Rajo Celebrations at BBSR DC

This was the third edition of Rajo Celebrations at BBSR DC and with each edition we have taken it a notch higher than last time. Rajo festival holds a special significance for people in Orissa, it’s a 3 day affair where ladies are pampered and given special attention. They are treated like queens for those 3 days. This festival also marks the onset of monsoon in Orissa. Today is the third day of the festivities and as I am typing down the words, I can hear thunderstorms outside and the wind howling between the trees. What a relief it would be, if it actually rains!

Today I got stuck in a crazy traffic jam for 30 minutes. It really numbed my brain and soul. That’s what happens during Rajo! Ok, the word reminds me of an interesting debate that was happening in IWIN BB in office. Some ladies felt it should be written as Raja and not Rajo. While some others felt Rajo is correct. A lady came up with a very good idea, she wrote, it should be “Raw-jaw”! Now that’s intelligent! J This particular IWIN folder can be accessed by ladies of the DC only. Men strictly not allowed :P This is our very own bit of heaven on earth, where we can discuss anything under the sun, where guys don’t have the liberty to infringe our privacy. We can discuss women-related issues/themes, fun/leisure stuff etc. BBSR is the only DC amongst the 11 DCs in India to boast of this special platform given to women! J One more reason, why BBSR DC happens to be the DC that cares! Tomorrow truly rises with us!

Now coming back to the topic, Rajo. We had organized many events as a part of the week long initiative.

1.      Rajo Swing.

2.      Rajo Paan Kiosk

3.      Rajo Mehendi Kiosk

4.      Rajo Pitha Kiosk

5.      Rajo Food festival  

6.      Ethnic Day

7.      Rajo Story writing competition

8.      “My Rajo Story” mailers by 3 senior women leaders of this DC.

Two swings were set up near the Food court area outside in the lawns. They were beautifully decorated with Marigold flowers. Folks enjoyed swinging on it, remembering their childhood moments.

Rajo Paan Kiosk was the innovation introduced this year. It got such a huge response, that just after lunch on the first day, it was sold out. Next day, the vendor turned up with approx. 3000 Paan leaves learning from the previous day’s experience. We all had such a gala time, chewing Paan that day!

Rajo Mehendi Kiosk was another innovation. Again it got overwhelming response. This time, egged by my friends, I decided to go for it. Got it done on one hand only, that also on the back-side, so that my work doesn’t get hampered J The color came out really well. J (My future mom-in-law will love me a lot :P ) That’s an old adage, if you mehendi color comes out well, u will be loved by your MIL :D

Rajo Pitha Kiosk also received tremendous response. Almost 1000 pithas got sold out in just an hour’s time on the first day! I avoided eating those, as its rich in ghee, sugar and what not. Sinful indeed.

Rajo Food Festival was a big hit too. We had arranged for typical Rajo meals like Chakuli and Mutton Curry etc etc. Couldn’t have lunch that day, was preoccupied with some other stuff L Had to manage with just a cappuccino.

We celebrated the final day by coming to office in our ethnic best. Ladies in beautiful sarees and guys in Kurtas! J And what a sight that was to behold! Frankly speaking, the way a saree enhances the beauty of an Indian woman, no other attire does. And yes, guys look best in Jeans with Kurta, and if the Kurta is from FabIndia, then I don’t think any girl on earth can resist the charm! :D

Hmmm…FabIndia…I am totally crazy about the stuff…be it kurtis, dupatta, sarees…stoles…bags….anything! The ambience of the shop, the helpful salespersons, the smell of handicrafts and dyes…is just so very intoxicating. Not getting time these days to venture out. Will surely visit it next month.

We had the Rajo story writing competition going on in the IWIN BB for the 3 days. Lovely childhood memories were jotted down, how folks celebrated Rajo when they were kids, it was really heart wrenching to read the stories. I could identify myself with many of them! Wish I could show you all the lovely stories, but its copyrighted, so cant. J Will try and coax them to start blogs of their own, since they are such terrific writers!

