Boo!

All the world is stage and all the men and women are mere players…

We human beings are indeed actors; putting on a mask and becoming someone else feels so risqué yet so exciting. It speaks to the very core of one's psyche, to don a disguise, embrace a mysterious new identity and tread the universe in someone else's shoes. And that is the lure of Halloween, as we know it now at least. 

Every culture around the globe has the belief of a world beyond the realms of human understanding. Folklores and ballads have nurtured these traditions for over millennia. And in today's culture we see the same standard carried in dramas, films, books, graphic novels, anime - an endless list of artistic expression. 

The fine line of difference between our culture vs. their culture is disappearing fast and possibly in our own lifetime, we will see a world that is a confluence of ideas, going beyond imaginary geographical boundaries. 

Maybe not in the form of a Halloween party, but how can we forget the days of our childhood on a chilly winter afternoon, cushioned by the comfort of the cotton blanket [more for protection from the ghouls than the chilly bite of winter], listening to the stories of our ancestors and their real life encounters with the creatures of the unseen? 

As human civilisation has evolved, culture, traditions and norms have changed. Like a fluid taking the shape of its vessel, culture has taken the form of the human imagination. While some may see it as a matter of exchange of ideas, possibly it is more of a diffusion of human imagination than anything else. 

Yet, every culture must understand where to draw the line; while we desire assimilation of human thought, we do not wish to endanger our principles. Rather than simple diffusion, could it be that we should focus more on exchange of thoughts through a porous membrane, hoping to filter, or at least, buffer the exchange?  This, possibly is not a probability in any terms. 

Setting aside the storm in a teacup, let's move to the matter of Star Lifestyle issue of 31 October 2017. 

From the 'mecho bhoot' of Grandma's Stories, to attempting to identify the true identity of Count Dracula, this issue is our attempt to spook you by any means possible! We have snippets from what we claim our very own, to something what we consider "alien" and this has been a deliberate effort. 

We certainly hope our readers will enjoy turning the pages, as much as we enjoyed putting them together.

LS Desk