pushing, screaming fans straining for a view of their favourite K-pop or Korean film and television stars are expected to come out in force for the duration of Milan Fashion Week -- underscoring the strategic importance of the South Korean market to Italian fashion. "I've been here since 11 o'clock in the morning to see Somi," 20-year-old Italian fan Serena Danimarco told AFP. "I love her, her music, her look." She held up a sign reading "Somi I'm so Dumb Dumb for you," a reference to the singer's 2021 single. Such enthusiasm also greeted the arrival of Korean actress Song Hye-kyo at the Fendi show Wednesday, which kicked off fashion week. Fan Giulia, 20, was crushed behind a barrier outside the show, holding up her handmade sign with photos of her idol and an "I love you" written underneath. "I knew she was coming through the networks of Neverland, one of the Korean Idol fan groups. I am also a Blink, a Blackpink fan!" she said, referring to the chart-dominating girl group named by Time Magazine as 2022's "Entertainer of the year". Ambassadors of luxury Luxury brands, whether based in Milan, Paris, London or New York, have been snapping up South Korean stars as brand ambassadors, including Bulgari, Chanel, Celine and Giorgio Armani. Jimin, a member of the best-selling K-pop boy band BTS, became Dior's latest global brand ambassador in January, while Valentino announced its collaboration with Suga -- another member of the band that is on a temporary hiatus -- who plans a solo tour this spring. Gucci, meanwhile, has seized on Hanni, the lead singer of NewJeans, another South Korean girl group who released their debut single last summer. Hanni is expected in the front row of Gucci's show on Friday. Like Dior, which held its first runway show in Seoul last year, Gucci also plans to hit the South Korean capital for its upcoming cruise collection in May. A show planned for last November -- which would have been the South Korean debut for Gucci's former creative director Alessandro Michele -- was cancelled following the Halloween stampede in the city centre that killed more than 150 people. Sales of Italian fashion to South Korea rose 31 per cent in 2022, according to Italy's fashion chamber (CNMI). Seven out of the top 10 Italian exports to South Korea relate to fashion, the Italian Trade Agency said. The biggest chunk comes from leather goods, comprising 21 per cent of total Italian exports to South Korea, up 5.8 per cent over 2021, followed by footwear. WATCH WION LIVE HERE × You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Fashion courts K-Pop and its fans at Milan catwalk shows

<p>Indian apparel retailer Fabindia said on Monday it has withdrawn its plan for a $482 million initial public offering amid rough market conditions, becoming the latest company to scrap listing plans as interest rate worries pressure stock markets.</p>

<p>The 62-year-old company, popular for its sustainable and traditional Indian wear, said it may consider going public in the future and that several global ESG-focused funds had expressed an interest to invest. It did not give details.</p>

<p>Fabindia's move to pull its IPO plans comes after e-commerce firm Snapdeal and wearable electronics company boAt pulled their IPOs due to uncertain market conditions in the past few months, while jewellery retailer Joyalukkas also scrapped such plans.</p>

<p>"Sentiment is weak now. Most of these companies are looking to raise money at higher valuations than is possible in the market right now, and there is no proper appetite," said Hemang Jani, equity strategist at Motilal Oswal Financial Services.</p>

<p>India's benchmark Nifty 50 stock index is down over 4% so far this year on worries that major central banks will raise rates for longer to fight persistently high inflation.</p>

<p>Shares of Fabindia's listed rivals Vedant Fashions, Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail and Arvind Fashions are down 14%-21% this year.</p>

<p>Fabindia in January last year said it would raise 40 billion rupees by selling new shares worth 5 billion rupees and up to 25.1 million in existing shareholders' stock in the IPO, intending to use proceeds to repay debt and redeem non-convertible debentures. &nbsp;($1 = 82.9130 Indian rupees)<br />
&nbsp;</p>


Indian apparel retailer Fabindia said on Monday it has withdrawn its plan for a $482 million initial public offering amid rough market conditions, becoming the latest company to scrap listing plans as interest rate worries pressure stock markets.

Indian apparel retailer Fabindia said on Monday it has withdrawn its plan for a $482 million initial public offering amid rough market conditions, becoming the latest company to scrap listing plans as interest rate worries pressure stock markets. The 62-year-old company, popular for its sustainable and traditional Indian wear, said it may consider going public in the future and that several global ESG-focused funds had expressed an interest to invest. It did not give details. Fabindia's move to pull its IPO plans comes after e-commerce firm Snapdeal and wearable electronics company boAt pulled their IPOs due to uncertain market conditions in the past few months, while jewellery retailer Joyalukkas also scrapped such plans. "Sentiment is weak now. Most of these companies are looking to raise money at higher valuations than is possible in the market right now, and there is no proper appetite," said Hemang Jani, equity strategist at Motilal Oswal Financial Services. India's benchmark Nifty 50 stock index is down over 4% so far this year on worries that major central banks will raise rates for longer to fight persistently high inflation. Shares of Fabindia's listed rivals Vedant Fashions, Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail and Arvind Fashions are down 14%-21% this year. Fabindia in January last year said it would raise 40 billion rupees by selling new shares worth 5 billion rupees and up to 25.1 million in existing shareholders' stock in the IPO, intending to use proceeds to repay debt and redeem non-convertible debentures. ($1 = 82.9130 Indian rupees)

Indian retailer Fabindia scraps $482 million IPO amid uncertain market conditions

<p>It was nipples out on the Milan Fashion Week runway this season, one of the clear trends emerging from a week of previews of mostly womenswear collections for next fall and winter. Wherever there is a trend, there is always the counter-current, and holding out for what he described as “the dignity of women” was Giorgio Armani. Where sheer fabrics were employed in his collection, it was with modesty.</p>

<p>Armani’s show closed out fashion week on Sunday. Here are highlights from the last day of live runway shows:</p>

<p><strong>TOMO KOIZUMI PUTS A SMILEY FACE ON FASHION</strong></p>

<p>With swirls of coloured taffeta and satin gathered into crushed roses, Japanese designer Tomo Koizumi put a smiley face on a rainy Sunday morning.</p>

<p>The exuberant looks were spasms of colour fashioned into ruffles on a minidress constructed from stripes of knitwear, elaborate skirts with deep slits and dresses with southern belle silhouettes. These are occasional pieces that would be standouts on any red carpet, stage or party; imagine the lucky girl wearing one to prom.</p>

<p>The runway show was in collaboration with Dolce &amp; Gabbana, which supplied textiles as well as handbags and shoes, Koizumi said. He turned a print from one of the Italian house’s recent collections into a series of 3-D floral creations.</p>

<p>“I took inspiration from Dolce &amp; Gabbana, and I also got powerful support, which allowed me to push myself even harder,” Koizumi said.</p>

<p>Koizumi also put out there his dream: “To be hired by as creative director of a major fashion house.”</p>

<p><strong>GIORGIO ARMANI’S INTIMATE PEEK INSIDE</strong></p>

<p>Giorgio Armani once again gave the fashion world a glimpse of idealised life inside Milan’s stately palazzi, populated by women for whom dressing in comfort and style is not a contradiction.</p>

<p>Satiny loungewear in soothing earthy tones skimmed the form and was grounded in more structured pieces, such as leather motorcycle jackets or contrasting black vests. The looks were elegantly layered, with long dresses over translucent ribbed trousers suggesting lingerie.</p>

<p>Where sheer fabrics were employed, it was with modesty, for example, over dark tights, and with a bandeau top of velvet.</p>

<p>Beaded fringe, velvet bows and a flower motif underlined the femininity of the collection. And before the Armani woman walks out into the street, one last touch of face powder …</p>

<p>Armani said the collection is about “the dignity of women, dressed with a lot of care and attention, and who take pleasure in dressing.”</p>

<p><strong>CHECKMATE FOR FRANCESCA LIBERATORE</strong></p>

<p>Italian designer Francesca Liberatore conceived her show, featuring a collaboration with the Errea sportswear brand, around a chess game, a comment on the state of the world on many fronts.</p>

<p>Eight Black models walked the runway and took their places on a chessboard laid out in the centre of the showroom. Next came eight white models, who faced off from the other side.</p>

<p>“It is exactly because of the situation that we are living that for me it is essential to have an eye on fairness,” Liberatore said backstage. “And there is nothing like a game to even out situations.”</p>

<p>The first 16 models, who represented the pawns, were followed by the rooks, two with big bouffant hairstyles to represent the castle shape. The knights wore long extensions to embody horse tails, while the bishops had hoods pulled over their hair.</p>

<p>Women took the roles of both king and queen and walked hand in hand in a stately fashion to their spots on the board. Raised collars denoted the kings, sweeping trains the queens.</p>

<p>The Erra collaboration underpinned the looks, including track jackets, stretch tops and leggings in medieval patterns. Liberatore layered the sportswear with draped or half-pleated mini-skirts, tailored jackets, striped and ribbed knitwear and flowing overcoats in the way of an unselfconscious youth mixing style and comfort.</p>

<p>“For me, the chessboard also represented the idea of teamwork,″ the designer said.</p>

<p><strong>DIVERSITY DISPLAYED AT TRADE FAIR</strong></p>

<p>White Milano, the premiere womenswear trade fair held alongside Milan Fashion Week, worked with the Fashion Minority Alliance to feature two Black designers as they promoted a conversation around diversity.</p>

<p>U.S. designer Romeo Hunte and Nigerian-Scottish designer Olubuyi Thomas look to their environments for inspiration, and both are keen on garments that can be transformed to serve multiple purposes.</p>

<p>Hunte draws on his Brooklyn roots for his luxury fashion brand with the six square-dot logos, built around deconstructing garments and oversized proportions to give a modern touch. His trademarks include zipper features that allow a trench to shorten and go sleeveless, giving longer life and flexibility to the outerwear.</p>

<p>The Milan showcase gave him the opportunity to connect his 10-year-old brand with international clients. “It means a lot to me. Me being here will open the way for younger designers as well,” the designer said.</p>

<p>Hunte’s designs have been worn by Michelle Obama and Jennifer Hudson, and he recently did a collaboration with Tommy Hilfiger, whom he called his mentor.</p>

<p>Thomas seamlessly combines his Scottish upbringing with his native Nigeria because “that’s who I am.” He sources materials in both countries, including hand-woven tartans he designs and Nigerian textiles with cutouts and contrasting stitching. One tartan skirt on display at White featured plaid in the back, with black pleating in the front (or vice versa), giving choice.</p>

<p>“I love working on garments that are modular, depending on who you are, and what day it is,” Thomas said.</p>

<p>He is the only designer commissioned to produce his own tartan for an exhibit on the traditional plaid at an upcoming exhibition at the V&amp;A Dundee, Scotland’s design museum.</p>

<p><strong>CHINESE BRAND ANNAKIKI’S SENSE OF DOOM</strong></p>

<p>Chinese designer Anna Yang infused her latest ANNAKIKI collection with a sense of doom from the multiple disasters humankind has faced in recent years, from the coronavirus pandemic to the war in Ukraine.</p>

<p>Yang could not travel to Milan Fashion Week because of visa issues, but her collection and new techniques did the talking for her. She brought out a sense of pessimism in raw leather and burned the edges of an ample tulle dress, achieving a dramatic effect.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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It was nipples out on the Milan Fashion Week runway this season, one of the clear trends emerging from a week of previews of mostly womenswear collections for next fall and winter.

