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Christmas Baubles - Stealing the Limelight

December 6, 2014

It is almost impossible to think of decorating Christmas trees without baubles – they are a must-have accessory in Christmas tree decorations. The variety of baubles available, and their elaborate interpretations is truly staggering!

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When did it begin?

It is believed that Prince Albert and Queen Victoria were influential in creating a fashion for glass baubles and other decorations for adorning Christmas trees. Originating in Germany, they soon became popular in England. The first Christmas tree was set up at Windsor Castle in 1841 and this soon became a much loved and fashionable custom.

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In celebration and appreciation of the Christmas bauble over more than a century, we at Ananya have created a range of beautiful, colourful bauble cards, ready to send to your friends and loved ones for Christmas. All cards can be embellished upon request.

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How will you be bringing the spirit of Christmas into your home?

Delicious Recipes to Savour At Ramadan by Asma Khan of Darjeeling Express

July 20, 2014

Asma Khan

During the holy month of Ramadan, fasting from dawn till sunset continues. Each evening the fast is broken at sunset with an ‘Iftar’, a meal shared with the family and often the community, with a sense of celebration.

We atAnanya, are delighted to share some delicious and easy to make recipes you may want to try during Ramadan, or in fact, at any time of the year. These recipes have been contributed by Asma Khan of Darjeeling Express. Asma, having mastered recipes that had been in her family for four generations, has been successfully running Supper Clubs from her home in Kensington. Her Supper Clubs create a unique dining experience of authentic Indian food with spices made fresh at home and mouthwatering dishes cooked with love!

PANEER MALAI KORMA (serves 6)

Ingredients:

500 gms of Paneer cut into rectangle pieces (1 inch by ½ inch)

2 Medium onions thinly sliced

1 Tablespoon crushed ginger

½ Tablespoon crushed garlic

½ Teaspoon ground coriander seeds

½ Teaspoon red chillie powder (adjust that to your taste!)

2 Tablespoon concentrated tomato puree

1/2 glass of hot water

1 Tin thick coconut milk

1 Tablespoon ground almonds

Salt

Sugar

Flaked Almonds for garnishing (optional)

Chopped fresh coriander leaves for garnishing

Oil

Method

You can use any kind of pot to make it. I prefer a small wok or “karai". Fry the thinly sliced onions till they are caramelized. On medium high heat, add the garlic and ginger and stir in the oil for a minute. Then add the coriander powder and chilli powder, followed by the tomato puree and water. Wait till the oil comes to the top. Add the ground almonds with the salt and make sure the almonds do not form lumps. Then add the paneer and stir gently and lower the heat a bit so the paneer does not get burnt. After a few minutes add the coconut milk and a touch of sugar (adjust that to your taste!).

MATTAR PULAO (serves 6)

Takes 30 min approximately to cook plus 2 hours rice soaking time

Ingredients

300 gms Basmati rice

Medium/Small white onion (around 100 gms unpeeled)

3 Tablespoons oil

21 fl oz or 600 gms water (boiled)

2 Whole cardamom pods

2 Whole cloves

1 Inch cinnamon stick

1 Large bay leaf

100 gms Peas (frozen peas)

Heaped teaspoon salt

Method

Wash the rice in several changes of cold running water. Leave it to soak for 2 hours in a bowl with cold water. If time constraints do not allow you to soak the rice, even a brief amount of soaking will make a difference so do try to soak the rice.

Peel the onion and cut into half and slice into rings. The important thing is to try and make all the rings the same thickness so they all brown at the same time. Heat the oil on medium high heat in a thick bottomed pan with a lid. When the oil is hot, add the whole spices (cardamom, cinnamon, cloves and bay leaf) and remove with a slotted spoon after a few seconds (good sign is when you hear the spices pop - time to remove them from the heat). After that fry the sliced onions till they are brown and caramalised and remove with a slotted spoon and drain on a plate. Spread the onions out on the plate so they can become crisp as they cool. Drain the rice and add it to the pan. After 1 min of coating the rice with the remainder of the spice and onion infused oil, add the measured hot water. Add the salt. Let the rice absorb the water (usually takes 4 to 5 min) with the pan open and the heat on medium high. Once it looks like most of the water has absorbed, reduce the heat to simmer or low and cover the pan with the lid. Wash the frozen peas in water till they are no longer frozen. After 5 minutes open the lid and add the peas and gently turn the rice around with a fork. Cover and leave for a few minutes before serving.

