Although the “modern” way of draping the sari, with the pallu over the left shoulder, remains the most popular it is definitely not the only way to drape a sari. Most of us are familar with other common drapes, (more…)

Lenghas began to replace saris as wedding wear. Some people choose to believe that saris are not elegant when in fact this is not true. Saris are very elegant and perfect for casual as well as formal and bridal wear. (more…)

There are some questions that always puzzle and intrigue me. The answers, when I learn them, will fascinate me even more. I am very interested in knowing more about the Indian garment. I wonder if in Bollywood films, do they really pleat the actresses’ saris or do they merely just don an automatic “sari.” I know that in Devdas, the famous blue sari worn by Aishwarya Rai, took several hours to drape. I truly admire the beauty and grace of the nine yard Bengali beauty. The Bengali sari is so elegant and unique. It was upsetting that she didn’t wear that sari for very long in the movie. So much trouble for just a few seconds. What a waste.

Another question that puzzles me on a daily basis is that how, in the movies and on Indian television, do they make their pallu or dupatta firmly adhere to their head?? I know brides do it all the time. However, bobby pins are used many times. I’ve even heard of the use of safety pins…Ouch!! Another technique is to sew little hooks into the dupatta and then slide bobby pins through them, securing them through the head. Sure this is a great idea but I don’t have the time to do this to all my clothes! I wonder if they really do this on Indian television?? Any answers to my puzzling questions will be appreciated.

Going back to Bengali saris I just want to say that it saddens me to see them dissappearing. Everyone is draping the sari in the usual modern manner. Not that I have anything against that and it is perfectly fine but many drapes and styles are very sadly becoming obsolete…which I will discuss more upon later.

Bollywood, the Indian film industry, means more to Indians than Hollywood does to the Americans. It has always been an integral part of our lives, country, and culture. (more…)

The New Year is just days away. With 2009, it’s time for some changes. New beginnings, new articles, new fashion trends, and a NEW Arzoo Mag. Watch for the new and improved Arzoo Mag starting January 1st, which will feature more BLOGS!, better articles, new writers, tons of new fashion, and guides to get you going for the whole year. Our biggest section, WEDDING, will be equipped with great advice and planning for the wedding season. Here’s a sneak peak…

Fashion Forward for Spring and Summer. Featuring our Desert Safari Collection…right in time for the warmer months. Sophisticated cotton saris. Trendier churidars. Loads of new recipes. January’s Food Section: Endless Biryanis. Beauty Secrets of the Stars! Bollywood’s all new releases. Will Bollywood improve in 2009 to make up for it’s 2008 loss? Or, will it stay the same? What new stars will be joining the industry next year? Complete Guides on Travelling to Gujarat and Rajasthan. More galleries and pictures. A look at our culture: traditions and customs and the history of it all. Plus…don’t miss our newest additions to the LIFESTYLE section featuring an Author of the Month for every month to come plus Book Reviews. Keep reading Arzoo Mag to answer all your questions and learn more!

Want to be a part of the Arzoo Team? Just contact us to join!

Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is both and award-winning author and poet and her work is very widely known. (more…)

How disgusting! Whatever happened to Indian values. Apparently they’ve gone to hell. In his recent film, Dostana, Abhishek pretends to be gay. He says he is very happy with that. Why am I not surprised? Abhishek looks gay. He’s a stupid and foolish actor and the only reason he’s gotten anywhere today is because of his father and sadly his wife. How shameful! “It’s a matter of great pride if I’m their icon,” says Abhishek. According to him homosexuals are as human as anyone else! No they’re not! India has really become too liberal. Dostana, surprisingly successful has also raised eyebrows and there’s talk that even Amitabh dislikes his character in the movie! Well, at least Big B still has some values left in him. I hope so at least. Too bad he couldn’t instill those values in his son. According to Abhishek, it’s a “normal film” and his entire family has enjoyed it, especially Aishwarya who seems to be very happy with it. Of course she’s happy with it. She has no values and no respect for Indian culture. She’s merely a cheap slut. Sure she’s beautiful. I wouldn’t argue with that but I wouldn’t go so far as to call her a role model or anything.

Karan Johar is surely gay because otherwise why would he make this stupid movie. Even though it is a comedy and we all know how popular they are it’s quite surprising that the film was so successful in the Indian audience. This proves what has become of our culture. The Liberals have taken over the world. More to my dismay, Drona was a flop and Dostana a hit. It really makes not sense. All along I’ve been thinking Bollywood is at fault for not making good movies but now I realize that it is really the audience that is at fault when in fact Bollywood is just giving people what they want…liberal, untraditional, funny, and stupid entertainment. How sadly foolish.

Mickey Contractor, makeup artist to the stars, shares some of his makeup tips using MAC Cosmetics to get that Bollywood Look you’ve dreamed of all along. He has worked on Kajol, Rani Mukherjee, Asha Bhosle, (more…)

Filmmaker Ramesh Sippy’s daughter Sheena is traveling with the Bachchans on the Unforgettable Tour to photograph the show and compile the pictures into a book. Sheena is a professional photographer and has done assignments with personalities such as Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, Imran Khan, Naomi Campbell, and Zakir Husain. Sources say that Sheena is not happy with the fact that Amitabh posts pictures from the concerts on his blog with detailed captions. “The demand for the photographs of the shows is increasing,” says Amitabh on his blog. “I am compiling some more pictures. But this is not being received well by the photographer (Sheena) since she has been assigned to do a book on the tour. She feels all her work is going out to the world before time.” Big B praises Sheena on her work, “The magnificence of the arena and the enthusiasm of the crowds are so beautifully captured by Sheena Sippy Kapoor, who has been assigned to do a book on the tour.” Sheena is married to Shashi Kapoor’s son Kunal. Her family’s association with the Bachchan’s dates back to the time when her father directed Amitabh in the blockbuster Sholay. Later on, her brother Rohan Sippy teamed up with Abhishek Bachchan in Bluffmaster. “We are indeed such an integrated fraternity and proud of it,” says Amitabh.

Online shopping has become a popular trend over the past several years. However, when it comes to sari shopping we prefer to shop in person most of the time. (more…)

On April 20, 2007 Abhishek Bachchan married Aishwarya Rai in a private ceremony at the Bachchan (more…)