It was nipples out on the Milan Fashion Week runway this season, one of the clear trends emerging from a week of previews of mostly womenswear collections for next fall and winter. Wherever there is a trend, there is always the counter-current, and holding out for what he described as “the dignity of women” was Giorgio Armani. Where sheer fabrics were employed in his collection, it was with modesty. Armani’s show closed out fashion week on Sunday. Here are highlights from the last day of live runway shows: TOMO KOIZUMI PUTS A SMILEY FACE ON FASHION With swirls of coloured taffeta and satin gathered into crushed roses, Japanese designer Tomo Koizumi put a smiley face on a rainy Sunday morning. The exuberant looks were spasms of colour fashioned into ruffles on a minidress constructed from stripes of knitwear, elaborate skirts with deep slits and dresses with southern belle silhouettes. These are occasional pieces that would be standouts on any red carpet, stage or party; imagine the lucky girl wearing one to prom. The runway show was in collaboration with Dolce & Gabbana, which supplied textiles as well as handbags and shoes, Koizumi said. He turned a print from one of the Italian house’s recent collections into a series of 3-D floral creations. “I took inspiration from Dolce & Gabbana, and I also got powerful support, which allowed me to push myself even harder,” Koizumi said. Koizumi also put out there his dream: “To be hired by as creative director of a major fashion house.” GIORGIO ARMANI’S INTIMATE PEEK INSIDE Giorgio Armani once again gave the fashion world a glimpse of idealised life inside Milan’s stately palazzi, populated by women for whom dressing in comfort and style is not a contradiction. Satiny loungewear in soothing earthy tones skimmed the form and was grounded in more structured pieces, such as leather motorcycle jackets or contrasting black vests. The looks were elegantly layered, with long dresses over translucent ribbed trousers suggesting lingerie. Where sheer fabrics were employed, it was with modesty, for example, over dark tights, and with a bandeau top of velvet. Beaded fringe, velvet bows and a flower motif underlined the femininity of the collection. And before the Armani woman walks out into the street, one last touch of face powder … Armani said the collection is about “the dignity of women, dressed with a lot of care and attention, and who take pleasure in dressing.” CHECKMATE FOR FRANCESCA LIBERATORE Italian designer Francesca Liberatore conceived her show, featuring a collaboration with the Errea sportswear brand, around a chess game, a comment on the state of the world on many fronts. Eight Black models walked the runway and took their places on a chessboard laid out in the centre of the showroom. Next came eight white models, who faced off from the other side. “It is exactly because of the situation that we are living that for me it is essential to have an eye on fairness,” Liberatore said backstage. “And there is nothing like a game to even out situations.” The first 16 models, who represented the pawns, were followed by the rooks, two with big bouffant hairstyles to represent the castle shape. The knights wore long extensions to embody horse tails, while the bishops had hoods pulled over their hair. Women took the roles of both king and queen and walked hand in hand in a stately fashion to their spots on the board. Raised collars denoted the kings, sweeping trains the queens. The Erra collaboration underpinned the looks, including track jackets, stretch tops and leggings in medieval patterns. Liberatore layered the sportswear with draped or half-pleated mini-skirts, tailored jackets, striped and ribbed knitwear and flowing overcoats in the way of an unselfconscious youth mixing style and comfort. “For me, the chessboard also represented the idea of teamwork,″ the designer said. DIVERSITY DISPLAYED AT TRADE FAIR White Milano, the premiere womenswear trade fair held alongside Milan Fashion Week, worked with the Fashion Minority Alliance to feature two Black designers as they promoted a conversation around diversity. U.S. designer Romeo Hunte and Nigerian-Scottish designer Olubuyi Thomas look to their environments for inspiration, and both are keen on garments that can be transformed to serve multiple purposes. Hunte draws on his Brooklyn roots for his luxury fashion brand with the six square-dot logos, built around deconstructing garments and oversized proportions to give a modern touch. His trademarks include zipper features that allow a trench to shorten and go sleeveless, giving longer life and flexibility to the outerwear. The Milan showcase gave him the opportunity to connect his 10-year-old brand with international clients. “It means a lot to me. Me being here will open the way for younger designers as well,” the designer said. Hunte’s designs have been worn by Michelle Obama and Jennifer Hudson, and he recently did a collaboration with Tommy Hilfiger, whom he called his mentor. Thomas seamlessly combines his Scottish upbringing with his native Nigeria because “that’s who I am.” He sources materials in both countries, including hand-woven tartans he designs and Nigerian textiles with cutouts and contrasting stitching. One tartan skirt on display at White featured plaid in the back, with black pleating in the front (or vice versa), giving choice. “I love working on garments that are modular, depending on who you are, and what day it is,” Thomas said. He is the only designer commissioned to produce his own tartan for an exhibit on the traditional plaid at an upcoming exhibition at the V&A Dundee, Scotland’s design museum. CHINESE BRAND ANNAKIKI’S SENSE OF DOOM Chinese designer Anna Yang infused her latest ANNAKIKI collection with a sense of doom from the multiple disasters humankind has faced in recent years, from the coronavirus pandemic to the war in Ukraine. Yang could not travel to Milan Fashion Week because of visa issues, but her collection and new techniques did the talking for her. She brought out a sense of pessimism in raw leather and burned the edges of an ample tulle dress, achieving a dramatic effect. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Armani gives graceful close to Milan Fashion Week

<p>Inside a shrine overlooking snow-capped mountains, Hindu priests heaped spoonfuls of puffed rice and ghee into a crackling fire. They closed their eyes and chanted in Sanskrit, hoping their prayers would somehow turn back time and save their holy — and sinking — town.</p>

<p>For months, the roughly 20,000 residents in Joshimath, burrowed in the Himalayas and revered by Hindu and Sikh pilgrims, have watched the earth slowly swallow their community. They pleaded for help that never arrived, and in January their desperate plight made it into the international spotlight.</p>

<p>But by then, Joshimath was already a disaster zone. Multistoried hotels slumped to one side; cracked roads gaped open. More than 860 homes were uninhabitable, splayed by deep fissures that snaked through ceilings, floors and walls. And instead of saviours, they got bulldozers that razed whole lopsided swaths of the town.</p>

<p>The holy town was built on piles of debris left behind by years of landslides and earthquakes. Scientists have warned for decades, including in a 1976 report, that Joshimath could not withstand the level of heavy construction that has recently been taking place.</p>

<p>“Cracks are widening every day and people are in fear. We have been saying for years this is not just a disaster, but a disaster in the making… it’s a time bomb,” said Atul Sati, an activist with the Save Joshimath Committee.</p>

<p>Joshimath’s future is at risk, experts and activists say, due in part to a push backed by the prime minister’s political party to grow religious tourism in Uttarakhand, the holy town’s home state. On top of climate change, extensive new construction to accommodate more tourists and accelerate hydropower projects in the region is exacerbating subsidence — the sinking of land.</p>

<p>Located 1,890 meters (6,200 feet) above sea level, Joshimath is said to have special spiritual powers and is believed to be where Hindu guru Adi Shankaracharya found enlightenment in the 8th century before going on to establish four monasteries across India, including one in Joshimath.</p>

<p>Visitors pass through the town on their way to the famous Sikh shrine, Hemkund Sahib, and the Hindu temple, Badrinath.</p>

<p>“It must be protected,” said Brahmachari Mukundanand, a local priest who called Joshimath the “brain of North India” and explained that “Our body can still function if some limbs are cut off. But if anything happens to our brains, we can’t function. … Its survival is extremely important.”</p>

<p>The town’s loose topsoil and soft rocks can only support so much and that limit, according to environmentalist Vimlendu Jha, may have already been breached.</p>

<p>“You can’t just construct anything anywhere just because it is allowed,” he said. “In the short term, you might think it’s development. But in the long term, it is actually devastation.”</p>

<p>At least 240 families have been forced to relocate without knowing if they would be able to return.</p>

<p>Prabha Sati, who fled Joshimath in a panic last month when her home began to crack and tilt, came back to grab the television, idols of Hindu gods and some shoes before state officials demolished her home.</p>

<p>“We built this house with so much difficulty. Now I will have to leave everything behind. Every small piece of it will be destroyed,” she said, blinking back tears.</p>

<p>Authorities, ignoring expert warnings, have continued to move forward with costly projects in the region, including a slew of hydropower stations and a lengthy highway. The latter is aimed at further boosting religious tourism, a key plank of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party.</p>

<p>In 2021, Modi promised a prosperous decade ahead for Uttarakhand. It is dotted with several holy shrines and improving the state’s infrastructure has already led to a steady rise in pilgrims over the decades. Nearly 500,000 passed through Joshimath in 2019, state data shows.</p>

<p>“In the next 10 years, the state will receive more tourists than it did in the last 100 years,” Modi said.</p>

<p>A big Uttarakhand tourism draw is the Char Dham pilgrimage, one of the toughest in India.</p>

<p>The route takes people to four, high-altitude Hindu temples. Pilgrims traverse challenging terrain, dropping oxygen levels and harsh weather between Badrinath, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Yamunotri temples. In 2022, over 200 out of the 250,000 pilgrims died while making the journey. Authorities said the rise in visitors was straining existing infrastructure.</p>

<p>Already underway, the Char Dham infrastructure project aims to make the journey more accessible via a 10-meter (32-foot) wide and 889-kilometre (552 miles) long all-weather highway as well as a 327-kilometre (203-mile) railway line that would crisscross through the mountains.</p>

<p>It is a controversial project with some experts saying it will exacerbate the fragile situation in the upper Himalayas where several towns are built atop landslide debris.</p>

<p>Veteran environmentalist Ravi Chopra called the project a desecration when he resigned from a court-ordered committee studying its impact. To create such wide roads, engineers would need to smash boulders, cut trees and strip shrubbery, which he said will weaken slopes and make them “more susceptible to natural disasters.”</p>

<p>Urban planning expert Kiran Shinde suggested a pedestrian corridor instead, noting these places were never meant for cars or crowds numbering in the hundreds of thousands.</p>

<p>“The highway is the most disastrous thing to happen to the Char Dham,” said Shinde, a professor at Australia’s La Trobe University who has written on religious tourism. “Let people walk.”</p>

<p>Cracks continue to form. Located near a rail line construction site, Sangeeta Krishali’s home in Lachmoli, about 100 kilometres (62 miles) from Joshimath, has them. She fears for her safety: “It happened there, it can happen here, too.”</p>

<p>In Joshimath’s foothills, construction was paused on a road for the Char Dham project that would ferry tourists faster to the Badrinath temple after cracks emerged in people’s homes.</p>

<p>Locals feared it was too late. A long, jagged crack running across one of the front walls in the famed Adi Shankaracharya monastery had deepened worryingly in recent weeks, said Vishnu Priyanand, one of the priests.</p>

<p>“Let places of worship remain as places of worship. Don’t make them tourist spots,” he pleaded.</p>

<p>It’s not just the highways. For the past 17 years, Atul Sati, the Save Joshimath Committee member, has been convinced that a hydropower station located near his town could one day ruin it. He isn’t alone. In late January, hundreds of residents protested against the National Thermal Power Corporation’s Tapovan project. Posters reading ‘Go back NTPC’ are plastered across the town’s main market.</p>

<p>“Our town is on the verge of destruction because of this project,” Sati said.</p>

<p>Locals say construction blasts for a 12-kilometre (7-mile) tunnel for the station are causing their homes to crumble. Work has been suspended but NTPC officials deny any link to Joshimath’s subsidence. An expert committee is still investigating the cause, but state officials earlier blamed faulty drainage systems.</p>

<p>The state government announced interim relief packages, including compensation worth 150,000 rupees ($1,813) to each affected family, said Himanshu Khurana, the officer in charge of Chamoli district where Joshimath is located. Various government agencies were conducting surveys to determine what caused the damage, he added.</p>

<p>The crisis in Joshimath has reignited questions over whether India’s quest for more hydropower in the mountains to cut its reliance on coal can be achieved sustainably. Uttarakhand, home to more than 30 rivers and surrounded by melting glaciers, has around 100 hydropower projects in varying stages.</p>

<p>In 2021, 200 people died after the Tapovan plant near Joshimath was submerged by severe floods caused in part by fast-shrinking glaciers, and over 6,000 were killed in the state after a devastating cloudburst in 2013.</p>

<p>The heavy construction required for hydropower, like blasting boulders, diverting river flows and cutting through forests, in a region already vulnerable to climate change, could do irreparable damage, experts warn.</p>

<p>It could also displace entire villages, as residents of a hamlet near Joshimath found out.</p>

<p>Haat, a village along the Alaknanda River, was once a sacred hamlet that traced its origins to the guru Adi Shankaracharya, who is said to have established another temple here in the 8th Century.</p>

<p>Today, it is a dumping site for waste and a storage pit for construction materials after the village was acquired in 2009 by an energy enterprise to build a hydropower project.</p>

<p>The Laxmi Narayan temple, encircled by grey stacks of cement, is the only part of the village still standing. All of its residents left over the years as authorities began razing down their homes, said Rajendra Hatwal, once the village chief who now lives in another town nearby.</p>

<p>The project, he fumed, had killed Haat.</p>

<p>“What sort of development requires destroying these priceless places? We don’t want any part of it.”</p>

<p>A court last year directed authorities to stop dumping waste near the historic temple, which was once the last rest stop for devotees on their pilgrimage to Badrinath.</p>

<p>Hatwal and a few others still check in on the temple often. A caretaker, who refused to leave, lives in a makeshift room next to it. He sweeps the grounds, cleans the idols and prepares tea for the odd guest who comes through.</p>

<p>They feared its days, like their homes, were also numbered.</p>

<p>“We are fighting to protect the temple. We want to preserve our ancient culture to pass on to a new generation,” said Hatwal. “They have not only destroyed a village - they have finished a 1,200-year-old culture.”</p>


Inside a shrine overlooking snow-capped mountains, Hindu priests heaped spoonfuls of puffed rice and ghee into a crackling fire. They closed their eyes and chanted in Sanskrit, hoping their prayers would somehow turn back time and save their holy — and sinking — town.