And now for the dessert!

EID SEVIYAN (Sheer Korma)

Seviyan is the classic Eid dessert and my memories of Eid in India where I grew up was of visiting friends and families and being offered this traditional dessert at every home. Every family had their own version of Seviyan - I prefer this version of Seviyan served warm - you can serve it at room temperature or chilled. It is delicious warm or cold!

Serves 6-8 (Cooking time 20 min- soaking time 1hr)

Ingredients

4 Whole almonds

4 Whole pistachio nuts

1 Tablespoon charoli seeds

1 Tablespoon Raisins or Fresh Coconut slivers (or both - I use both!)

6 Cups full fat milk

100 gms Seviyan or vermicelli

1 Cup sugar

2 Cloves

2 Cardamoms

40 gms Ghee or unsalted butter

Method

Soak the nuts (almonds, pistachio and charoli) in cold water for an hour. Take the skin off the almonds and pistachios and cut into slivers. The charoli goes into the sheer whole. If using the coconut, put them into small squares (thin even sized thin pieces of ½ inch squares) – not into slivers.

Boil the milk in a pan. In another pan flash fry the sevian in half the ghee or butter (the sevian have to be broken into very small pieces) with the cloves and cardamoms and add to the boiling milk. The sevian should cook very soon. Add the sugar and once the sugar has dissolved, take it off the flame. In a pan add the remaining ghee and fry the almonds, pistachio, charoli, coconut and raisins. Add the mixture to the sevian and serve the Sheer Korma warm.

Asma shares some thoughts and reminisces on her experience of Eid growing up.

"This is kind of our Christmas without a tree"- Eid according to my son, then aged 5 years and a bit.

Like a lot of festivals, Eid is mostly about celebrating with friends and family around a table - food is the heart of this celebration. When I was growing up in India, we always spent the day at my Maternal grandparents home in Calcutta. Eid breakfast was a grand affair as the day marked the end of the Holy month of Ramadan, the first breakfast after a month of fasting for many of the adults whose morning meal over the month of Ramadan had been the pre-dawn meal for Sehri. My favourite was warm Seviyan or Sheer Korma which was served to all the children in china cups. (The recipe for the Seviyan is given above).

The traditional Eid dishes of Biryani, Murgh Mussallam and Kababs was what was usually served at lunch. At night we would have something lighter after having feasted all day - my brother was not a meat eater and his favourite dish was Paneer Korma and Pulao (recipes above).

It has been more than 2 decades since I moved to England. I try to maintain my family tradition and cook a special meal for the family on Eid. When my children were very young and I struggled to find time to cook- I always made Seviyan on Eid....without it, the day would not be complete."

In addition to hosting Supper Clubs, Asma also caters for events. Please visit her website to learn more about Asma - why not attend one of her popular Supper Clubs?

Follow Asma on

Twitter

Facebook

What are some of your favourite dishes for Iftar? Do you experiment with new recipes? We’d love you to share them with us.

Ananya's Top Wedding Stationery Trends for 2014

February 20, 2014

2014 has arrived! At Ananya, we love creating wedding stationery that reflects the top colour, embellishment and style trends of the year. If you’re getting married in 2014 then look no further for stationery advice! If you want to make a statement this year, start by choosing one of our picks for the top trends in 2014.

Top Trend: Pantone’s Colour of the Year 2014

Radiant Orchid

Pantone has announced that its 2014 Colour of the Year is Radiant Orchid. This captivating and charming shade of purple is perfect for romantic stationery and is set to dazzle the wedding scene this year. At Ananya, we love this enchanting, vibrant colour and have designed a collection of stationery that radiates love. This colour will be the hottest trend in fashion and interiors for 2014. Expect to see this colour accompanied with complimentary Ombre or monochrome shades. Make Radiant Orchid your stationery statement for 2014!

