T HE first two years after the COVID 19 outbreak was all about disruptions and the exhaustion due to the sheer diversity of lifestyle changes that were necessitated. This third year has, however, been all about revival and a return to how life was before the pandemic. In our Cover Story, we look at how the hospitality and events sector is bouncing back into action, one firm step at a time. The humble combination of dahibara and aloodum is now going global, thanks to the efforts of Chef Sanchit Sahu who has showcased it at Bangkok's Michelin Guide restaurant, Jhol. In City Lights, we get to know more about what has gone into making this dish appealing to a global audience. The healing technique known as Reiki has endured for over a century. The global following of Reiki vouches for its efficacy across diverse situations and problems. In City Zen, we talk to a practioner to know more about this unconventional healing process. The section also features 12-year-old Odissi dance sensation Srinika Purohit, who is following in the footsteps of her mother, Odissi danseuse Sonalika Purohit. Green entrepreneur is the term that readily comes to mind when you begin talking with Tanisha Malla. The 23-year-old has come up with a line of candles made of soya chunk wax. In City Green, she tells us about her journey so far. The grand spectacle that is the Bali Jatra also came as a treat to music lovers with an impressive line-up of popular singers. We catch up with two of them in Transit Lounge. Kailash Kher, known for his magical voice and soulful renditions, opens up about his early days in music and the tough road to success in Mumbai and Bollywood. We also catch up with singer Javed Ali, who has performed in Odisha earlier as well. It's December and it's time for some Yuletide spirit all around. With Christmas just a few weeks away, My City Links decides to go down memory lane by talking to people who have seen the occasion evolve over the years. Read all about it in City Lights. The 53rd India International Film Festival (IFFI) held in Goa in November helped turn the spotlight on Pratikshya, the only Odia film among the 25 screened as part of the Feature Films section. We bring you some interesting insights into the movie in Screen Shots. 

The first two years after the COVID-19 outbreak was all about disruptions and exhaustion due to the sheer diversity of lifestyle changes that were necessitated. This third year has, however, been all about revival and a return to how life was before the pandemic. In our Cover Story, we look at how the hospitality and events sector is bouncing back into action, one firm step at a time. The humble combination of Dahi bara and aloodum is now going global, thanks to the efforts of Chef Sanchit Sahu who has showcased it at Bangkok's Michelin Guide restaurant, Jhol. In City Lights, we learn more about what has made this dish appealing to a global audience. The healing technique known as Reiki has endured for over a century. The global following of Reiki vouches for its efficacy across diverse situations and problems. In City Zen, we talk to a practitioner to know more about this unconventional healing process. The section also features 12-year-old Odissi dance sensation Srinika Purohit, who is following in the footsteps of her mother, Odissi danseuse Sonalika Purohit. A green entrepreneur is a term that readily comes to mind when you begin talking with Tanisha Malla. The 23-year-old has come up with a line of candles made of soya chunk wax. In City Green, she tells us about her journey so far. The grand spectacle that is the Bali Jatra also came as a treat to music lovers with an impressive line-up of famous singers. We catch up with two of them in Transit Lounge. Kailash Kher, known for his magical voice and soulful renditions, opens up about his early days in music and the tough road to success in Mumbai and Bollywood. We also catch up with singer Javed Ali, who performed in Odisha earlier. It's December and it's time for some Yuletide spirit all around. With Christmas just a few weeks away, My City Links decides to go down memory lane by talking to people who have seen the occasion evolve over the years. Read all about it in City Lights. The 53rd India International Film Festival (IFFI) held in Goa in November helped turn the spotlight on Pratikshya, the only Odia film among the 25 screened as part of the Feature Films section. We bring you some interesting insights into the movie in Screen Shots. 