Inside a shrine overlooking snow-capped mountains, Hindu priests heaped spoonfuls of puffed rice and ghee into a crackling fire. They closed their eyes and chanted in Sanskrit, hoping their prayers would somehow turn back time and save their holy — and sinking — town. For months, the roughly 20,000 residents in Joshimath, burrowed in the Himalayas and revered by Hindu and Sikh pilgrims, have watched the earth slowly swallow their community. They pleaded for help that never arrived, and in January their desperate plight made it into the international spotlight. But by then, Joshimath was already a disaster zone. Multistoried hotels slumped to one side; cracked roads gaped open. More than 860 homes were uninhabitable, splayed by deep fissures that snaked through ceilings, floors and walls. And instead of saviours, they got bulldozers that razed whole lopsided swaths of the town. The holy town was built on piles of debris left behind by years of landslides and earthquakes. Scientists have warned for decades, including in a 1976 report, that Joshimath could not withstand the level of heavy construction that has recently been taking place. “Cracks are widening every day and people are in fear. We have been saying for years this is not just a disaster, but a disaster in the making… it’s a time bomb,” said Atul Sati, an activist with the Save Joshimath Committee. Joshimath’s future is at risk, experts and activists say, due in part to a push backed by the prime minister’s political party to grow religious tourism in Uttarakhand, the holy town’s home state. On top of climate change, extensive new construction to accommodate more tourists and accelerate hydropower projects in the region is exacerbating subsidence — the sinking of land. Located 1,890 meters (6,200 feet) above sea level, Joshimath is said to have special spiritual powers and is believed to be where Hindu guru Adi Shankaracharya found enlightenment in the 8th century before going on to establish four monasteries across India, including one in Joshimath. Visitors pass through the town on their way to the famous Sikh shrine, Hemkund Sahib, and the Hindu temple, Badrinath. “It must be protected,” said Brahmachari Mukundanand, a local priest who called Joshimath the “brain of North India” and explained that “Our body can still function if some limbs are cut off. But if anything happens to our brains, we can’t function. … Its survival is extremely important.” The town’s loose topsoil and soft rocks can only support so much and that limit, according to environmentalist Vimlendu Jha, may have already been breached. “You can’t just construct anything anywhere just because it is allowed,” he said. “In the short term, you might think it’s development. But in the long term, it is actually devastation.” At least 240 families have been forced to relocate without knowing if they would be able to return. Prabha Sati, who fled Joshimath in a panic last month when her home began to crack and tilt, came back to grab the television, idols of Hindu gods and some shoes before state officials demolished her home. “We built this house with so much difficulty. Now I will have to leave everything behind. Every small piece of it will be destroyed,” she said, blinking back tears. Authorities, ignoring expert warnings, have continued to move forward with costly projects in the region, including a slew of hydropower stations and a lengthy highway. The latter is aimed at further boosting religious tourism, a key plank of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party. In 2021, Modi promised a prosperous decade ahead for Uttarakhand. It is dotted with several holy shrines and improving the state’s infrastructure has already led to a steady rise in pilgrims over the decades. Nearly 500,000 passed through Joshimath in 2019, state data shows. “In the next 10 years, the state will receive more tourists than it did in the last 100 years,” Modi said. A big Uttarakhand tourism draw is the Char Dham pilgrimage, one of the toughest in India. The route takes people to four, high-altitude Hindu temples. Pilgrims traverse challenging terrain, dropping oxygen levels and harsh weather between Badrinath, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Yamunotri temples. In 2022, over 200 out of the 250,000 pilgrims died while making the journey. Authorities said the rise in visitors was straining existing infrastructure. Already underway, the Char Dham infrastructure project aims to make the journey more accessible via a 10-meter (32-foot) wide and 889-kilometre (552 miles) long all-weather highway as well as a 327-kilometre (203-mile) railway line that would crisscross through the mountains. It is a controversial project with some experts saying it will exacerbate the fragile situation in the upper Himalayas where several towns are built atop landslide debris. Veteran environmentalist Ravi Chopra called the project a desecration when he resigned from a court-ordered committee studying its impact. To create such wide roads, engineers would need to smash boulders, cut trees and strip shrubbery, which he said will weaken slopes and make them “more susceptible to natural disasters.” Urban planning expert Kiran Shinde suggested a pedestrian corridor instead, noting these places were never meant for cars or crowds numbering in the hundreds of thousands. “The highway is the most disastrous thing to happen to the Char Dham,” said Shinde, a professor at Australia’s La Trobe University who has written on religious tourism. “Let people walk.” Cracks continue to form. Located near a rail line construction site, Sangeeta Krishali’s home in Lachmoli, about 100 kilometres (62 miles) from Joshimath, has them. She fears for her safety: “It happened there, it can happen here, too.” In Joshimath’s foothills, construction was paused on a road for the Char Dham project that would ferry tourists faster to the Badrinath temple after cracks emerged in people’s homes. Locals feared it was too late. A long, jagged crack running across one of the front walls in the famed Adi Shankaracharya monastery had deepened worryingly in recent weeks, said Vishnu Priyanand, one of the priests. “Let places of worship remain as places of worship. Don’t make them tourist spots,” he pleaded. It’s not just the highways. For the past 17 years, Atul Sati, the Save Joshimath Committee member, has been convinced that a hydropower station located near his town could one day ruin it. He isn’t alone. In late January, hundreds of residents protested against the National Thermal Power Corporation’s Tapovan project. Posters reading ‘Go back NTPC’ are plastered across the town’s main market. “Our town is on the verge of destruction because of this project,” Sati said. Locals say construction blasts for a 12-kilometre (7-mile) tunnel for the station are causing their homes to crumble. Work has been suspended but NTPC officials deny any link to Joshimath’s subsidence. An expert committee is still investigating the cause, but state officials earlier blamed faulty drainage systems. The state government announced interim relief packages, including compensation worth 150,000 rupees ($1,813) to each affected family, said Himanshu Khurana, the officer in charge of Chamoli district where Joshimath is located. Various government agencies were conducting surveys to determine what caused the damage, he added. The crisis in Joshimath has reignited questions over whether India’s quest for more hydropower in the mountains to cut its reliance on coal can be achieved sustainably. Uttarakhand, home to more than 30 rivers and surrounded by melting glaciers, has around 100 hydropower projects in varying stages. In 2021, 200 people died after the Tapovan plant near Joshimath was submerged by severe floods caused in part by fast-shrinking glaciers, and over 6,000 were killed in the state after a devastating cloudburst in 2013. The heavy construction required for hydropower, like blasting boulders, diverting river flows and cutting through forests, in a region already vulnerable to climate change, could do irreparable damage, experts warn. It could also displace entire villages, as residents of a hamlet near Joshimath found out. Haat, a village along the Alaknanda River, was once a sacred hamlet that traced its origins to the guru Adi Shankaracharya, who is said to have established another temple here in the 8th Century. Today, it is a dumping site for waste and a storage pit for construction materials after the village was acquired in 2009 by an energy enterprise to build a hydropower project. The Laxmi Narayan temple, encircled by grey stacks of cement, is the only part of the village still standing. All of its residents left over the years as authorities began razing down their homes, said Rajendra Hatwal, once the village chief who now lives in another town nearby. The project, he fumed, had killed Haat. “What sort of development requires destroying these priceless places? We don’t want any part of it.” A court last year directed authorities to stop dumping waste near the historic temple, which was once the last rest stop for devotees on their pilgrimage to Badrinath. Hatwal and a few others still check in on the temple often. A caretaker, who refused to leave, lives in a makeshift room next to it. He sweeps the grounds, cleans the idols and prepares tea for the odd guest who comes through. They feared its days, like their homes, were also numbered. “We are fighting to protect the temple. We want to preserve our ancient culture to pass on to a new generation,” said Hatwal. “They have not only destroyed a village - they have finished a 1,200-year-old culture.”

'A time bomb': India’s sinking holy town faces grim future

<p>Ayahuasca is a type of hallucinogenic brew, which is traditionally used among the indigenous people&nbsp;of the Amazon basin as socially and as a ceremonial or shamanic spiritual medicine.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ayahuasca, the psychoactive brew, is made from ingredients with hallucinogenic properties and some even claim that it can benefit brain health and well-being.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It is basically extracted from the "Banisteriopsis caapi" vine which has grown in the Amazon for thousands of years.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ayahuasca has become popular in the outside world more recently in the Western society, despite being associated with several potential risks.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a report by the news agency AFP, Cofan Avie, the master of Ayahuasca, lives in the heart of the Ecuadoran Amazon. It is said that the powerful concoction is known for opening the doors to the "spirit" world. In that particular region, people call it "yage" and consume it for health and wisdom.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Isidro Lucitante, who is the patriarch and shaman of nine Indigenous Cofan Avie families, said that "God once lived here on this planet".&nbsp;</p>

<p>While talking about Ayahuasca, the 63-year-old Lucitante said that this God "pulled out one of his hairs and planted it on the Earth. Thus was born the yage, source of knowledge and wisdom".&nbsp;</p>

<p>A tourist industry in neighbouring Peru has taken root around the vine that is now also available for sale, in capsules or as an infusion.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, for the Cofan Avie tribe, yage is not meant for business but an umbilical cord that connects them to one another and to long-dead ancestors.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Lucitante said, "Yage is not a drug. On the contrary, it is a remedy that makes us better. My grandfather drank yage every week, he lived to 115! We are all healthy!"&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Does Ayahuasca pose health risks?&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>In recent days, Ayahuasca has become increasingly fashionable and even punted as a treatment for drug addiction.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But according to medical experts, it can be dangerous for people who take antidepressants or suffer from heart or psychotic problems, epilepsy or asthma.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the Drug Enforcement Administration in the United States, in Ayahuasca, the active ingredient of dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is illegal, and also in some other countries.<br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em>&nbsp;</p>

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Ayahuasca is a type of hallucinogenic brew, which is traditionally used among the indigenous people of the Amazon basin as socially and as a ceremonial or shamanic spiritual medicine.

Ayahuasca is a type of hallucinogenic brew, which is traditionally used among the indigenous people of the Amazon basin as socially and as a ceremonial or shamanic spiritual medicine. Ayahuasca, the psychoactive brew, is made from ingredients with hallucinogenic properties and some even claim that it can benefit brain health and well-being. It is basically extracted from the "Banisteriopsis caapi" vine which has grown in the Amazon for thousands of years. Ayahuasca has become popular in the outside world more recently in the Western society, despite being associated with several potential risks. In a report by the news agency AFP, Cofan Avie, the master of Ayahuasca, lives in the heart of the Ecuadoran Amazon. It is said that the powerful concoction is known for opening the doors to the "spirit" world. In that particular region, people call it "yage" and consume it for health and wisdom. Isidro Lucitante, who is the patriarch and shaman of nine Indigenous Cofan Avie families, said that "God once lived here on this planet". While talking about Ayahuasca, the 63-year-old Lucitante said that this God "pulled out one of his hairs and planted it on the Earth. Thus was born the yage, source of knowledge and wisdom". A tourist industry in neighbouring Peru has taken root around the vine that is now also available for sale, in capsules or as an infusion. However, for the Cofan Avie tribe, yage is not meant for business but an umbilical cord that connects them to one another and to long-dead ancestors. Lucitante said, "Yage is not a drug. On the contrary, it is a remedy that makes us better. My grandfather drank yage every week, he lived to 115! We are all healthy!" Does Ayahuasca pose health risks? In recent days, Ayahuasca has become increasingly fashionable and even punted as a treatment for drug addiction. But according to medical experts, it can be dangerous for people who take antidepressants or suffer from heart or psychotic problems, epilepsy or asthma. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration in the United States, in Ayahuasca, the active ingredient of dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is illegal, and also in some other countries. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

What is Ayahuasca? Powerful hallucinogenic concoction said to open doors to 'spirit' world

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidv5LiIxQbCkeN" /><meta charset="utf-8" /><strong>Cattle farming</strong> is the practice of raising cattle for various purposes, such as for meat, milk, and as draft animals. Cattle farming is an important industry worldwide and has been a key part of agriculture for thousands of years. Here are some basic facts about cattle farming:</p>

<p><strong>Types of cattle:</strong> There are several breeds of cattle used in farming, such as Angus, Hereford, Charolais, and Brahman, among others.</p>