Top Trend: Signature Style

Bespoke Stationery

bespoke peacock wedding day invitation6_POA_ananyacards.com

bespoke peacock wedding day invitation7_POA_ananyacards.com

At Ananya, we specialise in creating bespoke wedding stationery that truly reflects the personal style and image of the happy couple. My team and I will meet with you on a number of occasions to offer suggestions and create exclusive designs. For truly unique creations, we can design a monogram to add an elegant touch to your stationery that symbolises your everlasting commitment to each other. Plus, their versatile use and adaptability make monograms a wonderful keepsake that can be used for years to come. For an extra hint of sparkle, the stationery can be hand embellished with crystals to bring a bit of glitz and glamour to your wedding.

Top Trend: Vintage Luxe

Pearl Embellishments

With the success of The Great Gatsbyfilm in 2013, vintage motifs and delicate lace designs have taken over the wedding world. At Ananya, 2014 will be the year of pearl embellishments! Sweet pearls give an elegant and feminine touch to your stationery and set the tone for a luxurious celebration. Pearls can be hand embellished onto any of the Ananya collections and are a special accent for vintage-style designs. Pick pearls for timeless stationery with a romantic glow in 2014.

No matter what trend you choose, you can’t go wrong with Radiant Orchid, Signature Style or Vintage Luxe in 2014!

Chinese New Year card, Year of the Horse

Galloping into the Limelight, the Year of the Horse, 2014

January 20, 2014

The Chinese New Year begins on January 31st, bringing with it a shift in energy and influences for a whole year as represented by the symbolism of the horse. The Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is the most important holiday in the Chinese year, and ends with the Lantern Festival on February 14th, coinciding this year with Valentine’s Day!

The yin, female energy of the snake changes to the high yang energy represented by the horse. The horse has been a much loved animal in China over the centuries, helping to win battles due to its strength and speed. It is therefore considered fortunate and thought to bring success.

The horse also symbolises nobility, intelligence and social aptitude. Admired for its free spirit, strength and speed, it is competitive, action oriented and represents freedom and adventure.

Celebrating the Chinese New Year

This is a time for families to come together and celebrate. Remembering and honouring members of the family who have died is also very important
Presents are bought and exchanged and new clothes worn
Houses are thoroughly cleaned as a way to sweep out negativity and bad luck from the previous year, and making way for fresh, new energy and good luck
Lights and lanterns are hung outside homes. Doors and windows are often painted in red and decorations in red and gold are hung on the doors with messages of good fortune. Red is considered a lucky colour as it scares away bad fortune, and gold represents wealth
Younger members of the family are given red ‘lucky envelopes’ to pass on prosperity

The Year of the Horse in Fashion

Never letting an opportunity pass to impress and seduce the label conscious Chinese consumers, global brands have been busy designing special Year of the Horse products.

Here are some examples:

Even RollsRoyce has added the Horse to its horse power!

Not to be left behind, Ananya too, has been putting its creative juices to work and have designed some spirited Chinese New Year greeting cards. Generous use of the ever favoured red colour symbolises luck, happiness and good fortune. Wonderful designs full of blessings to send to friends and loved ones!

What Year of the Horse designs have you seen incorporated in fashion?

Make it a Merry Christmas

December 7, 2013

The word Christmas conjures up a host of feelings and memories, sights and sounds; from mulled wine to mince pies, office parties to wrapping presents. Beyond the outward festivities and activities, however, Christmas is a time for families, for connecting, for giving and receiving. It is a chance for families to come closer, for businesses to thank employees and colleagues.

Christmas also brings out our sense of compassion, our need to help those who deserve a helping hand - a time for generosity and contributing to others in whatever way we can.

As Christmas draws closer, the excitement is palpable – how are your preparations coming along? How many things on your list still remain to be ticked off?

