Dear Readers,
For some, Jewellery is just an afterthought during party season; something you throw on last minute to complement your already scene-stealing sequin dress or velvet jumpsuit. However for many, it’s the main event. Jewellery for many women is a symbol of femininity and social and personal status. It also acts as a signifier of various forms of affiliation, including social and religious. Back in time, it was also used as a currency or as trade goods. Jewellery can be fashioned from a wide range of materials, including pearls, diamonds, stones, silver, gold, platinum, pearls, and other precious materials. From antique keepsakes to contemporary styles that slip seamlessly into your everyday attire, we find out more about jewellery by going back to the basics of bling in our Feature Story!    
Call it what you want: an excuse for feasting and dancing or a fondness for celebrating the victory of good over evil. We Indians love our festivals. And one of the most popular festivals, Dussehra or Vijayadashmi, brings all these aspects together in a grand and magical way. The Hindu festival that is not only celebrated in India but also in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal is mostly associated with the pious epic Ramayana. In this month’s Special Feature we tell you how our neighbouringcountries, Nepal and Bangladesh, celebrate in other forms as well.
Dazzling the cover is the undisputed queen of Bollywood — Aditi Rao Hydari— whose beauty, uncanny, old-world glamour, and especially her doe eyes, captivate your attention almost instantly. And there’s more to her personality than her flawless beauty. From talking about her upcoming projects, passionate work, and her busy life, she gives us a generous glimpse into her life.
Head to the People page to find out what Reshma Merchant is up to these days. Already a successful entrepreneur who is the co-founder of House of Milk, find out what she’s planning next.
We also have Princess Nandini Singh Jhabua who is an art custodian for tribal art in India. She says that like all Rajputgirls, she too went to Maharani Gayatri Devi Girls School, and spent her formative years in a hostel, where she made friends from all walks of life. She talks with us about her work and more.
Stop over at our In the Spotlight section, where we chat with Seema Azharuddin, who currently represents the Indian diaspora in Joe Biden’s candidacy for US president. Check out our Mind & Body where we tell you a few ways to make the nine holy days of Navratri a treat for your mind, as well as your body.
Japan had always been a destination on Bobby Kandhari’s bucket list and her recent visit to Tokyo, Kyoto, and Asakusa was awe inspiring. In Grand Getaways, Bobby tells us all about her visit to the three cities, the time she spent skiing in Hakuba Happo, visiting a Japanese Hot Spring in Onsen, and checking out other fascinating imperial sights.
And tell us what you think. If you have any suggestions, comments or queries, please e-mail me at publisher@you-and-i.com.