The term lost in translation is getting an all new meaning these days, with sections of the country’s media coming under increasing scrutiny over alleged cases of sensationalism, misinformation and bias, or, worse still, over numerous instances of outright false news propagation. In our Cover Story, we delve deep into what has become a dangerous malaise, using some recent examples. History was created when Draupadi Murmu assumed office as the 15th President of India. She is the first tribal, the second woman, and also the first person to be born after Independence to occupy the position. In this edition, we recount her inspirational journey from a Junior Assistant in the Odisha government’s Irrigation Department to the country’s highest Constitutional post. The CityZen section also focuses on Sulochana Das, who was recently elected as the first woman Mayor of Bhubaneswar. She has hit the ground running, determined to make a difference to life in the city. She talks to us about her plans across a range of areas, from health and women’s safety to urban infrastructure. Dipti Mahapatra, General Manager of Capital Region Urban Transport, is credited with transforming public transport in the state. We caught up with her to discuss how she and her team have managed to bring about a sea change in public transport. It’s a menace that needs to be confronted head on, and the ban on single-use plastic seeks to do exactly that. Daunting as it may sound – the items that have been banned range from plastic cutlery items to polystyrene – authorities are gearing up to implement the new rules. Read all about it in City Beat. Transit Lounge hosts comedian Ravi Gupta who has made a name for himself in the world of stand-up over the past few years. In between performing stand-up shows during a recent visit to Bhubaneswar, he opens up about his passion and how the journey is shaping up. City Lights remembers Laxmi Indira Panda, who was not just the only Odia woman in Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s Indian National Army but was also one of its youngest women members. The section also takes a closer look at ‘hustle culture’ and the harm that it may be doing to a significantly large number of employees across sectors. In ScreenShots, young filmmaker Sankalp Mohanty talks to us about ‘Achinha Saba'.

The simple wedding ceremonies of yore have given way to ‘events’ that are as mind-boggling in their choice of themes as they are extravagant when it comes to the costs involved. And this begs the question… is it really necessary to go so over the top, often at the expense of traditions and at the risk of incurring wastage? Our Cover Story for this edition takes a long, hard look at this trend and tries to come up with some answers. For long decades, football struggled to find a place in the minds of India’s sports lovers, overshadowed as it was by the more glamorous and mass-appeal-generating game of cricket. This has changed, albeit slowly, in recent years with a new breed of footballers led by the iconic Sunil Chhetri trying to power Indian football to new heights. In City Sports, we take a look at some key factors responsible for this transformation, including the institutional support that is being provided by the government of Odisha. Winters in Odisha may not be as extreme as in some of India’s northern states but the season still brings with it its share of skin problems. In a special feature in City Health, we talk to experts to bring you some practical skincare tips to deal with this weather. Amid a long list of negatives and controversies, it is refreshing to see winds of positive change weep through the Odia entertainment industry, guided by some immensely talented artists from different disciplines. One such individual is Lipika Singh Darai, who was among the 10 chosen for the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Breakthrough India. Read more about Lipika and the BAFTA initiative in Screen Shots. A recent musical collaboration between Odia and Assamese artists not only set foottapping but also turned the spotlight firmly on singer Achurjya Borpatra. In Screen Shots, he tells us how the project took shape; he also shares his joy at how the song has touched so many hearts in both states. The section also features the latest series of Savdhaan India, a TV show based on real-life crime stories, which is being shot in Odisha with cast and crew from the state. Arjya Patnaik, who is spearheading this initiative, talks to us about what inspired her to bring the shoot to Odisha.

Ask anyone who they look up to and give credit to for being the person that they have become, chances are that a teacher will be on their list along with parents, family members, and close friends. To mark Teacher’s Day, our Cover Story for this edition pays tribute to the role that teachers play in our lives. Anybody who was around in the 80s would remember the pulsating beats and the psychedelic lights that were synonymous with a new form of music that held the world in thrall. A special feature in City Tales revisits the birth of Disco music, its impact on the Bollywood film industry, and its eventual decline of sorts. With the growing realisation that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is here to stay, discussions these days often veer around to the influence this latest revolution in technology can have on different human endeavours. In City Tech, we take a look at some of the latest AI tools that can be used for a variety of functions. As it happens, advances in technology invariably come with their own unique challenges. Preventing cybercrime and identifying the perpetrators is one such challenge for law enforcement agencies these days and official data on the nature and number of such incidents presents a grim picture. Twin City police chief Soumendra Priyadarshi discusses the challenges in City Beat. The section also looks at diseases like dengue that make an appearance during the monsoon season. We speak with health and municipal officials to bring you a ground report. In Screen Shots, we catch up with the newest star on the block who is creating quite the buzz on the OTT circuit these days. Life has not been the same for actor Prem Parija, who had earlier worked as an assistant director for Bollywood films, since he was signed up to play the lead role in the ‘Commando’ series. The section also features Odia film producer Sanjay Nayak and filmmaker NG Reddy. During the course of a freewheeling chat, they discuss the current state of the Ollywood film industry and what needs to be done to draw the audience back to the movie theatres. This edition explores the interesting 200-year-old Urdu poetry tradition of ‘Mushaira’ in the city of Cuttack (City Culture) and the inspiring story of an 18-year-old entrepreneur who is rewriting the rules of success (City Biz).