The shops are decked in all their finery, every shop window beckoning us with its best offerings while sparkling street lights make us feel as if we have been transported into a fairy tale.

At Ananya, we love Christmas; the bright colours, the scents and aromas, the beautiful displays which make all our senses come alive. The excitement of Christmas is reflected in our Christmas cards, which are full of colour and vibrancy. While using the traditional symbols of Christmas, like Christmas trees, snowflakes, baubles and stars, we have added our own unique interpretations and combinations to the traditional symbols, making them contemporary, bright and beautiful. Keeping in touch with friends and family, especially those who are far, or those you are not likely to meet is so important at Christmas. Have you sent out your cards yet?

All of us at Ananya wish you a wonderful Christmas and all best wishes for 2014.

Diwali: Festival of Lights or Festival of Feasts?

October 22, 2013

The Diwali celebrations which stretch over five days are a real gastronomic treat. Traditionally, women of the household got together and started preparing and cooking several days ahead of Diwali, making both sweets (known as ‘mithai’) and a variety of savoury snacks. It is a custom for friends and family to go to each other’s homes with wishes of happiness and prosperity, where they will be offered the sweets and snacks that the women have devoted so much time in preparing.

For the Diwali meal itself, the dishes prepared traditionally vary from region to region, with many variations and adaptations by the younger, more adventurous generations. We are dipping into the collection of recipes of Anjali Pathak of the renowned and much loved Patak’s to offer you a delectable recipe to try for Diwali.

As George Bernard Shaw said: “There is no love sincerer than the love of food.” Enjoy!

Herby paneer with warm green salad

Serves: 4 people

Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients

For the paneer:
1 x 227g block of paneer (available in the chiller cabinet of most supermarkets)
small handful of fresh mint
good handful of fresh coriander
1 red chilli, seeds removed if you prefer, roughly chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon pine nuts
1 egg, beaten
50g breadcrumbs
2 tablespoons vegetable oil

For the warm green bean salad:
250g peas, thawed of frozen
250 g green beans, thawed if frozen
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
good pinch of smoked paprika
1 clove garlic, finely sliced
juice of ½ lemon
75g spinach, washed and drained
sea salt & black pepper, to taste

Methods

1. Whiz together in a food processor the mint, coriander, red chilli, olive oil and pine nuts. Add a good pinch of salt.

2. Cut the paneer in half through the middle lengthways so you have two long flat pieces.

3. Add some of the herby filling onto one half and place another half on top.

4. Cut the paneer into 4 long pieces.

5. Dip into the beaten egg and roll in breadcrumbs.

6. Continue with the rest of the paneer. Place on a plate, cover with cling film and chill for at least an hour (if you have time).

7. Fry the paneer in the vegetable oil until golden brown, draining on absorbent paper.

8. In the meantime make the warm green bean salad.

9. Blanche the peas and green beans for 5 minutes in a pan of salted boiling water.

10. Drain and refresh by plunging them into ice water to keep the vibrant green colour. Drain and set aside.

11. Heat half the olive oil in a pan and add the cumin seeds, smoked paprika and garlic slices and a good pinch of black pepper.

12. Once the cumin seeds start to sizzle add the peas and green beans and warm through for a few minutes.

13. Remove from the heat and squeeze in the lemon juice.

14. Add a good pinch of sea salt and toss together with the spinach leaves and the remaining olive oil.

15. Taste and adjust the seasoning if required.

16. Serve the Herby paneer with the warm green bean salad.

Thank you to Anjali Pathak for sharing her recipe with us. For more of Anjali's delicious recipes, please check out her website.

In addition to cooking for guests, Diwali is one of the most important times to send gifts and greeting cards to your relatives as well as business associates as a way of building and maintaining relationships. Ananya’s colourful selection of Diwali cards is full of the vibrancy and joyous spirit of the festival of lights – a perfect accompaniment to your gift and the ideal way to stay in touch.

Happy Diwali!

Diwali Delights

October 15, 2013

What is Diwali?

