Ls Special

The Rebel Bride

As much as we want to avoid, we are now faced with weddings that have layer upon layer of hullabaloo before the big day, to the extent that one often gets exhausted. More so for the bride, but not so much for the rebellious kind.
Meat of the matter

Eid day; the men, the women, and the children have all returned from Eid prayers. The butcher — amateur in all aspects — gets busy with his new found profession; he is the ubiquitous ‘butcher for a day’ on active service!
A guide to two wheeled joys

Motorbikes. Ever since someone figured out strapping an internal combustion engine to a bicycle made the whole balancing act of riding much better, motorbikes have brought thrills to millions and offered them an unbeatable mix of convenience, ease of use and freedom. While for many, it's just another mode of transport, the right motorbikes can inspire people to treat them as objects of desire. Let's dive in and find out what that right motorbike might be for you.
That perfect gaming rig

See if you can identify yourself with this scenario — you spent hours upon hours in gaming cafes instead of the O' Level classes you should have been in.
Horology explained

Of course, a timepiece provides the answer to the oft asked question, but is that their only purpose?
Winter Fragrances for Him

Winter accessories are all about bringing warmth to the ensemble. A man can bring the essence of warmth to his scent through fragrances that are defined by heavier and bold base notes like spicy, musky, woody and leathery aromas.
The tale of Christmas

According to the sermons of Saint Augustine of Hippo, an early Christian theologian and philosopher, Jesus was born on the date of the winter solstice, an astronomical phenomenon which marks the day with the shortest period of daylight and the longest night of the year.
The three great checklists for a wonderful wedding

Sometimes we get carried away amongst all the chaos of a wedding. Be it with spending hefty sums on the dress, or going overboard with the invitation cards.
The father's checklist

We all see weddings as a great mother-daughter bonding time, but fathers have a big role to play here as well. Never underestimate the presence of a father-figure when big arrangements are underway. Since a wedding needs 'all hands on deck,' we have some guidelines to be that helpful hand as the father!
Grooms, prepare!

You have successfully popped the question and feel ecstatic. Well now the list of responsibilities only grows... better start prepping!
The Belle's Hackbook

The final big day that you tie the knot on may look effortless in its execution, but only those who have been through these as brides or bridesmaids will truly know exactly how many things can go wrong. But having said that, being prepared is not all that difficult!
The mother's wedding checklist

Mothers undoubtedly play a huge role in weddings, from giving that last nod of approval, to handpicking and perfecting every little detail. There is little they do not look over when it comes to their children's wedding.
And God created man

To say that times are confusing would not be an understatement. We are indeed struggling to create an unbiased environment for everyone to live in.
The Wedding Plan

Pick up a notebook or your favourite note taking app and get busy. Carefully list out the budget, the venue, the dresses, where to go for the flowers, the makeup artists, caterers — everything that comes to mind should be listed.
Jute as a lifestyle product

Modern fashion and living are ascending the steps to embrace the senses, while providing the people with a platform of expression. The issue of sustainability and eco-friendliness are now highlighted more than ever; fashion and living too are now addressing these concerns.
Auspicious Shab-e-barat

Shab-e-barat is approaching and your neighbourhood grocery stores are already stocked up with ghee and spices. The fish and bhortas of the last week are well behind, and rich sweet and savoury recipes are being dusted out.
Bread 101

When comparing dinner tables of a Bengali and a Westerner, it's hard to understand the importance of bread in our diet as ours mostly consists of rice. That's not to say that bread has no place here, as we have our own way, time and type of breads to consume, making it very much a part of Bengali diet and cuisine. Bread's significance does not merely lie in its many nutritional properties. Its history and significance in culture and different religions is enough to fill tomes in museums across the globe.
Sweets for Shab-e-barat

Fast forward to today, and you will see that love for traditional Bengali sweets is still going strong. Unfortunately, the only thing that seems to have changed is that we now have literally no time to dabble into the wizardry of sweet-making as the city life has its own set rules, which mostly do not include making desserts at home.
Where have all the lamps gone?

As the evening gradually flowed into the night, earthen lamps were burned and fairy lights bedecked buildings just like stars adorn the night sky. As the flames flickered in the wind, echoes of laughter and excited voices filled the air already laden with the smell of freshly made halwa-roti. The streets of Dhaka were getting ready to celebrate Shab-e-barat, the fabled night of fortune and forgiveness.
Recipe for change

My culinary experiments began at the tender age of seven, and involved puddings, singaras and vegetable rolls.
A kitchen revolution

While historians debate over how the city was founded, there is no doubt that Dhaka has been a witness to time, and all the changes that come with it.
Lungi - our very own globetrotter

Going through the lanes of Gulistan or Hawker's Market, you find a cosy little nook of shops thronged by men of all ages. Among the calls of the vendors and the men hauling each other, you notice the neat stacks of fabric surrounding you. Upon closer inspection, you realise that the stacks are just lungis —checks and plaids, and in various hues of blues, whites and greys.
Masks for that wedding glow

Best suited for all skin types, the naturally moisturising honey mask helps lighten skin tone and cleans the pores, leaving you glowing.
YOUR WEDDING - YOUR CAKE

Bengalis are an adaptive nation — good or bad, we accept things easily. Social norms are like the fillers for decorative empty vessels, they fill the void and while doing so, often go through a series of recodifications.
The dyeing dilemma

When Zayn Malik dyed his hair platinum blonde people from across the globe rushed to the nearest salon with an image of the former One Direction sensation with high hopes of transforming themselves to Zayn.
Khadi - An eco-friendly product for the soulful

It is surely a proud moment for Bangladesh; we are set on a high tide to reviving our lost heritage. Muslin, Jamdani, Khadi, Nakshi kantha – these very names restore a connection to our very own royal past; rich heritage and the unique talent of our artisan weavers.
The meaning of sacrifice

It is not their meat nor the blood that reaches Allah, it is the piety of the believer— the holy Qur'an (Chapter 22; Verse 37)
In diversity we believe

According to United Nations' website, “There are an estimated 370 million indigenous people in the world, living across 90 countries. They make up less than 5 percent of the world's population, but account for 15 percent of the poorest.”
Comfortable in plus size

36-24-36...astonishing figures...and somewhat of a holy grail! If you struggle to fit into a size zero...
Stepping into the jazz scene: A listener's guide

Often we find that popular music, or the 'pop scene' as we know it, is just not enough to feed the soul in a manner we might need.