We identified some senior ladies of this DC, and requested them to share with us, their Rajo story which were then published to the 900 odd ladies! It was a big hit! J All 3 of them, very kind to share pictures of their families too!

Ok, let me end todays article, on this happy Raw-jaw note!

Cya next weekend…till then…rock on!

(Pssst : I dedicate this post to all those friends of mine, who look forward to reading my blog every Saturday…since I was suffering from writer’s block in the morning, couldn’t write, they waited and waited and finally asked me just now  about it. Felt so very touched, and immediately, the writer’s block vanished and words just started pouring out of my mind. Love you all, thanks for motivated me!)

Little pleasures of life

How many times do we get blessed with little moments of pleasure in our day to day lives, but very often fail to appreciate that. Somehow, it has been deeply ingrained in our minds that we need to equalize happiness or pleasure with being in a holiday destination away from the maddening crowd and the hustle bustle of the city life. But those moments when acquired, are so fleeting, that we are left gasping for more. Happiness is not a target or destination to be reached, it’s a journey to be enjoyed and relished with each passing moment of progress.

Little pleasures of life…when I succeed in squeezing my car in the last parking slot left in front of CCC…when I catch a passing glimpse of RKHS Poha neatly garnished with coriander leaves during breakfast time, which the vendor ensures nobody gets, god only knows who gets the precious leaves…when I take the first bite of my RKHS Upma with chana daal…or sip my morning MDP Coffee, which the MDP vendor serves with an omnipresent smile. Its really astonishing, how do they remember the preferences of 4000 odd people in the campus. Out of 4000, I guess at least 1500 would be drinking tea/coffee. Remembering their drink preferences, serving it even before they start to narrate their particular style of drink, requires not only great memory, but a true spirit of ensuring customer delight.  I am not saying that the other vendors lack basic service etiquette, its just that MDP is miles ahead of the pack. Same goes for CCD. “Good morning mam, h r u?”, C’mon now, which vendor welcomes you like that!!! Yesterday, I had the best experience ever at CCD. They even let me prepare my own version of cold diet cappuccino. They followed my instructions to the letter T and the outcome was heavenly. God bless Snehashish! I guess, my loyalties would shift towards CCD now, from MDP :P

I am extremely fond of interior decoration, be it my home, car or my cube. (Home away from Home). You must have heard of extended workplace, its time I introduce you to the concept of extended home. Yes, that’s my cube. I have decorated my cube with extreme care and love, each artifact has been picked up and placed with great thought. Every time, somebody gives me a compliment, “Nazia, your cube is so lovely, can’t take my eyes off it!”, that makes my day! And it happens very often, believe me, not kidding! J It so happened one day, I felt somebody standing behind me, and not speaking. I turned and said with a smile, “Hi, How can I help you?” The lady gasped, “Well, I was just passing by and couldn’t help but admire your cube, its mesmerizing, Can I stay here for a while and absorb the scene?” I was stunned, blushed profusely and could only manage to say, “Yeah, sure”.  After about one month, I came to know that the kind lady had taken a pic of my cube and shared with her friends in MFG! That was “Oh so flattering” J. I also got a prize recently, “The eye candy award”, in HR BBSR Fun Awards series, for having the most beautiful cube. J Another good friend of mine, who exited from the company recently, wrote a mail to me, on his LWD, “Nazia, your cube, has been a great source of employee engagement.” Now that was really sweet of him. J

When I reach home at night after a hard day of work, switch on the TV to watch Masterchef, with a coffee mug in my hand, and my roomie sitting next to me on the sofa, with her lappy ready to dive into the world of online shopping…yes….that is another moment of joy! Immediate stress buster! Now why can’t we have more such simple unadulterated moments of pleasure in life. Why do we have to depend on vacations in exotic locales all the time…May be ‘coz of peer pressure! Ever since I stepped out of B-school, it has been like a tradition for me and my bestie Anu, to take an annual vacation together. Last year it was Pondicherry and this year it was to Munnar! The rest of the year, we stay contented with the pics of our trips, lolz! Its very important in life to have like-minded friends in your circle. And I consider myself very fortunate on that front. Be it Anu, delightful roomies, colleague cum friends, work is fun, only coz of them!