One of the most well known and loved Hindu festivals, Diwali meaning a ‘row of lighted lamps’ is approaching. Better known as the ‘Festival of Lights’, it is generally acknowledged to symbolise the victory of light over darkness, and good over evil. To represent this, small earthenware oil lamps are placed around windows of homes and shops and places of worship.

Legends and reasons behind the celebrations

The Hindu Lord Rama returned from fourteen years of exile after the defeat of Ravana; the citizens of Ayodhya, overjoyed at his return, illuminated the entire city with earthen lamps

Goddess Lakshmi’s (goddess of wealth) birthday. People start the new business year at Diwali, with blessings beings sought and prayers said to Lakshmi for a successful year. They light lamps to help Lakshmi find her way into their homes

For those of the Jain faith, Mahavir, considered to be the founder of modern Jainism, attained nirvana on Diwali day

The third Sikh Guru Amar Das made Diwali a day when all Sikhs would gather to receive the Guru’s blessings

In Nepal, Diwali celebrates the victory of Lord Krishna over the demon king Narakaasura

In Bengal, Diwali is associated with the goddess Kali. Kali is known to destroy evil and fights for justice. Through prayers, people seek her blessings for happiness, prosperity and protection against hardships

Preparing and celebrating

Spring cleaning is a must as a way to usher in new energy into your environment

It’s a great time to go shopping, especially for clothes and jewellery. Wearing new clothes during Diwali is a must for those who can afford it

Decorate the entrance to your home or business with a colourful motif called ‘rangoli’. This bright and vibrant design welcomes Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, and of course, your friends and family

Make sweets, snacks, and savouries to offer friends and relatives who come to visit. These are traditional offerings for Diwali and are also sent as gifts

Light small lamps or tea lights at night around the home. These lamps symbolise inner light which dispels darkness and brings inner peace

Get together with friends and family, light fireworks and have a blast

Send Diwali cards to friends and relatives, especially those who you will not be able to meet in person. Keeping in touch is extremely important at Diwali.

Ananya has a wonderful array of bright, colourful Diwali cards to pick from; you’re sure to find the right ones for all your friends and family.

Check out our Diwali Pinterest board for more ideas and images.

Diwali greetings from all at Ananya!

Photography credits: Sanjay D Gohil Photography for top image, with model Kaajal C. Vaghela, taken at Michelin starred Benares restaurant

Personal Touch and Winning Ways to Make Rosh Hashanah Extra Special

August 28, 2013

Make Rosh Hashanah, Jewish New Year, memorable and innovative by using some creative ways to add your own stamp to the celebrations or give imaginative gifts. At Ananya, we have done some research and offer you some simple, easy, yet effective suggestions.

1. Personalised Place Settings with a Difference

Each place setting uses an apple adorned with a golden leaf on which is written the guest’s name. This is what you will need:

Heavy gold paper or gold cardboard
hemp or ribbon
a hole punch

Cut the gold paper into the shape of a leaf, in proportion to the size of the apple. Write the name of your guest on the leaf, make a hole at the base of the leaf and pass the hemp/ribbon through the hole and tie it to the stem of the apple. Do this for each guest and place each apple at the correct place setting. It’s quick and easy and looks elegant! If you want, you can write Shanah Tovah on each leaf and have the adorned apples as a centre piece.

You can also replace the apples with pomegranates, which are symbolic at Rosh Hashanah. For other craft ideas, check out Creative Jewish Mom.

2. Apples and Flowers, a Great Match!

Using apples in your flower arrangements is another novel idea to create drama to your table décor. You will need:

A clear glass vase – either tall and narrow, square or round
Some green apples
Your choice of colourful flowers

If using a tall vase, place some green apples into the vase so they almost fill up the vase, add water, then arrange flowers in an oasis and place them at the top of the vase. The contrast between the green apples and the flowers will be striking! If you don’t want to arrange flowers at the top, simply place small colourful flowers interspersed with apples along the sides of the vase and fill it with water. The apples and flowers together will look beautiful. If you are using a round vase, you can fill it with water and add decorative twining stems around the interior of the vase, add apples up to the top of the vase, then allow some contrasting coloured flowers to float at the top of the vase – again the effect can be stunning! Use your imagination and create something unique!