<ol>
	<li><strong>Housing</strong>: Cattle can be housed in various structures, such as barns, sheds, and feedlots. The type of housing depends on the climate, the size of the herd, and the purpose of the cattle.</li>
	<li><strong>Feeding</strong>: Cattle can be fed a variety of diets, including grass, hay, and grains. The diet depends on the age of the cattle, their purpose, and the available resources.</li>
	<li><strong>Health</strong>: Cattle require routine care and management, such as vaccinations, deworming, and hoof trimming. They are also susceptible to various diseases, such as foot-and-mouth disease and bovine tuberculosis.</li>
	<li><strong>Products</strong>: Cattle are raised for various products, such as beef, milk, leather, and fertilizer. Different breeds of cattle are used for different products.</li>
</ol>

<p>Cattle farming can be a profitable business if managed properly, but it requires significant investment in land, equipment, and infrastructure. Additionally, there are environmental concerns associated with large-scale cattle farming, such as water pollution and deforestation. As such, sustainable and responsible practices are important in cattle farming.</p>

<p><strong><em>Cattle farming, also known as ranching, has several benefits. Here are some of them:</em></strong></p>

<ol>
	<li><strong>Food production</strong>: Cattle farming is a major source of food, particularly beef, which is a significant source of protein for many people around the world.</li>
	<li><strong>Economic benefits</strong>: Cattle farming can provide significant economic benefits to farmers, rural communities, and countries as a whole, through employment opportunities, export earnings, and tax revenue.</li>
	<li><strong>Land management</strong>: Cattle farming can be an effective way to manage large tracts of land, particularly in areas where other forms of agriculture are not feasible. Cattle can graze on land that is unsuitable for crops and can help control invasive plant species.</li>
	<li><strong>Fertilizer production</strong>: Cattle manure is an excellent source of organic fertilizer, which can be used to improve soil fertility and crop yields.</li>
	<li><strong>Soil conservation</strong>: Cattle farming can help to prevent soil erosion, particularly in hilly or mountainous areas, by reducing the amount of surface runoff.</li>
	<li><strong>Biodiversity conservation</strong>: Cattle farming can contribute to the conservation of grasslands and other habitats, which can support a wide range of plant and animal species.</li>
	<li><strong>Cultural heritage:</strong>&nbsp;Cattle farming is often an important part of the cultural heritage of rural communities, particularly in regions where pastoralism has been practised for centuries.</li>
	<li><strong>Ecotourism:</strong>&nbsp;Cattle farming can also support ecotourism, particularly in areas where visitors can observe traditional ranching practices and learn about local culture and ecology.</li>
</ol>

<p>Overall, cattle farming can provide a range of social, economic, and environmental benefits, particularly when it is practised in a sustainable and responsible manner.</p>


Cattle farming is the practice of raising cattle for various purposes, such as for meat, milk, and as draft animals. Cattle farming is an important industry worldwide and has been a key part of agriculture for thousands of years.

Cattle farming is the practice of raising cattle for various purposes, such as for meat, milk, and as draft animals. Cattle farming is an important industry worldwide and has been a key part of agriculture for thousands of years. Here are some basic facts about cattle farming: Types of cattle: There are several breeds of cattle used in farming, such as Angus, Hereford, Charolais, and Brahman, among others. Housing: Cattle can be housed in various structures, such as barns, sheds, and feedlots. The type of housing depends on the climate, the size of the herd, and the purpose of the cattle. Feeding: Cattle can be fed a variety of diets, including grass, hay, and grains. The diet depends on the age of the cattle, their purpose, and the available resources. Health: Cattle require routine care and management, such as vaccinations, deworming, and hoof trimming. They are also susceptible to various diseases, such as foot-and-mouth disease and bovine tuberculosis. Products: Cattle are raised for various products, such as beef, milk, leather, and fertilizer. Different breeds of cattle are used for different products. Cattle farming can be a profitable business if managed properly, but it requires significant investment in land, equipment, and infrastructure. Additionally, there are environmental concerns associated with large-scale cattle farming, such as water pollution and deforestation. As such, sustainable and responsible practices are important in cattle farming. Cattle farming, also known as ranching, has several benefits. Here are some of them: Food production: Cattle farming is a major source of food, particularly beef, which is a significant source of protein for many people around the world. Economic benefits: Cattle farming can provide significant economic benefits to farmers, rural communities, and countries as a whole, through employment opportunities, export earnings, and tax revenue. Land management: Cattle farming can be an effective way to manage large tracts of land, particularly in areas where other forms of agriculture are not feasible. Cattle can graze on land that is unsuitable for crops and can help control invasive plant species. Fertilizer production: Cattle manure is an excellent source of organic fertilizer, which can be used to improve soil fertility and crop yields. Soil conservation: Cattle farming can help to prevent soil erosion, particularly in hilly or mountainous areas, by reducing the amount of surface runoff. Biodiversity conservation: Cattle farming can contribute to the conservation of grasslands and other habitats, which can support a wide range of plant and animal species. Cultural heritage: Cattle farming is often an important part of the cultural heritage of rural communities, particularly in regions where pastoralism has been practised for centuries. Ecotourism: Cattle farming can also support ecotourism, particularly in areas where visitors can observe traditional ranching practices and learn about local culture and ecology. Overall, cattle farming can provide a range of social, economic, and environmental benefits, particularly when it is practised in a sustainable and responsible manner.

What is cattle farming, and what are its benefits?

<p>How important is sleep for good health? As it turns out, a lot. A new study found that people with a good sleep schedule tend to enjoy longer lives. If you're a man, a good night's sleep will add five years to your life expectancy, while for women that number stands lower at two and a half years. If you want to reap this study's benefits, you must follow a particular sleep schedule. The study recommends five factors that may make your next round of zzzs, a quality sleep. Intrigued? Read on to know what you need to change about your sleep schedule, and what qualifies as a night of quality sleep.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;All about Starbucks Oleato coffee beverages</strong></p>

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<p>Step 1. Make sure you're getting at least seven to eight hours of sleep.</p>

<p>Step 2. This one might not be in your control, but you can't be having difficulty falling asleep more than twice a week.</p>

<p>Step 3. Similarly, you can't have interrupted sleep for more than two days a week.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-is-sea-moss-the-new-superfood-here-are-12-amazing-health-benefits-you-should-know-565449">Is Sea Moss the new superfood? Here are 12 amazing health benefits you should know</a></strong></p>

<p>Step 4. Your sleep should not depend on sleep medication. It has to be natural.</p>

<p>Step 5. It's not quality sleep if you're not feeling rested even after sleeping an appropriate number of hours at least five days a week.</p>

<p>These factors are not just a shot in the dark. Researchers spent more than four years analysing the data of over 172,000 people who answered sleep questionnaires. The study was conducted as part of the National Health Interview Survey, an annual survey done by the CDC and the National Center for Health Statistics.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-whats-a-good-way-to-gain-weight-if-youre-too-skinny-here-are-some-healthy-tips-565085">What's a good way to gain weight if you're too skinny? Here are some healthy tips</a></strong></p>

<p>"If people have all these ideal sleep behaviours, they are more likely to live longer," says Dr Frank Qian, a clinical fellow in medicine at Harvard Medical School, and co-author of the study.</p>

<p>"So if we can improve sleep overall, and identifying sleep disorders is especially important, we may be able to prevent some of this premature mortality," he added. As per Qian, there needs to be additional research done on why quality sleep correlates to a higher life expectancy in men.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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How important is sleep for good health? As it turns out, a lot. A new study found that people with a good sleep schedule tend to enjoy longer lives. If you're a man, a good night's sleep will add five years to your life expectancy, while for women that number stands lower at two and a half years.

How important is sleep for good health? As it turns out, a lot. A new study found that people with a good sleep schedule tend to enjoy longer lives. If you're a man, a good night's sleep will add five years to your life expectancy, while for women that number stands lower at two and a half years. If you want to reap this study's benefits, you must follow a particular sleep schedule. The study recommends five factors that may make your next round of zzzs, a quality sleep. Intrigued? Read on to know what you need to change about your sleep schedule, and what qualifies as a night of quality sleep. Watch | All about Starbucks Oleato coffee beverages Step 1. Make sure you're getting at least seven to eight hours of sleep. Step 2. This one might not be in your control, but you can't be having difficulty falling asleep more than twice a week. Step 3. Similarly, you can't have interrupted sleep for more than two days a week. Also read | Is Sea Moss the new superfood? Here are 12 amazing health benefits you should know Step 4. Your sleep should not depend on sleep medication. It has to be natural. Step 5. It's not quality sleep if you're not feeling rested even after sleeping an appropriate number of hours at least five days a week. These factors are not just a shot in the dark. Researchers spent more than four years analysing the data of over 172,000 people who answered sleep questionnaires. The study was conducted as part of the National Health Interview Survey, an annual survey done by the CDC and the National Center for Health Statistics. Also read | What's a good way to gain weight if you're too skinny? Here are some healthy tips "If people have all these ideal sleep behaviours, they are more likely to live longer," says Dr Frank Qian, a clinical fellow in medicine at Harvard Medical School, and co-author of the study. "So if we can improve sleep overall, and identifying sleep disorders is especially important, we may be able to prevent some of this premature mortality," he added. As per Qian, there needs to be additional research done on why quality sleep correlates to a higher life expectancy in men. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Study reveals five things that can help improve your sleep, and increase your lifespan

<p>After a successful first edition of the Serendipity Arles Grant, the largest of its kind for lens-based practitioners in South Asia is back with its second chapter. As an ongoing exercise to strengthen regional cooperation on the foundation of the strong Indo-French bilateral relations through cultural exchange, Serendipity Arts Foundation and Les Rencontres d’Arles announced the second chapter of the biggest photography, video and new media grant, supported by the Embassy of France in India, with the shared purpose of promoting cultural practices in South Asia.</p>

<p>The winning grant amount this year has been set to INR 12,00,000 rupees (approximately 15,000 euros) and will support lens-based practitioners from South Asian countries, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The initiative seeks not only to empower artists from the region, but also further a spirit of regional cooperation and representation.</p>

<p>The open call for entries began on January 30, 2023, and the applications will be accepted through the social media handles of the Serendipity Arts Foundation, Les Rencontres d’Arles and the Embassy of France in India. The process of receiving applications will close on March 15.</p>

<p>Welcoming the second edition of the Serendipity Arles Grant, Mr. Sunil Kant Munjal, Founder &amp; Patron, Serendipity Arts and Founder of THE BRIJ, said, “This grant, is the coming together of Serendipity Arts and Rencontres d’Arles to jointly support lens-based practitioners and to promote the diverse creative expressions of the South Asian region. The first edition of the grant showed us the possibilities emerging from this association and we hope that our continuing support of the second edition will show our commitment to back and support artists from the region and help promote their work on a global scale.”</p>

<p>All information about the grant, eligibility and application is available on the Serendipity Arts Foundation website.</p>


After a successful first edition of the Serendipity Arles Grant, the largest of its kind for lens-based practitioners in South Asia is back with its second chapter.

After a successful first edition of the Serendipity Arles Grant, the largest of its kind for lens-based practitioners in South Asia is back with its second chapter. As an ongoing exercise to strengthen regional cooperation on the foundation of the strong Indo-French bilateral relations through cultural exchange, Serendipity Arts Foundation and Les Rencontres d’Arles announced the second chapter of the biggest photography, video and new media grant, supported by the Embassy of France in India, with the shared purpose of promoting cultural practices in South Asia. The winning grant amount this year has been set to INR 12,00,000 rupees (approximately 15,000 euros) and will support lens-based practitioners from South Asian countries, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The initiative seeks not only to empower artists from the region, but also further a spirit of regional cooperation and representation. The open call for entries began on January 30, 2023, and the applications will be accepted through the social media handles of the Serendipity Arts Foundation, Les Rencontres d’Arles and the Embassy of France in India. The process of receiving applications will close on March 15. Welcoming the second edition of the Serendipity Arles Grant, Mr. Sunil Kant Munjal, Founder & Patron, Serendipity Arts and Founder of THE BRIJ, said, “This grant, is the coming together of Serendipity Arts and Rencontres d’Arles to jointly support lens-based practitioners and to promote the diverse creative expressions of the South Asian region. The first edition of the grant showed us the possibilities emerging from this association and we hope that our continuing support of the second edition will show our commitment to back and support artists from the region and help promote their work on a global scale.” All information about the grant, eligibility and application is available on the Serendipity Arts Foundation website.

