Anju Poddar's Home Diva Book Launch

The launch of “Home Diva”, Anju Poddar’s 8thbook published by Bloomsbury

Hyderabad’s own Anju Poddar is launching yet another book. When one thinks of Anju, many things come to mind, but the first of them is her passion for Indian art and culture. Her love for weaves and textiles has taken her to many states across the country where she has personally interacted with master-craftsmen sharing design inputs. Anju’s journeys over the years have led her across the world, from the U.S. where she received a BE, all the way to the peak of Mount Kailash. She shares her cultural experiences and assimilated knowledge of Indian traditions through a series of books that she has written over the past decade. Anju has authored seven books each of which covers a different aspect of our society.

Her first book, “A Journey to the Heavens”, with a forward by the honorable Dalai Lama is a detailed travel guide on Mansarovar and Mt. Kailash. “A Wedding in the House”, is not only a guide on wedding planning but also a book that talks about the meaning of marriage. “Our festivals Our Traditions” promotes the importance of Hindu traditions and festivals. This book is a visual delight because each festival is depicted by a painting specially made for the book by senior artists. For example, the festival of Holi by M.F. Hussain. She is the coauthor of “Meals Menus & More”, a book about menu planning using various Indian cuisines for various occasions from vrath ka khana to school tiffins and train travel. She has also coauthored with two friends, the latest of her books, “108 Shades of Divinity” which catalogues the places of worship of the diverse religions in India. Ms. Poddar will be unveiling her next book called the “Home Diva”.

About the Book Home Diva:

“Home Diva” is a compilation of Anju’s trade secrets gathered over the years. Through this book she hopes to make a home-maker’s job easier by passing on the tips, wisdom, recipes and little known method. Its content includes various sub topics: Vastu for the House, Kitchen, Store and Garbage Disposal, Maintenance of Saris, Shawls and Woollens, How to Take Care of Your Art Work, Books and Photographs, Pearls, Jewellery and Watches, Pest Control, Travelling and Efficient Packing, Home Remedies, etc. This book will undoubtedly become your go-to guide for practical and proven tips for running an efficient and beautiful Home.


A FEW EXCERPTS FROM THE BOOK HOME DIVA
Taking Care of Ivory

Don’t expose Ivory to direct sunlight. Ivory might fade when exposed to excessive direct sunlight. However, in order for it to retain the warm, white colour, it must be exposed to some indirect sunlight. Keeping the ivory in a dark place will cause it to darken and yellow.

Fill water in small glass bowls and keep behind your ivory objects - this prevents from cracks forming on the ivory by keeping the surroundings moist. You need to replenish the water every ten days.

Wear gloves. When handling ivory, since it is a naturally porous material and it can easily soak up the natural oils from your hands.

How to Take Care of Your Art Work

Do not use plastic to wrap the canvasses as moisture gets trapped in it resulting in the setting and growth of fungus.

Washed muslin cloth is recommended for wrapping as it allows the work to breathe. Be sure that there is no starch in the cloth as starch attracts insects. I have muslin bag with small acrylic pocket on top in which I keep a photo the artwork.
Tips For Taking Care of Your Kundan/Jadau Jewellery

I like to store my jewellery in thin and transparent plastic boxes and I line them with washed muslin cloth or sponge.
If any part of your Kundan Jewellery darkens, then use an eraser (the one used for erasing pencil marks) on the darkened portion
Handle the silk chord used to adjust the length of the necklace with care. Never wet the chord as it causes the zari in it to discolour.

While travelling I put the boxes in black plastic bags or wrap them in aluminum foil.

Guest Room

It’s nice to add a little love to the guest room, to make it just a little nicer to stay. These tips will keep guests coming back...and back...and back:

It should be more like a multi-purpose room where the guests should feel comfortable and at home.
There should be a low table to place their suitcase as it is very inconvenient to sit on the floor and unpack.
Lots of foldable baggage racks are available in the market.
Keep a pair of scissors handy to cut the baggage strips.

Room for elderly people
Our beloved elderly relatives have very special needs, therefore while planning a room for them we have to be very conscious and careful about their needs.

Because many older people make nighttime trips to the bathroom, they must be able to move between the bed and the toilet easily and safely in the middle of the night. This presents a different lighting situation. Turning on a bright light could momentarily blind the person, and possibly disturb the sleeping partner.
The fumbling around in the dark is fraught with tripping or falling danger.

Children’s room
Children are very sensitive to their environment and often pick up energies that adults around them don’t. Children’s rooms should represent their own world. It is, therefore, very important that children’s rooms support them in every way possible.
Management of all their stuff. This is more than a simple storage space issue. Children need to be taught at an early age that life is about flow. Something must go out before something new is brought in.

Mirrors are a wonderful multipurpose solution in a nursery. Besides giving the illusion of more space, they reflect light and the great outdoors when placed opposite a window. They’ll open up the entire room and bring in twice then see the natural light, making the nursery feel open and airy. Best of all, babies love their reflections.