Source: Project Wedding

3. Apples + Tea Lights = Ambience

So simple and so sweet – it can be used either as a centrepiece, on a sideboard or coffee table. You will need:

Apples
Tea lights
Knife to carve

Cut out the centre of the apple to make enough space to fit a tea light comfortably in the apple so it is flush with the top. Then light the tea lights at the appropriate time and watch your friends go “wow”!

Source: Style Me Pretty

4. Going Natural

A gift basket with a difference; an English Ash wood foldable basket from sustainable resources in Cumbria is filled with goodies such as delicious luxury dried fruits and nuts, an Israeli wild flower raw honey, a bottle of Chenin Blanc and a wooden honey drizzler. This is a gift oozing with luxury and will last well beyond Rosh Hashanah.

There are also other choices on offer at Ripe Gifts to wish your loved ones Shanah Tovah!

5. Apples and Honey for a Sweet New Year

It is a simple gift, but full of meaning at Rosh Hashanah, from International gift wrapping expert Arona Khan. An apple sits atop a bottle of honey, both tied together with raffia with a bow at the top! Apples and honey to usher in a Sweet New Year!

While you may not be able to invite all your friends to your celebrations, you can let them know you remember and appreciate them by sending them a card; either with a gift, or by itself. A hand written card is always welcome. Ananya has a range of beautiful contemporary cards for Rosh Hashanah that are sure to please your friends. Make them feel special – send them a card.

Shanah Tovah!

Shanah Tovah! Warm Wishes for a Good and Sweet New Year

August 24, 2013

As Rosh Hashanah and the beginning of a new year approaches in the Jewish faith, we thought we would offer you a couple of easy recipes to try that include some of the symbolic fruits often eaten at this time – the pomegranate, apples and honey. The pomegranate is regarded as the symbol of righteousness because it is said to have 613 seeds representing the 613 Mitzvot (commandments) of the Torah. The pomegranate also represents fruitfulness because of its many seeds, as well as knowledge, wisdom and learning. The apples and honey are harbingers of a good, sweet and holy year. Shanah Tovah and a sweet New Year to you! Refreshing and simple to prepare, they are great dishes no matter what your faith.

Recipe: Pomegranate Guacamole

Ingredients

2 large ripe avocados
1/2 large onion, grated
2 garlic cloves, chopped
2 fresh chilies, serranos, seeded
2 tablespoons fresh coriander leaves
1 freshly squeezed lime
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon pomegranate juice
3 tablespoons pomegranate seeds

Directions

1 Finely chop the onion, garlic, chilies serranos, and coriander leaves.

2 Place in bowl and add lime juice and salt, set aside.

3 Peel and pit the avocados and place in a bowl. Mash with fork slowly adding the tablespoon of pomegranate juice.

4 Add onion and garlic mixture and fold together to make a course pulp. Gently fold in pomegranate seeds.

Serves 6

Source: Recipe and image thanks to www.joyofkosher.com

Recipe: Apples and Honey Tart - an elegant yet easy finish to a Rosh Hashanah meal

Ingredients

1 sheet puff pastry (1/2 of a 17 oz box)
3 large Granny Smith apples, peeled, halved, cored and sliced into 1/4 inch slices
3 tablespoons Sugar
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Pinch of salt
cinnamon for sprinkling
2 tablespoons Honey

Directions

1 Place frozen puff pastry on the counter and let thaw until it is soft enough to unfold without it cracking, approximately 40 minutes.

2 Unfold pastry and cut in half. Preheat oven to 415 degrees. Place the two puff pastry rectangles onto a baking pan that has been sprayed with nonstick spray or lined with parchment paper.

3 Place apples, sugar, lemon juice and salt in a large bowl. Stir to combine. Allow to sit for a few minutes, until the juices start to come out of the apples.

4 Arrange apple slices on the pastry rectangles in a straight line, overlapping as you go. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until pastry is puffed and golden brown.