Serendipity Arles Grant 2023-24 is back with its second edition

<p>Sea moss, also known as Irish moss, is a type of seaweed that grows in the Atlantic Ocean, particularly in the Caribbean Sea and along the coasts of Ireland. It is a red algae that is commonly used as a natural thickener in various food and cosmetic products.</p>

<p>Sea moss can be consumed in various forms, including as a gel or powder, or added to smoothies, soups, and stews. It is also commonly used in skincare products due to its hydrating and soothing properties. However, it is important to note that sea moss can have potential side effects, particularly for those with thyroid disorders or who are taking blood-thinning medications. As with any new supplement, it is recommended to consult with a healthcare professional before adding sea moss to your diet.</p>

<p>Sea moss, also known as Irish moss, is a type of seaweed that is known for its potential health benefits.&nbsp;<b>Here are 12 benefits associated with consuming sea moss:</b></p>

<p>1. Supports immune function: Sea moss is rich in antioxidants, which can help protect the body against cellular damage and support immune function.</p>

<p>2. Supports thyroid function: Sea moss is a natural source of iodine, which is essential for the production of thyroid hormones. These hormones are important for regulating metabolism and energy levels.</p>

<p>3. Promotes healthy digestion: Sea moss contains soluble fibre, which can help promote healthy digestion and regular bowel movements.</p>

<p>4. Supports healthy skin: Sea moss is rich in vitamins and minerals that can help support healthy skin, including vitamins A, C, and E, and calcium, magnesium, and zinc.</p>

<p>5. May support weight loss: Sea moss is low in calories but high in fibre, which can help you feel full and satisfied after eating. It may also help support a healthy metabolism.</p>

<p>6. Promotes healthy hair: Sea moss contains vitamins and minerals that can help support healthy hair growth and prevent hair loss.</p>

<p>7. May improve joint health: Sea moss contains anti-inflammatory compounds that may help reduce inflammation and pain associated with conditions such as arthritis.</p>

<p>8. Supports heart health: Sea moss contains potassium, which is important for regulating blood pressure and promoting heart health.</p>

<p>9. May help regulate blood sugar: Sea moss contains soluble fibre, which can help regulate blood sugar levels and prevent spikes in glucose.</p>

<p>10. May support respiratory health: Sea moss contains compounds that may help support respiratory health and reduce symptoms associated with conditions such as bronchitis and asthma.</p>

<p>11. Supports mental health: Sea moss contains magnesium, which is important for maintaining healthy brain function and may help reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.</p>

<p>12. May improve exercise performance: Sea moss contains compounds that may help improve exercise performance and reduce fatigue during physical activity.</p>

<p aria-hidden="true">It's important to note that these benefits are not scientifically proven, and more research is needed to fully understand the potential health benefits of sea moss.&nbsp;</p>


Sea moss, also known as Irish moss, is a type of seaweed that grows in the Atlantic Ocean, particularly in the Caribbean Sea and along the coasts of Ireland. It is a red algae that is commonly used as a natural thickener in various food and cosmetic products.

Sea moss, also known as Irish moss, is a type of seaweed that grows in the Atlantic Ocean, particularly in the Caribbean Sea and along the coasts of Ireland. It is a red algae that is commonly used as a natural thickener in various food and cosmetic products. Sea moss can be consumed in various forms, including as a gel or powder, or added to smoothies, soups, and stews. It is also commonly used in skincare products due to its hydrating and soothing properties. However, it is important to note that sea moss can have potential side effects, particularly for those with thyroid disorders or who are taking blood-thinning medications. As with any new supplement, it is recommended to consult with a healthcare professional before adding sea moss to your diet. Sea moss, also known as Irish moss, is a type of seaweed that is known for its potential health benefits. Here are 12 benefits associated with consuming sea moss: 1. Supports immune function: Sea moss is rich in antioxidants, which can help protect the body against cellular damage and support immune function. 2. Supports thyroid function: Sea moss is a natural source of iodine, which is essential for the production of thyroid hormones. These hormones are important for regulating metabolism and energy levels. 3. Promotes healthy digestion: Sea moss contains soluble fibre, which can help promote healthy digestion and regular bowel movements. 4. Supports healthy skin: Sea moss is rich in vitamins and minerals that can help support healthy skin, including vitamins A, C, and E, and calcium, magnesium, and zinc. 5. May support weight loss: Sea moss is low in calories but high in fibre, which can help you feel full and satisfied after eating. It may also help support a healthy metabolism. 6. Promotes healthy hair: Sea moss contains vitamins and minerals that can help support healthy hair growth and prevent hair loss. 7. May improve joint health: Sea moss contains anti-inflammatory compounds that may help reduce inflammation and pain associated with conditions such as arthritis. 8. Supports heart health: Sea moss contains potassium, which is important for regulating blood pressure and promoting heart health. 9. May help regulate blood sugar: Sea moss contains soluble fibre, which can help regulate blood sugar levels and prevent spikes in glucose. 10. May support respiratory health: Sea moss contains compounds that may help support respiratory health and reduce symptoms associated with conditions such as bronchitis and asthma. 11. Supports mental health: Sea moss contains magnesium, which is important for maintaining healthy brain function and may help reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. 12. May improve exercise performance: Sea moss contains compounds that may help improve exercise performance and reduce fatigue during physical activity. It's important to note that these benefits are not scientifically proven, and more research is needed to fully understand the potential health benefits of sea moss.

Is Sea Moss the new superfood? Here are 12 amazing health benefits you should know

<p>Weight gain can be achieved by consuming more calories than you burn through physical activity and daily metabolic processes. However, it's important to note that weight gain should be approached in a healthy and sustainable way, and the specific approach may vary based on an individual's unique needs and health status. Being underweight can be defined in a couple of ways. It can mean low weight for a person's height, defined as a body mass index (BMI) of less than 18.5. It also could be a weight that is 15 to 20% below the typical weight for a person's age.&nbsp;</p>

<p>If you are looking to gain weight, there are a few things you can do to help you achieve your goal. Here are some tips:</p>

<p><b>Eat more calories than you burn:</b>&nbsp;To gain weight, you need to eat more calories than your body burns. This means you need to consume more calories than you expend in a day. You can use a calorie tracker app to help you determine how many calories you need to eat to gain weight.</p>

<p><b>Eat nutrient-dense foods</b>: It's important to focus on eating nutrient-dense foods, such as fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains. These foods will provide your body with the nutrients it needs to function properly and help you gain a healthy weight.</p>

<p><b>Eat frequently</b>: Try to eat 5-6 smaller meals throughout the day instead of 3 large meals.</p>

<p><b>Incorporate healthy fats:</b>&nbsp;Adding healthy fats to your diet can help you gain weight. These can be found in foods such as avocados, nuts, seeds, and fatty fish.</p>

<p><b>Strength training:</b>&nbsp;Incorporating strength training exercises into your workout routine can help you build muscle and gain weight. Focus on compound exercises that work multiple muscle groups, such as squats, deadlifts, and bench presses.</p>

<p><b>Consistency:</b>&nbsp;Consistency is key when it comes to gaining weight. Make sure you are eating enough calories and getting enough exercise on a regular basis to see results.</p>

<p><b>Drink calorie-rich beverages:</b>&nbsp;Choose beverages that are high in calories such as fruit juices, smoothies, and milkshakes.</p>

<p><b>Get enough sleep:&nbsp;</b>Aim to get 7-9 hours of sleep each night to aid in recovery and muscle growth.</p>

<p>It's important to remember that weight gain should be approached in a healthy and sustainable way. Consult with a healthcare professional or registered dietitian if you have any concerns or questions about gaining weight.</p>


Weight gain can be achieved by consuming more calories than you burn through physical activity and daily metabolic processes. However, it's important to note that weight gain should be approached in a healthy and sustainable way, and the specific approach may vary based on an individual's unique needs and health status.

Weight gain can be achieved by consuming more calories than you burn through physical activity and daily metabolic processes. However, it's important to note that weight gain should be approached in a healthy and sustainable way, and the specific approach may vary based on an individual's unique needs and health status. Being underweight can be defined in a couple of ways. It can mean low weight for a person's height, defined as a body mass index (BMI) of less than 18.5. It also could be a weight that is 15 to 20% below the typical weight for a person's age. If you are looking to gain weight, there are a few things you can do to help you achieve your goal. Here are some tips: Eat more calories than you burn: To gain weight, you need to eat more calories than your body burns. This means you need to consume more calories than you expend in a day. You can use a calorie tracker app to help you determine how many calories you need to eat to gain weight. Eat nutrient-dense foods: It's important to focus on eating nutrient-dense foods, such as fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains. These foods will provide your body with the nutrients it needs to function properly and help you gain a healthy weight. Eat frequently: Try to eat 5-6 smaller meals throughout the day instead of 3 large meals. Incorporate healthy fats: Adding healthy fats to your diet can help you gain weight. These can be found in foods such as avocados, nuts, seeds, and fatty fish. Strength training: Incorporating strength training exercises into your workout routine can help you build muscle and gain weight. Focus on compound exercises that work multiple muscle groups, such as squats, deadlifts, and bench presses. Consistency: Consistency is key when it comes to gaining weight. Make sure you are eating enough calories and getting enough exercise on a regular basis to see results. Drink calorie-rich beverages: Choose beverages that are high in calories such as fruit juices, smoothies, and milkshakes. Get enough sleep: Aim to get 7-9 hours of sleep each night to aid in recovery and muscle growth. It's important to remember that weight gain should be approached in a healthy and sustainable way. Consult with a healthcare professional or registered dietitian if you have any concerns or questions about gaining weight.

What's a good way to gain weight if you're too skinny? Here are some healthy tips

<p>With Milan Fashion Week 2023 almost here, luxury label Gucci has roped in A$AP Rocky as their new beauty boy. A favourite of the brand since way before he was signed up, Gucci also offered a campaign spot to the rapper alongside Tyler, The Creator and Iggy Pop in 2020 but when things didn’t work out, they tied up with him this year.</p>

<p>A$AP Rocky will front the bestselling Guilty fragrance alongside Elliot Page and Julia Garner. Brainchild of Gucci's Aurelien Guichard, the fragrance is a bestseller and one of the most easily recognisable scents in the world. It has been a hit since its 2010 launch.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As for the new campaign, A$AP Rocky, Elliot Page and Julia Garner will be seen in a shoot by photographer Glen Luchford. Rocky's in a blouse with gigantic flower brooch, Page is in a Hawaiian shirt and Garner's in a faux fur jacket.</p>

<p>Previously, Gucci had stars like Lana Del Rey, Miley Cyrus, Harry Styles, Dakota Johnson, and Ryan Gosling, as some names who were the face of the brand.&nbsp;</p>


With Milan Fashion Week 2023 almost here, luxury label Gucci has roped in A$AP Rocky as their new beauty boy. A favourite of the brand since way before he was signed up, Gucci also offered a campaign spot to the rapper alongside Tyler, The Creator and Iggy Pop in 2020 but when things didn’t work out, they tied up with him this year.

With Milan Fashion Week 2023 almost here, luxury label Gucci has roped in A$AP Rocky as their new beauty boy. A favourite of the brand since way before he was signed up, Gucci also offered a campaign spot to the rapper alongside Tyler, The Creator and Iggy Pop in 2020 but when things didn’t work out, they tied up with him this year. A$AP Rocky will front the bestselling Guilty fragrance alongside Elliot Page and Julia Garner. Brainchild of Gucci's Aurelien Guichard, the fragrance is a bestseller and one of the most easily recognisable scents in the world. It has been a hit since its 2010 launch. As for the new campaign, A$AP Rocky, Elliot Page and Julia Garner will be seen in a shoot by photographer Glen Luchford. Rocky's in a blouse with gigantic flower brooch, Page is in a Hawaiian shirt and Garner's in a faux fur jacket. Previously, Gucci had stars like Lana Del Rey, Miley Cyrus, Harry Styles, Dakota Johnson, and Ryan Gosling, as some names who were the face of the brand.

A$AP Rocky is now Gucci's new beauty boy

Here's something which generates a lot of curiosity, how many days do you work in a week? The usual five days? Well, in most parts of the world, the work week is from Monday to Friday. But, a study now reveals that a four-day work week is more productive.

Are you ready for a four-day work week? Trial really positive, says study

A big question - how much money do you need to be comfortable when you retire, it is one of the trickiest financial problems. The latest Bloomberg news survey says that at least $3 million is needed for a secure retirement.