I feel, I am meandering too much in todays article…cant help it…there is so much stuff to write about and the world limit of 500 (Self-imposed) doesn’t help at all. J

Chalo, cya then…

Cheers!

My Fitness Mantra!

Yes! Its weekend again and my creative juices are all set to flow!

You all must be wondering, what is keeping Nazia busy nowadays? Well, lately I have realized there is one very important life-skill that I lack! That is swimming! So I started learning swimming couple of days back, 2 classes down and craving for more. Hopefully, I would turn out to be an expert swimmer in next 15 days, as per my instructor J

Last year, I learned driving and this year swimming and what else remains…Difficult question J Lawn tennis, maybe! Now question is, why LT and why not TT? ‘Coz of the glamour quotient and raw power associated with LT, I have been attracted to this game, since childhood. Pete Samprass happenend to be my first crush! Always dreamt of playing LT one day. Only prob is you need a partner for such activities, which is difficult to find.

In corporate world, ppl are always hard pressed for time, and it’s a herculean task to find a person who is unmarried and who shares your interests/passion. I have stressed on “Unmarried”, not ‘coz of any ulterior motive, but only ‘coz married folks need to rush home after work ‘coz of family constraints. And these activities are to be relished just like Biryani, and strictly not to be done in a hurry, otherwise the charm is lost and it becomes more of a chore, rather than a stress busting activity.

The pool at my workplace is the best in town, seriously! And the instructor is just superb, though a bit strict! J He often laments, “Nazia madam, aap gappe zyada lagate ho, aur practice kam karte ho!” Lolz! Well, why lose another opportunity for employee connect!? It’s the best way to connect with folks and share lighter moments! Not sure about how many calories I am burning though, anyways just to be on the safe side, I prefer running for 10 mins in the gym, just before swimming.

Ok, enough about my fitness mania! Cya next weekend!

Cheers! J

The Phenomenon of Hatching mails.

The Phenomenon of Hatching Mails :

Yes! It is Sunday again, and I am in a mood to disseminate some essential corporate gyan, which might turn out to be a life-saver for you, someday hopefully! J

Have you ever wondered why people do not respond to mails?

Or even if they do, why is there a delayed response?

I have done a lot of R&D on this topic, after being perturbed by such individuals. And arrived at the conclusion, that they believe in the concept of “Hatching Mails” probably.  Well, the concept is quite self-explanatory. You keep on sitting on the mail, expecting it to “hatch” one fine day, resulting in an automatic reply going out to the sender! Don’t know, if it actually happens, but since the crowd believing in this concept is so huge, there might actually be some truth in it! J

And nothing infuriates me more than people who “Hatch” mails. It is not only highly unprofessional but erodes your credibility.

Jokes apart, the first and foremost rule of the corporate should be, to respond to queries/concerns immediately. And from “Immediately”, I mean within the next couple of minutes, unless it demands some data crunching/collation from you. This habit, if inculcated at an early juncture of your career might help you create a dependable and responsible image for yourself and of course will enable you to stay ahead of SLAs and adhere to timelines.

So, what are the traits/tips that might help you to respond to mails quickly?

Learn typing! (And from that, I mean you should be able to type using all the 10 fingers of your hands.) It increases your efficiency and “wows” people around you! :P

Reach early at office, at least 30 minutes ahead of the Junta. You not only get a quick-start to the day’s affairs, but get the best parking-slot :D By the time, people start arriving, you have already chartered out the day’s schedule, replied to all mails that arrived post 9 PM the previous day and have had your favorite breakfast in the food court, without having to standing in the long winding queues! (This is actually becoming a serious bane in the corporate world). Specially in the IT sector, where hiring happens in multiples of thousands! J

This habit of arriving early really helps, specially on Mondays! J Follow my diktat for 1 month, and experience your productivity rising manifold! J

That’s it for now… J

Cheers!

My Summer resolution

My summer resolution :

1. To contribute to my blog every weekend.