Another year has come to an end, leaving behind a kaleidoscope of memories. For Odisha, 2023 was an eventful year when it came to governance, development, sports, and business. Our Cover Story for this edition brings you snapshots of the year’s significant policy decisions, major achievements in sports, landmarks from the corporate & business world, and important happenings in the Odia entertainment industry. Located in close proximity to buildings that seat the ‘who’s-who’ of Odisha’s power establishment, the Bhubaneswar Club has over the years evolved as an enduring symbol of socializing and celebration. With a history of 74 years, the club not only boasts of a rich legacy but also stands tall as a symbol of contemporary urban life. In City Tales, we walk you through all that the club stands for. Bhubaneswar was recently witness to a memorable congregation of vintage motor vehicles that reflected the glory, beauty, and craftsmanship of an era gone by. The inaugural Odisha Concours D’Elegance saw the participation of 50 eye-catching vintage cars from all over the country. Read all about this one-of-a-kind event in City Lights. A New Year brings with it new beginnings as well as new resolutions that are meant to set the tone for the next 12 months. City Lights brings to you a special feature tracing the origins of New Year resolutions and speaking to people from different walks of life to figure out the practice means to them. December 1, 2023 will be remembered for a film that not only created a storm at the box office but also sparked off an intense debate that shows no signs of dying down soon. ‘Animal’, the multi-lingual blockbuster, has received flak for normalizing misogyny and its controversial portrayal of gender dynamics. In Screen Shots, we talk to some prominent names from the Odia entertainment industry on the ongoing debate that has brought with it its own share of polarization and toxicity. Another issue that has become a matter of debate in recent days is that of paid menstrual leave for women. The issue has taken centre stage once again after Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Irani expressed her opposition to the concept on the grounds that it could lead to discrimination against women in the workforce. In City Beat, we reach out to people for their views on the subject

Winter's here and it is nature at its very best out there! There’s a nip in the air and a spring in the step of people as they plan for the weeks ahead. Travel tops the list for many, as they set out to explore some lesser-known destinations during what is clearly the best weather to hit the road. But this is also the time for festivals, and festivities, galore with no pandemic-related restrictions this year. We explore the myriad hues of winter in Odisha in our Cover Story. Winter's also time for the biggest fair of them all. In City Culture, we look at the Bali Jatra which makes a grand comeback after a pandemic-induced hiatus of two years. The bank of the Mahanadi in Cuttack is all set for the grand spectacle that is a celebration of commerce and culture. Talking of celebrations, there was plenty of it on display during Diwali. A photo feature captures a riot of colours and emotions as people celebrated the festival of lights without any Covid-19 restrictions this time. This edition of My City Links also brings you snapshots of what was the last solar eclipse of 2022. Although it was visible only partially in Odisha, the event saw an enthusiastic response from photographers and scientists as well as laypersons. The latest edition of the Bhubaneswar Runway Week, or BRW as it is popularly known, was a riot of colours and creativity. Read all about it in our Events section. In City Lights, we visit two villages in the Cuttack district and come back with a touching story of religious and cultural co-existence. In Transit Lounge, we host poetry sensation, Amandeep Singh. A visit to Bhubaneswar is always like a homecoming of sorts for the versatile poet who graduated in software engineering from a reputed institution in the city. In a freewheeling chat, he tells us about the transition from engineering to poetry, his experience so far, and his plans for the future. Screen Shots takes a close look at one aspect of the OTT phenomenon that is as stark as it is disturbing - the trend of content that often centres around the theme of explicit sex and violence. OTT content creators and people who have got hooked on the platforms weigh in on the trend and give their suggestions on the way ahead for an industry that is growing with each passing day