How much money is enough when you retire | Lifestyle News

<p>King Charles III on Thursday encountered a group of anti-monarchy activists while on walkabout in the city of Milton Keynes north of London.</p>

<p>A group of protesters held up distinctive yellow placards with the message "Not my king", joining a crowd waving Union Jack flags.</p>

<p>The demonstration was organised by "Republic", a group calling for an end to the monarchy and an elected head of state in Britain.</p>

<p>Local newspaper the Milton Keynes Citizen reported that Charles "ignored the small banner-waving group" of 20 or so protesters.</p>

<p>Republic's leader Graham Smith wrote on Twitter: "I asked Charles why he's wasting money on the coronation. He didn't want to answer."</p>

<p>"We're determined to get the message across that it's OK to protest against the royals," he added.</p>

<p>Republic has announced it will hold a protest at the coronation on May 6.<br />
<br />
The death of Elizabeth II in September has prompted questions over the future of the royals under Charles and his queen consort Camilla, as the family has been rocked by criticism from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and sex crime allegations against Prince Andrew.</p>

<p>Since the queen's death, several anti-royal protesters have been arrested for holding solo pickets, after legislation on protests was made tougher. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Charles was attending a reception at a church to mark Milton Keynes becoming a city as part of celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee.</p>

<p>He also visited a food bank.</p>


King Charles III on Thursday encountered a group of anti-monarchy activists while on walkabout in the city of Milton Keynes north of London. A group of protesters held up distinctive yellow placards with the message "Not my king", joining a crowd waving Union Jack flags.

King Charles III on Thursday encountered a group of anti-monarchy activists while on walkabout in the city of Milton Keynes north of London. A group of protesters held up distinctive yellow placards with the message "Not my king", joining a crowd waving Union Jack flags. The demonstration was organised by "Republic", a group calling for an end to the monarchy and an elected head of state in Britain. Local newspaper the Milton Keynes Citizen reported that Charles "ignored the small banner-waving group" of 20 or so protesters. Republic's leader Graham Smith wrote on Twitter: "I asked Charles why he's wasting money on the coronation. He didn't want to answer." "We're determined to get the message across that it's OK to protest against the royals," he added. Republic has announced it will hold a protest at the coronation on May 6. The death of Elizabeth II in September has prompted questions over the future of the royals under Charles and his queen consort Camilla, as the family has been rocked by criticism from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and sex crime allegations against Prince Andrew. Since the queen's death, several anti-royal protesters have been arrested for holding solo pickets, after legislation on protests was made tougher. Charles was attending a reception at a church to mark Milton Keynes becoming a city as part of celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee. He also visited a food bank.

King Charles faces 'not my king' protest on walkabout

In Pics: Spain's abandoned train station turns into a luxurious hotel

If you could choose how your future baby is going to look or create the perfect human; would you do it? Watch this first.

'Designer' babies: How far is too far?

A philosophy paper has suggested that brain-dead people, or rather their bodies, could serve as surrogates for childless couples. Here's why people aren't happy with it.

Using brain-dead females for surrogacy: Ethical? | WION Shorts

<p>Singer and music producer Pharrell Williams is donning a new hat. Williams has been appointed as the menswear creative director for the luxury brand Louis Vuitton. There had been rumours about the new appointment and on Tuesday, Williams' rep and the luxury brand confirmed the news to the media. Williams takes up the post which was earlier held by late designer Virgil Abloh.<br />
<br />
Williams` first collection for Louis Vuitton will be unveiled to the public in June during Paris Men`s Fashion Week.<br />
<br />
The singer has long been regarded as a red-carpet style icon, and his role as a brand ambassador with Chanel was extended in October of last year. He has also collaborated with brands such as Moncler, Adidas for its Stan Smith line, and Louis Vuitton on two occasions (including a line of aviator sunglasses).<br />
<br />
In addition, Williams founded the streetwear brands Billionaire Boys Club and IceCream, as well as the skin-care brand Humanrace.<br />
Louis Vuitton chairman and CEO Pietro Beccari said in a statement that he is delighted to welcome Williams "back home" after his previous collaborations with the house in 2004 and 2008."</p>

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<p>His creative vision beyond fashion will undoubtedly lead Louis Vuitton towards a new and very exciting chapter," added Beccari.<br />
Williams was shown covered in a blanket bearing the Louis Vuitton logo to announce his appointment. Expect the Grammy-winning rapper and producer, who has collaborated with Beyonce, Jay-Z, Rihanna, and Justin Timberlake, to utilize his many connections in the entertainment industry to keep the house attuned and connected to pop culture.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, Williams` predecessor, Abloh, who died in November 2021, was the label`s first African American artistic director and led Louis Vuitton menswear for four years. Abloh founded the fashion label Off-White, which was acquired by Louis Vuitton's parent company LVMH in 2021.</p>

<p><em>(With agency inputs)</em></p>


Singer and music producer Pharrell Williams is donning a new hat. Williams has been appointed as the menswear creative director for the luxury brand Louis Vuitton.

Singer and music producer Pharrell Williams is donning a new hat. Williams has been appointed as the menswear creative director for the luxury brand Louis Vuitton. There had been rumours about the new appointment and on Tuesday, Williams' rep and the luxury brand confirmed the news to the media. Williams takes up the post which was earlier held by late designer Virgil Abloh. Williams` first collection for Louis Vuitton will be unveiled to the public in June during Paris Men`s Fashion Week. The singer has long been regarded as a red-carpet style icon, and his role as a brand ambassador with Chanel was extended in October of last year. He has also collaborated with brands such as Moncler, Adidas for its Stan Smith line, and Louis Vuitton on two occasions (including a line of aviator sunglasses). In addition, Williams founded the streetwear brands Billionaire Boys Club and IceCream, as well as the skin-care brand Humanrace. Louis Vuitton chairman and CEO Pietro Beccari said in a statement that he is delighted to welcome Williams "back home" after his previous collaborations with the house in 2004 and 2008." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Louis Vuitton (@louisvuitton) × His creative vision beyond fashion will undoubtedly lead Louis Vuitton towards a new and very exciting chapter," added Beccari. Williams was shown covered in a blanket bearing the Louis Vuitton logo to announce his appointment. Expect the Grammy-winning rapper and producer, who has collaborated with Beyonce, Jay-Z, Rihanna, and Justin Timberlake, to utilize his many connections in the entertainment industry to keep the house attuned and connected to pop culture. Meanwhile, Williams` predecessor, Abloh, who died in November 2021, was the label`s first African American artistic director and led Louis Vuitton menswear for four years. Abloh founded the fashion label Off-White, which was acquired by Louis Vuitton's parent company LVMH in 2021. (With agency inputs)

Louis Vuitton appoints singer Pharrell Williams as its creative director for menswear

<p><strong>Galentine's Day 2023:&nbsp;</strong>On Galentine's Day, which falls on 13 February every year, women traditionally gather together with their friends for a day of fun activities, gift exchanges, and a general celebration of their bond. It was popularized by the television show "Parks and Recreation" and has since become a cultural phenomenon. Some popular activities include brunch, spa treatments, movie nights, or simply spending quality time together.</p>

<p>Galentine's Day is a way to recognize and appreciate the importance of female friendships and the support and love that they provide. It's a reminder to cherish these relationships and to take time to celebrate the meaningful connections we have with the women in our lives.</p>

<h2><strong>Galentine's Day 2023: Here are some ways to celebrate Galentine's Day with your female friends</strong></h2>

<p>1. Host a brunch: Gather your friends and have a potluck brunch, complete with mimosas and your favourite breakfast foods.</p>

<p>2. Plan a spa day: Book a spa day or host an at-home spa party, complete with face masks, massages, and manicures.</p>

<p>3. Go on a shopping trip: Plan a shopping trip or organize a clothing swap with your friends.</p>

<p>4. Have a movie or TV show marathon: Choose your favourite movies or TV shows and binge-watch them with your friends.</p>

<p>5. Host a game night: Play board games, cards, or video games with your friends.</p>

<p>6. Get creative: Have a crafting day where you make DIY projects, paint, or draw together.</p>

<p>7. Take a fitness class: Sign up for a fitness class, such as yoga or dance, or go for a group run or hike.</p>

<p>8. Give each other thoughtful gifts: Exchange gifts that celebrate your friendship, such as personalized jewellery, photo albums, or hand-written notes.</p>

<p>Ultimately, the most important part of celebrating Galentine's Day is spending quality time with your female friends and showing them how much you appreciate their friendship and support.</p>


Galentine's Day 2023: On Galentine's Day, which falls on 13 February every year, women traditionally gather together with their friends for a day of fun activities, gift exchanges, and a general celebration of their bond.

Galentine's Day 2023: On Galentine's Day, which falls on 13 February every year, women traditionally gather together with their friends for a day of fun activities, gift exchanges, and a general celebration of their bond. It was popularized by the television show "Parks and Recreation" and has since become a cultural phenomenon. Some popular activities include brunch, spa treatments, movie nights, or simply spending quality time together. Galentine's Day is a way to recognize and appreciate the importance of female friendships and the support and love that they provide. It's a reminder to cherish these relationships and to take time to celebrate the meaningful connections we have with the women in our lives. Galentine's Day 2023: Here are some ways to celebrate Galentine's Day with your female friends 1. Host a brunch: Gather your friends and have a potluck brunch, complete with mimosas and your favourite breakfast foods. 2. Plan a spa day: Book a spa day or host an at-home spa party, complete with face masks, massages, and manicures. 3. Go on a shopping trip: Plan a shopping trip or organize a clothing swap with your friends. 4. Have a movie or TV show marathon: Choose your favourite movies or TV shows and binge-watch them with your friends. 5. Host a game night: Play board games, cards, or video games with your friends. 6. Get creative: Have a crafting day where you make DIY projects, paint, or draw together. 7. Take a fitness class: Sign up for a fitness class, such as yoga or dance, or go for a group run or hike. 8. Give each other thoughtful gifts: Exchange gifts that celebrate your friendship, such as personalized jewellery, photo albums, or hand-written notes. Ultimately, the most important part of celebrating Galentine's Day is spending quality time with your female friends and showing them how much you appreciate their friendship and support.

What is Galentine's Day? History, significance and how to celebrate it - All you need to know

<p>Designers often bring their most creative and most controversial game to the runway during fashion weeks, be it in New York or Milan or Paris. But, Singapore-born Nepali-American fashion designer Prabal Gurung had something else in mind for his latest NYFW show. The designer wanted to embrace his Hindu roots while flaunting his gorgeous designs on the runway, so he asked the models to wear sindoor and flaunt it like a queen. The results have taken social media by storm!</p>

<p>While showcasing his new line for Fall/Winter 2023 on Friday (February 10), he paid tribute to his roots and his homeland Nepal by making fashion meet tradition. His models wore sindoor in various colours, from saffron to burgundy and dusty pinks to white and even black along with the traditional red indoor. The colour of sindoor&nbsp;was in sync with the outfits the models were wearing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>For those unaware,&nbsp;sindoor is a traditional vermilion red or orange-red coloured cosmetic powder usually worn by married Hindu women along the part of their hairline. In Hindu communities, it is a visual marker of a woman's marital status and ceasing to wear it usually implies widowhood.</p>

<p>Through his designs, he also explored the Buddhist concept of "anichya", which means impermanence. In butterfly motifs, wool jackets and hues of vermilion, saffron, burgundy and dusty pinks, Gurung was thinking of his homeland, Nepal, where he hasn't been since before the COVID-19&nbsp;pandemic. He was motivated by a 10-day meditative retreat he recently experienced to "silence everything".</p>

<p>"In Nepal, we talk about it all the time, what is present and how soon it can go," Gurung told The Associated Press in a backstage interview. "And there’s actually an optimism to that, especially during these challenging times." The idea, in part, was finding hope "in the dark places".</p>

<p>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-_-cool-ways-to-introduce-digital-lavender-wgsns-2023-colour-of-the-year-to-your-wardrobe-561562">7 cool ways to introduce Digital Lavender, WGSN's 2023 Colour of the Year, to your wardrobe</a></p>

<p>His silhouettes were sharper and longer this time around. His asymmetry challenged the idea of harmony. He draped softly and provided sharp angles at the same time. There were fluid, gliding skirts, wool jackets and glitzy golds and crystals.</p>

<p>In short, Gurung explained, New York Fashion Week for him was a "magical, mystery journey. An inward spiritual journey"&nbsp;taken at night back home in Nepal.</p>

<p>Moody, yes, but hopeful in turquoise and emerald silk organza, a black leather cropped jacket with a pink shearling collar and his butterfly print in a high-low, high-neck dress of black and white, and another in sheer red and black with sexy cut-outs at the hip.</p>

<p>There was an oversized sweater in an ivory and yellow butterfly knit and a pink and scarlet embroidered cocoon coat. "But there's a lot of strength to it,"&nbsp;Gurung said.</p>

<p>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-sergio-hudson-brings-90s-vibes-to-nyfw-with-neons-shoulder-pads-and-more-561156">Sergio Hudson brings '90s vibes to NYFW with neons, shoulder pads and more</a></p>

<p>All grew from the silence on his 10-day vipassana retreat, where reading, phones and exercise were banned. On the third day, a painted lady butterfly landed on his window, and it gave him something to ponder.</p>

<p>Having grown up with "impermanence",&nbsp;Gurung said, he wanted to embrace the notion that nothing is fixed but constant shifts need not be feared. They must be embraced, he said, and he's got just the right clothes for the job. Kelsea Ballerini, who stunned in a yellow gown by Gurung at the Grammys, was among his front-row guests. She was accompanied by Becky G and Alyah Chanelle Scott.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Designers often bring their most creative and most controversial game to the runway during fashion weeks, be it in New York or Milan or Paris. But, Singapore-born Nepali-American fashion designer Prabal Gurung had something else in mind for his latest NYFW show.

