Now family courts that are litigant-friendly
By Kanu Sarda, New Delhi, Feb 7 : Imagine a courtroom complete with colourful walls, specially designed tables and chairs, games, a television and even baby sitters - all for kids.

In India, machines are preferred to manmade craft
By Shweta Srinivasan, Porbandar (Gujarat), Feb 7: Leaving his family's tradition of carving idols of Lord Jagannath, Manmohan Mahapatra turned to the sands at Orissa's beaches 30 years ago. Now known the world over for his magnificent sand creations, he says it's a struggle to promote the art in India where "machines are preferred".

Snake charmer girls study, usher in winds of change
By Azera Rahman, Sapera Basti (Haryana), Feb 7: Promila is pursuing her graduation and is a role model for her entire village. Considering she hails from a snake charmers' community where education is hardly a priority, and for women a taboo, this feisty 19-year-old's achievement is a big deal.

Indian restaurants boom as biryani, samosas, tikkas hook Poles
By Surender Bhutani, Warsaw, Feb 7 : There may be an economic slump in Poland, but the growing popularity of Indian food has set off an Indian restaurant boom in the Polish capital and other cities with samosas, chicken tikkas, biryani and what is known as mango lassi hooking Poles, many of whom have begun cooking Indian dishes in their homes.

Entering bedrooms to make science exciting to students
New Delhi, Feb 4 : In an effort to draw the best talent to science, the Indian government has come up with an "innovative" way to reach out to students by "entering the bedroom" to make science exciting.

Today in History: 6th February
Today in History (Important Events of February 6 from world history): February is a special month from many respects. This is the only month to have a variable count of days depending upon the type of year it is. But this is not the only thing that makes the month important. This month has witnessed many events which had changed the course of history. The 6th of February is an import an important day of the month for many reasons.

Today in History: 5th February
Today in History (Important Events of February 5 from world history): Every month of the year has its own story to tell. Many important people have taken birth, or have died or for that matter, other important events have taken place in all the months of the year. This holds true for the month of February too. The fifth day of February is as important as the other 28 days of the month.

Today in History: 4th February
Today in History (Important Events of February 4 from world history): The fourth day of the second month of the year is as important as any other day of the year. On this day, many important events have taken place in history which has made this day a day to remember.

Today in History: 3rd February
Today in History (Important Events of February 3 from world history): The month of February is the second month of the year. Just like the first month of the year, this month is also important in the pages of history. This day is associated with some of the most important occurrences in history, which has given this day a special meaning.

Today in History: 2nd February
Today in History (Important Events of February 2 from world history): All the 365 days of the year are special in their own way. This is also true for the second day of the second month of the year. On this day many important events have taken place all around the world which makes this day important in history.

Today in History: 1st February
Today in History (Important Events of February 1 from world history): February is the second month of the year, and the only one with a variable number of days, depending up on whether it is a leap year or not.

Art Crime
Purchasing an art piece is really a difficult task; especially when there are so many fake pieces generating of an original one. India Blooms presents a vivid account of how the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) busted a fake art racket

Splurge this Valentine's Day
Mumbai, Feb 1 : With Valentine's Day just round the corner, young lovers have already started shop hopping for getting D-gift for there beloved. Some suggestions

Women use more brain power than men to understand jokes
London, January 31 : Women take longer time to understand jokes but enjoy the punchline more than men, a new study claims.

This Day in History: 31st January
Today in History (Important Events of January 31 from world history): All the days of the year are as important as the other. If we go through the pages of history we will see that many important events have taken place on these days of the year, which have made them special. The last day of the month of January is also very special. On this day, many events have taken place which has given this day a special place in the pages of history.

This Day in History: 30th January
Today in History (Important Events of January 30 from world history): The month of January is the first month of the year. The 31 days in this month are very important from the historical point of view. Many important events have taken place on this very day, which has ensured a secure place for this day in the pages of history.

This Day in History: 29th January
Today in History (Important Events of January 29 from world history): The first month of the year, like all the rest eleven months of the year, play a vital role in history. From time immemorial, important events have been taking place in the thirty one days that goes in making up the first month of the year. One of those thirty one days is the twenty ninth day, which has significance of its own.

The big fat Indian wedding
Indian weddings are increasingly becoming cosmopolitan embracing diverse cultural concepts. Ritusmita Biswas examines the emerging trend

Gwalior library puts original copy of Constitution of India on display
Gwalior, Jan. 26 : The Central Library in Gwalior boasts of a prized and priceless possession - the original bound copy of the Constitution of India.

Children's conference seeks to spread awareness about HIV-AIDS in Nagaland
By Peter Chachei, Dimapur, Jan 26 : A three-day children's conference was held here recently to spread awareness about HIV-AIDS, and other problems.

A western classical concert to promote cultural exchange in Meghalaya
By D. Henpilen, Shillong, Jan 26 : Music has become synonymous with Shillong, which recently got a double treat in the form of a western classical concert and dance performance by a Swiss group.

Men feel "too little " guilt
Washington, Jan 26 : Women feel a lot of guilt, whereas males feel "too little", concludes a new study.

'Won't give music for item songs'
Ustad Amjad Ali Khan is a man who has become synonymous to is music. In Kolkata for the launch of his new album 'Music Room' by Saregama, the maestro tells India Blooms correspondent Sreya Basu he is taken help of fusion to reach out to young listeners

Freedom fighter in Bihar leads a desolate life
By Surya Pratap Singh, Pariya Village (Gaya), Jan.25 : As people in India will celebrate the 61st Republic Day of the country on Tuesday, an octogenarian freedom fighter Bindeshwari Prasad Singh leads a desolate life in Bihar.