5 Remove from the oven and immediately drizzle with honey, using 1 tablespoon for each tart. Transfer to a serving tray and serve warm or at room temperature.

Serves 6-8

Source: Recipe and image thanks to www.joyofkosher.com

At Ananya, like the meaning behind the symbolism of the pomegranate, honey and apple, we too are constantly learning and increasing our knowledge and appreciation of other cultures. Whilst the pomegranate and honey were valued symbolically in ancient times, they are very much relevant in today’s world for their health promoting benefits. And an apple a day, as we have been told, keeps the doctor away! Giving new life to ancient traditions and making them appealing, meaningful and contemporary, is at the heart of Ananya’s vision. Our lovely Rosh Hashanah greeting cards capture the essence of this ancient tradition and bring it into today’s world.

Have you bought your Rosh Hashanah cards yet?

Divine Devotion - Ganesh greeting card by Ananya

Raksha Bandhan: From a Simple Thread to a Sacred Bond

August 16, 2013

There is one special day every year in the Hindu faith when a simple thread becomes the symbol of love and protection between a brother and sister. The thread or ‘Rakhi’ is tied by the sister on her brother’s wrist and is considered stronger than a metal chain because it has been imbued with prayers and mantras for the wellbeing and protection of her brother. At that moment, it is transformed from a simple thread to a sacred bond.

That special day falls on the full moon in the lunar calendar month of Shravan (usually in August) and is called ‘Raksha Bandhan’ – the bond of protection. The sister offers her brother sweets as a symbol of her love, and the brother in turn offers her a gift of cash, clothes or jewellery and a promise to protect her and be there for her whenever she needs help. It is a day for celebrating and re-enforcing the ties between brothers and sisters.

‘Rakhis’ have evolved a lot with the changing times, and there are ‘Rakhis’ available in every colour and size, from big and bold to studded with semi-precious stones, to floral. The thread can be replaced by a gold or silver chain and look more like a piece of jewellery than a simple strand of threads. ‘Rakhis’ are becoming more and more ornate with the ‘Rakhi’ vendors in trying to out-do their rivals in coming up with fancier versions each year.

For those sisters living far from their brothers who are not able to personally tie a ‘Rakhi’, Ananya has a range of beautiful, festive coloured cards in which to send your ‘Rakhis’. There are many choices in our Everyday collection, including one from the ‘Love’ series or one featuring the Ganesh God to show him how much he means to you, or even a Thank You card or Note Card to tell him how much you appreciate him.

How will you show your brother that you care?

Valentine's Day, love, red heart greeting card

Expressions of Love - Be My Valentine

February 10, 2013

Heart honey cookies with lace decoration for Valentine's or Anniversaries or Weddings

Just a few days to go before Valentine’s Day! What does it mean to you this year? Are you hoping to be proposed to? Have you just fallen in love? How will this Valentine’s Day be different? What new and exciting ways have you thought of to celebrate this day, dedicated to love?

No matter how you choose to celebrate, communicating your love for each other is vital. We all love to know how special we are and how much we are loved. The written word has tremendous impact and it endures – it can be read again and again. Giving your loved one a beautiful card is a wonderful way to express exactly what they mean to you. Ananya has created a variety of lovely cards just for that purpose. If you are planning to propose on Valentine’s Day, we have special Proposal cards. As we had shown previously, we have unusual ways to propose and ask that all important question.

If you’re looking for a card that perfectly conveys your feelings, we have a great selection for you to choose from. Whatever else you give your beloved on Valentine’s Day, always accompany it with a card!

Red heart card for Valentine's, Weddings or Anniversaries

There are lots of ways to be creative on Valentine's Day - from baking cute cupakes and cookies to decorating the home with flowers and hearts. Check out our Pinterest board for some great ideas.

valentine ideas with hearts, cookies, crafts and flowers

heart chocolate cupcakes for Valentine's. Annievrsaries or Weddings

What new and exciting ways have you thought of to celebrate this day, dedicated to love?

