When Timur invaded India in the 15th century, he unwittingly introduced to the country a cuisine that is perhaps unrivalled in the world-Wazwaan. For the first time ever, the exotic treasury of secret recipes from the renowned family of Waza, the master chefs of Kashmir, are made available in the book, Wazwaan-Traditional Kashmiri Cuisine, published by Roli Books.The recipes have been contributed by Khan Mohammed Sharief Waza, Khan Mohammed Shafi Waza and Khan Mohammed Rafiq Waza. With some excellent photos by Dheeraj Paul, the book is a must for all those who can't resist good food. Price on request.

ART
Pictorial Indian

A. Ramachandran is one figurative artist who has abandoned the use of modernist principles as a survival tactic, unlike other children of Mumbai's 1950s Progressive School, that included M.F. Husain and F.N. Souza. Now Ramachandran, to use a cliché, exploits his Indianness in his paintings, both through the use of motifs and pictorial structure. His mawkish compositions have plenty of lotus plants, parrots, palm trees, tribal women with nose rings and a selfportrait grinning insidiously from the foliage. Catch the artist's watercolours, paintings and sculptures at Delhi's Vadehra Art Gallery, D-40 Defence Colony. On till January 21, 2002.

MUSIC
Holy Communion

Gana Saraswati Kishori Amonkar has walked the untrodden path. Sampradaya, a twin album released by Sony Nad, is Amonkar's tribute to her mother and guru, late Mogubai Kurdikar. In Volume I, Amonkar sings raga Alhaiya Bilawal, a serene late morning melody. The composition Aliri kita ve gaye, set to teentaal, is followed by Kavan batariya gailo mai, a drut in teentaal. In the second cassette, she sings raga Jaunpuri (which she calls Jeevanpuri) the popular composition Baje jhanana in vilambit laya, concluding with a bhajan in raga Bhairavi. While both these ragas have been recorded by Amonkar before, what is striking in this recital is the bhava and the meditative aspect. "I have to communicate with my God," says Amonkar. Price: Rs 200.

SCIENCE FEST
Demystifying Discussions

The British Council is organizing the India-UK Science Festival in Delhi. The focus is on biomedical research, digital communications and environment. It will offer Indian scientists and other professsionals, academics, students and the general public a platform to share their experiences with the 16 UK scientists visiting India. There will be a series of debates, lectures, workshops and panel discussions etc. On till January 18.

HEALTH RESORT
Relaxing Recourses

Indus Valley Ayurvedic Centre in Mysore, 120 km from Bangalore, offers workshops and consultations on a diverse range of health-related subjects, and also speciality treatments, dietary advice and personal counseling facilities in a luxurious mansion built according to vastu shastra. A comprehensive day package (7am to 5pm) costs Rs 2,000 while a two day package costs Rs 3,900 for an individual and Rs 7,500 for a couple. For details call 91-821-473437 or e-mail: ivac@ayurindus.com.