Republic Day flavour on your platter
Gurgaon, Jan 25: There is the authentic Sarson ka Saag from Punjab, Aloo Chokha from Bihar, Gatte ki Subji from Rajasthan and much more! If a unique meal is what you are looking for to enjoy with your family, a special R-day platter with delicacies of all the states in the country is a must try.

Today in History: 26th January
This day in history. Importance of 26th January. Major events happened on 26th January

Today in History: 25th January
This day in history. Importance of 25th January. Major events happened on 25th January

When life comes to a standstill in a Manali village as part of unique festival
By Prem Kumar, Goshal village (Himachal Pradesh), Jan.24 : India is known for its diversity and a large number of people living in different regions of the country, especially in the rural parts, have been following unique rituals for generations to carry on their local traditions and express their deep faith in them.

Boys who watch porn more likely to indulge in casual sex, harass girls
London, Jan 24 : Boys who see pornography are more likely to harass girls and indulge in casual sex, a new study has found.

With music and march, BSF's camel riders to enthral again
By Sahil Makkar, New Delhi, Jan 24: Moustachioed and fierce-looking, they will come riding camels that march with magical precision. India's border guards will regale spectators for the 35th time at this Republic Day parade, with some playing bugles, trumpets and more, in tune with the tinkling bells on their mounts.

Woof! Who let the dogs out?
By Ranjana Narayan, New Delhi, Jan 24 : Have you ever paused to think why the stray dog starts up excitedly whenever your car passes by, bounding alongside and barking as if you were its arch enemy? Or why that other stray near the dustbin barks when you cycle along and makes a lunge for your ankles?

Will Delhi's infrastructure be ready anytime soon?
By Sanjiv Kataria: Try asking a friend a simple question: "Caught in a traffic jam in Delhi recently?" You will hear endless stories of agonising hours spent in travelling a few hundred metres to a few km, of roads in constant need of repair, whether it is a small matter of pavement stones being improved or month long "Work In Progress" mega jobs.

Food inflation due to government policy delays
By Sushma Ramachandran: Even as food prices continue to rise inexorably at over 16 percent, the government has finally taken steps to curb the spiralling price inflation that has been hurting all sections of society, especially the poorest of the poor.

Rivers in western Uttar Pradesh dangerously polluted
By S.P. Singh, Meerut, Jan 24: Six rivers in western Uttar Pradesh, including the Yamuna, are now so polluted that they should be classified as dead, says a new study.

The Great Escape
Today is the birthday of one of the greatest freedom fighters of India- Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. From our archive we present to readers one of the greatest adventure stories of the country's freedom movement. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in 1941 had escaped from the house arrest by British for an unknown political destination. Sujoy Dhar gives a blow by blow account of that chilling escape story.

CW Games, Mumbai's dabbawalas, Kumbh Mela - all at R-Day parade
New Delhi, Jan 22 : Shera, the mascot of Commonwealth Games 2010, is all set to be the highlight of this year's Republic Day parade, which will have 21 tableaus portraying newer concepts and refreshing traditions like Mumbai's dabbawalas and Uttarakhand's Maha Kumbh Mela.

Delhiwalas plan R-Day getaways, Maha Kumbh a big draw
By Azera Rahman, New Delhi, Jan 22 : It may not be the perfect "extended weekend", but Republic Day which falls on a Tuesday has nevertheless enthused Delhi residents to draw up short getaway plans - with many taking this as an opportunity to visit the Maha Kumbh in Haridwar.

It's not right. It's not even wrong !
By Dr. B M Hegde, Mangalore, Jan 21 : The Union Government's recent submission before the Supreme Court to derecognise 44 Deemed to be Universities reminds me of the famous quote of Wolfgang Pauli, a great scientist, while describing an article written by a colleague-'It is not right, it's not even wrong'.

'Accepting spouses' kids still not a normal trend
There is a constant increase in the number of men accepting kids from their spouse's marriage during their second marriage. At least that's what a recent survey by Secondshaadi. com, a web portal for re-marriages are hinting at. India Blooms correspondent Sreya Basu speaks to Ankur Warikoo, Co-founder of the portal to know more

Today in History: 21st January
This Day in History: The 21st day of January is marked by countless events that have shaped history in many parts of the world. The incidents that have occurred on this day are as varied as those that had taken place on the other days of the month.

19 Kitchen Tips for You
Kitchen tips and tricks for your daily life

'Erotica...': Learn the art of loving
New Delhi, Jan 20: Renowned sexologist Prakash Kothari is keen to help people express themselves and liberate their inhibited selves through erotica, and has compiled a coffee table book that was released Wednesday.

'Kalpana' exhibition of Indian art opens in Astana
Astana, Jan 20: "Kalpana", an exhibition of 29 digitally produced prints of well-known paintings of eminent Indian artistes representing human figure forms and created over a span of more than a century has opened in this Kazakhstan capital.

40,000 bar-headed geese roosting in Himachal now
By Vishal Gulati, Shimla, Jan 20 : Himachal Pradesh's Pong Dam wetlands in Kangra district is home to two-thirds of the global population of the migratory bar-headed geese these days, wildlife officials say. Flying thousands of miles from north of the Himalayas, nearly 40,000 geese are roosting in the grassy swamps and forests around.