Designers often bring their most creative and most controversial game to the runway during fashion weeks, be it in New York or Milan or Paris. But, Singapore-born Nepali-American fashion designer Prabal Gurung had something else in mind for his latest NYFW show. The designer wanted to embrace his Hindu roots while flaunting his gorgeous designs on the runway, so he asked the models to wear sindoor and flaunt it like a queen. The results have taken social media by storm! While showcasing his new line for Fall/Winter 2023 on Friday (February 10), he paid tribute to his roots and his homeland Nepal by making fashion meet tradition. His models wore sindoor in various colours, from saffron to burgundy and dusty pinks to white and even black along with the traditional red indoor. The colour of sindoor was in sync with the outfits the models were wearing. For those unaware, sindoor is a traditional vermilion red or orange-red coloured cosmetic powder usually worn by married Hindu women along the part of their hairline. In Hindu communities, it is a visual marker of a woman's marital status and ceasing to wear it usually implies widowhood. Through his designs, he also explored the Buddhist concept of "anichya", which means impermanence. In butterfly motifs, wool jackets and hues of vermilion, saffron, burgundy and dusty pinks, Gurung was thinking of his homeland, Nepal, where he hasn't been since before the COVID-19 pandemic. He was motivated by a 10-day meditative retreat he recently experienced to "silence everything". "In Nepal, we talk about it all the time, what is present and how soon it can go," Gurung told The Associated Press in a backstage interview. "And there’s actually an optimism to that, especially during these challenging times." The idea, in part, was finding hope "in the dark places". Also read: 7 cool ways to introduce Digital Lavender, WGSN's 2023 Colour of the Year, to your wardrobe His silhouettes were sharper and longer this time around. His asymmetry challenged the idea of harmony. He draped softly and provided sharp angles at the same time. There were fluid, gliding skirts, wool jackets and glitzy golds and crystals. In short, Gurung explained, New York Fashion Week for him was a "magical, mystery journey. An inward spiritual journey" taken at night back home in Nepal. Moody, yes, but hopeful in turquoise and emerald silk organza, a black leather cropped jacket with a pink shearling collar and his butterfly print in a high-low, high-neck dress of black and white, and another in sheer red and black with sexy cut-outs at the hip. There was an oversized sweater in an ivory and yellow butterfly knit and a pink and scarlet embroidered cocoon coat. "But there's a lot of strength to it," Gurung said. Also read: Sergio Hudson brings '90s vibes to NYFW with neons, shoulder pads and more All grew from the silence on his 10-day vipassana retreat, where reading, phones and exercise were banned. On the third day, a painted lady butterfly landed on his window, and it gave him something to ponder. Having grown up with "impermanence", Gurung said, he wanted to embrace the notion that nothing is fixed but constant shifts need not be feared. They must be embraced, he said, and he's got just the right clothes for the job. Kelsea Ballerini, who stunned in a yellow gown by Gurung at the Grammys, was among his front-row guests. She was accompanied by Becky G and Alyah Chanelle Scott. (With inputs from agencies)

Prabal Gurung brings 'sindoor' to New York Fashion Week runway

<p>Elusive artist Banksy marked Valentine's Day by unveiling his new artwork on social media. The artwork has been created on a white wall and highlights domestic violence against women. Titled Valentine's day mascara, the artwork was shared by the artist on his Instagram page on Tuesday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The artwork depicts a quintessential Fifties housewife wearing yellow washing-up gloves and a pinafore over her dress appearing to push her husband into a chest freezer. While she is shown to be smiling, she has a swollen eye and a chipped tooth that becomes more visible at a closer look at the artwork.<br />
<br />
According to fans commenting on social media, the artwork has been done on a wall off Grosvenor Place in Margate, Kent.<br />
<br />
In the photos posted by the Bristol-born artist, there is a variety of rubbish on the ground in front of the artwork, including a broken white garden chair, a blue crate and an empty beer bottle.</p>

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<p><br />
Fans couldn't help but notice the timing of the post. Valentine's day celebrates romantic love and the artist has, instead, focused on domestic violence against women the world over.<br />
<br />
Fans expressed their appreciation of the artwork’s message in the comments section of his post.<br />
<br />
"Go Banksy. Always nailing it with the statement,"&nbsp;wrote one, while another supporter added: “Fighting violence used against women. Even on Valentine’s Day. Always!"<br />
<br />
This is not the first time that the artist has used art to highlight burning issues. In 2022, Banksy created art in Ukraine, using the wall of a war-torn building in Borodyanka, 35 miles from Kyiv, as the base for a spray-painted piece.</p>


Elusive artist Banksy marked Valentine's Day by unveiling his new artwork on social media. The artwork has been created on a white wall and highlights domestic violence against women.

Elusive artist Banksy marked Valentine's Day by unveiling his new artwork on social media. The artwork has been created on a white wall and highlights domestic violence against women. Titled Valentine's day mascara, the artwork was shared by the artist on his Instagram page on Tuesday. The artwork depicts a quintessential Fifties housewife wearing yellow washing-up gloves and a pinafore over her dress appearing to push her husband into a chest freezer. While she is shown to be smiling, she has a swollen eye and a chipped tooth that becomes more visible at a closer look at the artwork. According to fans commenting on social media, the artwork has been done on a wall off Grosvenor Place in Margate, Kent. In the photos posted by the Bristol-born artist, there is a variety of rubbish on the ground in front of the artwork, including a broken white garden chair, a blue crate and an empty beer bottle. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Banksy (@banksy) × Fans couldn't help but notice the timing of the post. Valentine's day celebrates romantic love and the artist has, instead, focused on domestic violence against women the world over. Fans expressed their appreciation of the artwork’s message in the comments section of his post. "Go Banksy. Always nailing it with the statement," wrote one, while another supporter added: “Fighting violence used against women. Even on Valentine’s Day. Always!" This is not the first time that the artist has used art to highlight burning issues. In 2022, Banksy created art in Ukraine, using the wall of a war-torn building in Borodyanka, 35 miles from Kyiv, as the base for a spray-painted piece.

Banksy unveils new art on Valentine's Day highlighting domestic abuse against women

<p><strong>Valentine's Day 2023:&nbsp;</strong>A Texas zoo has a creative Valentine's Day idea for all broken hearts. Now, you can do a good deed while taking a step further in your breakup journey. Without saying anything or going all berserk on your ex-partner, you can name a cockroach, veggie or rodent after your ex-beau for a small fee and then feed it to one of the animals present in the zoo to take some sweet revenge, but all in a fun spirit.</p>

<p>For those unaware, San Antonio Zoo offers&nbsp;a special Valentine's Day greeting for exes who just won't bug off.&nbsp;For just a $10 donation, you can ask the zoo to name a cockroach after your not-so-special someone and then feed it to an animal. If you don't like bugs, you can pick a&nbsp;vegetable for $5 or a rodent for $25.</p>

<p>Isn't it a fun and creative idea? By doing so, you will be supporting&nbsp;their annual 'Cry Me a Cockroach' fundraiser and "the zoo’s vision of securing a future for wildlife in Texas and around the world".</p>

<p>All donors will get a digital V-day card showing their support for the zoo. They can also ask the organisation to send their ex-beau a digital V-day card on their behalf, informing them that a cockroach, rodent, or veggie was named after them and then fed to an animal.</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="es">A tiempo para desquitarte de tu ex pareja en San Valentín, el zoológico de San Antonio lanzó su campaña de recaudación de fondos “Llórame una cucaracha” o “ Cry me a cockroach”.<br />
Toda la información. ➡️ <a href="https://t.co/oGquEyW6Vp">https://t.co/oGquEyW6Vp</a> <a href="https://t.co/XDn6Ss30Kt">pic.twitter.com/XDn6Ss30Kt</a></p>
— Univision 41 San Antonio (@UnivisionSATX) <a href="https://twitter.com/UnivisionSATX/status/1613377881635176449?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Roses are red, violets are blue.... I've got a cockroach for YOU!<a href="https://twitter.com/SanAntonioZoo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SanAntonioZoo</a> is once again hosting it’s Cry Me a Cockroach Fundraiser, go to <a href="https://t.co/uSmUa1oz5W">https://t.co/uSmUa1oz5W</a> for information on how you can sign up and donate! <a href="https://t.co/wpXUUCGvlb">pic.twitter.com/wpXUUCGvlb</a></p>
— Councilman Manny Pelaez (@District8Manny) <a href="https://twitter.com/District8Manny/status/1623479292255690752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<p>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-steven-spielberg-reveals-why-he-doesnt-regret-turning-down-harry-potter-franchise-561851">Steven Spielberg reveals why he doesn't regret turning down Harry Potter franchise</a></p>

<p>You can also select a $150 upgrade, which includes a personalised video message showing their cockroach, rodent or vegetable being devoured by a cute&nbsp;animal in the zoo.</p>

<p>The annual event is a hit and last year, they received more than 8,000 donations from all 50 US states and over 30 different countries. The money collected in the fundraiser goes towards their mission of securing a future for wildlife. If you, too, wish to participate, you can visit their website, submit your ex's name and make the donation.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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Valentine's Day 2023: A Texas zoo has a creative Valentine's Day idea for all broken hearts. Now, you can do a good deed while taking a step further in your breakup journey.

Valentine's Day 2023: A Texas zoo has a creative Valentine's Day idea for all broken hearts. Now, you can do a good deed while taking a step further in your breakup journey. Without saying anything or going all berserk on your ex-partner, you can name a cockroach, veggie or rodent after your ex-beau for a small fee and then feed it to one of the animals present in the zoo to take some sweet revenge, but all in a fun spirit. For those unaware, San Antonio Zoo offers a special Valentine's Day greeting for exes who just won't bug off. For just a $10 donation, you can ask the zoo to name a cockroach after your not-so-special someone and then feed it to an animal. If you don't like bugs, you can pick a vegetable for $5 or a rodent for $25. Isn't it a fun and creative idea? By doing so, you will be supporting their annual 'Cry Me a Cockroach' fundraiser and "the zoo’s vision of securing a future for wildlife in Texas and around the world". All donors will get a digital V-day card showing their support for the zoo. They can also ask the organisation to send their ex-beau a digital V-day card on their behalf, informing them that a cockroach, rodent, or veggie was named after them and then fed to an animal. A tiempo para desquitarte de tu ex pareja en San Valentín, el zoológico de San Antonio lanzó su campaña de recaudación de fondos “Llórame una cucaracha” o “ Cry me a cockroach”. Toda la información. ➡️ https://t.co/oGquEyW6Vp pic.twitter.com/XDn6Ss30Kt — Univision 41 San Antonio (@UnivisionSATX) January 12, 2023 Roses are red, violets are blue.... I've got a cockroach for YOU!@SanAntonioZoo is once again hosting it’s Cry Me a Cockroach Fundraiser, go to https://t.co/uSmUa1oz5W for information on how you can sign up and donate! pic.twitter.com/wpXUUCGvlb — Councilman Manny Pelaez (@District8Manny) February 9, 2023 Also read: Steven Spielberg reveals why he doesn't regret turning down Harry Potter franchise You can also select a $150 upgrade, which includes a personalised video message showing their cockroach, rodent or vegetable being devoured by a cute animal in the zoo. The annual event is a hit and last year, they received more than 8,000 donations from all 50 US states and over 30 different countries. The money collected in the fundraiser goes towards their mission of securing a future for wildlife. If you, too, wish to participate, you can visit their website, submit your ex's name and make the donation. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Best revenge! Name a cockroach after your ex and feed it to an animal this Valentine's Day 2023

<p><strong>Boyfriend on rent service:</strong> In countries like China and Japan, "renting a boyfriend" is no big task! However, such concepts are unheard of in other countries! And, that's why when a 31-year-old techie from the Indian city Gurugram, Shakul Gupta, started offering 'Rent a Boyfriend' services, he instantly went viral online and became an internet sensation in India.</p>

<p>In a now-viral post, Gupta revealed that he's&nbsp;offering his dating services to single women just to kill the feeling of loneliness during Valentine’s week. He also clarified that his intentions through this service are neither commercial nor sexual.</p>

<p>Posing with a&nbsp;banner on social media, the Gurugram man wrote, "Loneliness is underrated. I believe we hide our loneliness, especially well on Valentine's Day. As happy as I'd seem on the outside, I'd feel jealous watching my friends date. Before becoming a 'Boyfriend on Rent',&nbsp;I'd never been on a date in my life! To my disappointment, the women I asked out only saw me as a 'friend'&nbsp;too. Although self-love was helpful, I craved companionship &amp; romance."</p>

<p>Further&nbsp;sharing his story, he revealed, "Hearing couples say 'I love you'&nbsp;to each other on V-Day would get on my nerves, for it reminded me of my inability to have a girlfriend &amp; made me feel unwanted. However, it was through feeling alone that the idea of being a boyfriend on rent was born. I figured, 'There must be several other singles who feel as lonely as I do!'"</p>

<p>Gupta then shared how he started giving the services five years ago and what was his first post as a "boyfriend on rent" service provider.</p>

<p>"And I was right! 5 years ago, I wrote a post online, 'I'm a generous &amp; open-minded man. I can give you my shoulder to lean on or be your friend this V-Day. I can double up as your make-up practice model, or if you prefer being lazy, I can make you any kind of food while you relax!' My post went viral &amp; I got over 1000 messages from interested women; I was taken aback! I wanted to make my dates memorable for the women I was going to take out," Gupta wrote.<br />
<br />
"And today, I've been on over 50 dates with lovely women. While my dates enjoy eating at fancy restaurants &amp; going on long drives with me, I prefer the more intimate dates where I have deep conversations as I cook them a meal or star-gaze with them,"&nbsp;the Gurugram techie continued.</p>

<p>Gupta also spoke about the trolls who call him names for running a "boyfriend on rent" service. He wrote, "Trolls call me a 'Gigolo',&nbsp;but the way I see it, my service helps my dates feel loved, desired, seen, &amp; listened to. That's precisely why I get contacted."</p>

<p>To conclude, the 31-year-old penned, "And so I'm here to put myself out this V-Day again as a "Boyfriend on Rent." If you're feeling lonely or are in need of companionship, feel no shame in renting me so that I can give you the best date of your life!"</p>

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<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CoE3UKzSHCp/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Shakul Gupta (@shakulgupta)</a></p>
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<p>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-best-revenge-name-a-cockroach-after-your-ex-and-feed-it-to-an-animal-this-valentines-day-561869">Best revenge! Name a cockroach after your ex and feed it to an animal this Valentine's Day</a></p>

<p>But the biggest question here is how much does he charge? Well, his services are absolutely free! Unlike the services you get in China and Japan that come at a hefty price of hundreds of dollars for an hour, Gupta just wants a smile from the ladies as a fee for his services.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Fun fact: In Japan, you can legally rent a girlfriend or a boyfriend via an app for a few hours. Since it can be dangerous, people are asked to follow some rules to go through the process. The service is only available from 6:00 AM till 11:00 PM to ensure the safety of girls. The price ranges between $30 to $150 per hour on the Japanese app!</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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Boyfriend on rent service: In countries like China and Japan, "renting a boyfriend" is no big task! However, such concepts are unheard of in other countries! And, that's why when a 31-year-old techie from the Indian city Gurugram, Shakul Gupta, started offering 'Rent a Boyfriend' services, he instantly went viral online and became an internet sensation in India.

Boyfriend on rent service: In countries like China and Japan, "renting a boyfriend" is no big task! However, such concepts are unheard of in other countries! And, that's why when a 31-year-old techie from the Indian city Gurugram, Shakul Gupta, started offering 'Rent a Boyfriend' services, he instantly went viral online and became an internet sensation in India. In a now-viral post, Gupta revealed that he's offering his dating services to single women just to kill the feeling of loneliness during Valentine’s week. He also clarified that his intentions through this service are neither commercial nor sexual. Posing with a banner on social media, the Gurugram man wrote, "Loneliness is underrated. I believe we hide our loneliness, especially well on Valentine's Day. As happy as I'd seem on the outside, I'd feel jealous watching my friends date. Before becoming a 'Boyfriend on Rent', I'd never been on a date in my life! To my disappointment, the women I asked out only saw me as a 'friend' too. Although self-love was helpful, I craved companionship & romance." Further sharing his story, he revealed, "Hearing couples say 'I love you' to each other on V-Day would get on my nerves, for it reminded me of my inability to have a girlfriend & made me feel unwanted. However, it was through feeling alone that the idea of being a boyfriend on rent was born. I figured, 'There must be several other singles who feel as lonely as I do!'" Gupta then shared how he started giving the services five years ago and what was his first post as a "boyfriend on rent" service provider. "And I was right! 5 years ago, I wrote a post online, 'I'm a generous & open-minded man. I can give you my shoulder to lean on or be your friend this V-Day. I can double up as your make-up practice model, or if you prefer being lazy, I can make you any kind of food while you relax!' My post went viral & I got over 1000 messages from interested women; I was taken aback! I wanted to make my dates memorable for the women I was going to take out," Gupta wrote. "And today, I've been on over 50 dates with lovely women. While my dates enjoy eating at fancy restaurants & going on long drives with me, I prefer the more intimate dates where I have deep conversations as I cook them a meal or star-gaze with them," the Gurugram techie continued. Gupta also spoke about the trolls who call him names for running a "boyfriend on rent" service. He wrote, "Trolls call me a 'Gigolo', but the way I see it, my service helps my dates feel loved, desired, seen, & listened to. That's precisely why I get contacted." To conclude, the 31-year-old penned, "And so I'm here to put myself out this V-Day again as a "Boyfriend on Rent." If you're feeling lonely or are in need of companionship, feel no shame in renting me so that I can give you the best date of your life!" View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shakul Gupta (@shakulgupta) Also read: Best revenge! Name a cockroach after your ex and feed it to an animal this Valentine's Day But the biggest question here is how much does he charge? Well, his services are absolutely free! Unlike the services you get in China and Japan that come at a hefty price of hundreds of dollars for an hour, Gupta just wants a smile from the ladies as a fee for his services. Fun fact: In Japan, you can legally rent a girlfriend or a boyfriend via an app for a few hours. Since it can be dangerous, people are asked to follow some rules to go through the process. The service is only available from 6:00 AM till 11:00 PM to ensure the safety of girls. The price ranges between $30 to $150 per hour on the Japanese app! WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Single ladies can now rent a boyfriend in this Indian city! Techie offers 'dating services' on Valentine's Day

<p>With Valentine's Day right around the corner, the Indian dating and friendship app, QuackQuack, ran a poll among 15,000 users from tier 1 and tier 2 cities, both GenZ and Millennials, on how they prefer to celebrate their Valentine's Day. The study throws light on the V-day trends and how the day of love impacts the online dating industry. The survey participants range between 18 to 32 and comprise primarily students and working professionals.</p>

<p>QuackQuack's Founder and CEO, Ravi Mittal, commented, "Every year, we see a spike in the number of users during this time of the year. And this is also the time when people look beyond romance. Among the 22 million users, almost 33 per cent of the users seek friendship on the app. There's also an 8 per cent increase in virtual dates on the day of love."</p>

<p><strong>Budget dates</strong></p>

<p>A recent study shows that 47 per cent of daters prefer to have a budget-friendly Valentine's Day date over fancy dining and exchanging expensive presents. Daters below 23, essentially the Gen-Z daters from tier 1 and 2 cities, disclosed having a pact with their date to exchange meaningful yet practical gifts, and most of them have a set budget. It makes sure that no one has to burn a hole in their pockets to enjoy the day of love and makes it easier for the young daters who are just starting their careers.</p>

<p><strong>The busiest times</strong></p>

<p>It says the weekend before Valentine's Day is one of the busiest times of the year for them. They see most traffic the day before, with singles trying to land a quick date for V-Day. According to their data, the surge is more from tier 1 cities since people from tier 2 cities flock to the metros for jobs and higher studies. 35 per cent of dates are arranged the night before V-Day than any other day.</p>

<p><strong>Where's my soulmate?</strong></p>

<p>22 per cent of women from tier 1 and 2 cities mentioned joining the app to find a date because they felt lonely. The app's data shows there is almost a 13 per cent spike in the number of people joining the app on Valentine's Day compared to other days of the month. Upon surveying the participants, it was understood that singles join dating apps during this time of the year out of the urgency to find a soulmate, especially on the day of love.</p>

<p><strong>Communicating</strong></p>

<p>37 per cent of the survey participants between 25 and 30, primarily working professionals in 9 to 5 jobs, mentioned beating their loneliness by participating in communicating. It's the trend where daters use the app to find new friends and connections beyond romantic relationships. It noticed almost 33 per cent of its users seeking genuine companions during this time of the year.</p>

<p><strong>Rebounds</strong></p>

<p>11 per cent of male daters over 25 and 18 per cent below 23 years from tier 1 and 2 cities disclosed rounding back to their old matches on this day. More than 15 per cent of women over 28 revealed rebounding with their ex on the day of love.</p>

<p><strong>Self-Love</strong></p>

<p>Self-care and me-time are on the top of the Gen-Z single daters' list of ideal ways to spend V-Day without falling off the wagon. 28 per cent of the survey participants between 18 and 23 mentioned having a fun night planned with friends. 12 per cent of women daters from tier 1 and 2 cities are planning Galentine's day instead of wallowing in self-pity.</p>


With Valentine's Day right around the corner, the Indian dating and friendship app, QuackQuack, ran a poll among 15,000 users from tier 1 and tier 2 cities, both GenZ and Millennials, on how they prefer to celebrate their Valentine's Day.

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, the Indian dating and friendship app, QuackQuack, ran a poll among 15,000 users from tier 1 and tier 2 cities, both GenZ and Millennials, on how they prefer to celebrate their Valentine's Day. The study throws light on the V-day trends and how the day of love impacts the online dating industry. The survey participants range between 18 to 32 and comprise primarily students and working professionals. QuackQuack's Founder and CEO, Ravi Mittal, commented, "Every year, we see a spike in the number of users during this time of the year. And this is also the time when people look beyond romance. Among the 22 million users, almost 33 per cent of the users seek friendship on the app. There's also an 8 per cent increase in virtual dates on the day of love." Budget dates A recent study shows that 47 per cent of daters prefer to have a budget-friendly Valentine's Day date over fancy dining and exchanging expensive presents. Daters below 23, essentially the Gen-Z daters from tier 1 and 2 cities, disclosed having a pact with their date to exchange meaningful yet practical gifts, and most of them have a set budget. It makes sure that no one has to burn a hole in their pockets to enjoy the day of love and makes it easier for the young daters who are just starting their careers. The busiest times It says the weekend before Valentine's Day is one of the busiest times of the year for them. They see most traffic the day before, with singles trying to land a quick date for V-Day. According to their data, the surge is more from tier 1 cities since people from tier 2 cities flock to the metros for jobs and higher studies. 35 per cent of dates are arranged the night before V-Day than any other day. Where's my soulmate? 22 per cent of women from tier 1 and 2 cities mentioned joining the app to find a date because they felt lonely. The app's data shows there is almost a 13 per cent spike in the number of people joining the app on Valentine's Day compared to other days of the month. Upon surveying the participants, it was understood that singles join dating apps during this time of the year out of the urgency to find a soulmate, especially on the day of love. Communicating 37 per cent of the survey participants between 25 and 30, primarily working professionals in 9 to 5 jobs, mentioned beating their loneliness by participating in communicating. It's the trend where daters use the app to find new friends and connections beyond romantic relationships. It noticed almost 33 per cent of its users seeking genuine companions during this time of the year. Rebounds 11 per cent of male daters over 25 and 18 per cent below 23 years from tier 1 and 2 cities disclosed rounding back to their old matches on this day. More than 15 per cent of women over 28 revealed rebounding with their ex on the day of love. Self-Love Self-care and me-time are on the top of the Gen-Z single daters' list of ideal ways to spend V-Day without falling off the wagon. 28 per cent of the survey participants between 18 and 23 mentioned having a fun night planned with friends. 12 per cent of women daters from tier 1 and 2 cities are planning Galentine's day instead of wallowing in self-pity.

Nearly half of Gen-Z and millennial daters prefer budget-friendly Valentine's Day date: Study

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