Eid gifts: Ananya's top 5 ways to express your love and true appreciation

July 23, 2012

As Eid approaches on 19th August, our thoughts turn to gifts for our loved ones and friends. Gift giving is a widely practised custom at Eid. It is not only a reminder of shared beliefs and commitment to Islam, but also a way to strengthen the bond of love and kinship within the family and community. In that spirit, we offer you our suggestions of unusual and imaginative gifts.

1. The Gift of Time

More important and precious than money in today’s fast paced world is the gift of time itself; without the concerns and interruptions that rob us of the quality of attention we give to each other. Why not give your friend or loved one the gift of an hour or two, or a whole day of doing things you both love, even something as simple as cooking them a special meal and catching up, or going somewhere you’d always planned to, but ‘things’ always got in the way. How about driving to the country and going strawberry picking? The possibilities are only limited to your imagination, so start thinking! Send them one of our cards to tell them all about your gift of time – it will make them feel so special!

Blessings of Eid greeting card by Ananya

2. Henna Decorated Candles

We have found some beautiful bespoke candles hand finished with natural henna and painted with coloured acrylics that have been personalised with Eid Mubarak. The range from Bespoke Henna created by the talented Farrah Azam comes in various intricate designs and sizes, with birds and flowers and includes candles with coloured rhinestones, as well as gorgeous vanilla scented candles and tea lights. Until the 31st August 2012, all Ananya readers can take advantage of a fabulous 20% discount across the full range of Bespoke Henna candles, including the special Eid range. The offer excludes P&P which is £3.99 on a standard order and only available for delivery in the UK. Please use Code Ananya01 and visit the Bespoke Henna website to see the full range.

3. Macaroons for Eid - an Ananya Bobo Collaboration

A first of its kind collaboration of Ananya with Bobo Macaroons luxuriously delicious macaroons to indulge your taste buds especially at Eid! Made with exotic flavours such as dates, figs, honey and almonds in rich and contrasting colours, they come with one of Ananya’s beautiful Eid cards and are packed in a box printed with Ananya’s design. A sweet collaboration and a must have! More details will be released soon, so please keep a look out...

4. Sizzling, Sparkling Jewellery

You can’t beat the wow factor of a sparkling piece of jewellery. And Swarovski know all about sizzle and sparkle when it comes to jewellery. They even have a wide selection of items on sale now, which means your budget could buy even more sizzle! We particularly like the geometric cufflinks for men and Pleasure star jewellery for ladies.

5. Gift Beauty Boxes with an Eastern Flavour

Nationwide retailer Body Shop is offering top-to-toe indulgence with their gift box called Moroccan Rose. It includes a Moroccan Rose eau de toilette, shower gel, body butter and body mist…heavenly! The gift box is decorated with an Eid Mubarak ribbon. If you want to try something different, they also have gift boxes that range from Japanese Cherry Blossom to Midnight Bakula, to Vanilla and Strawberry.

Which is your favourite gift idea? Have you seen any other lovely Eid gifts?

Awash With Red

February 1, 2011

Roses are red, violets are blue... Valentine’s Day is coming soon, so what better time to celebrate the colour of the season – red. At this time of year, red is everywhere – card and gift shops stock up on their scarlet love heart covered cards and crimson coloured gifts, waiting for customers to come to prepare for the big event – Valentine’s Day. But what does the colour red mean? Is it just the colour for romance and St Valentine, or does it have a deeper meaning? In the West, red traditionally signifies love and seduction, which of course goes hand in hand with Valentine’s Day, the most romantic day of the year. In India, conversely, red is a very traditional colour, and is best known for its role in Indian marriage. Brides usually have red henna tattoos on their hands and feet, wear red saris and bangles and dip their feet in red water upon entering their new home with their husband. It symbolises togetherness and the promise of matrimonial bliss, as well as being a colour which represents a woman’s transition from adolescence into adulthood. In India it is the most powerful colour, a holy colour and a colour which gives protection and strength.

Another country which celebrates reddish hues is China. For the Chinese, red is a colour which symbolises their nation. Weddings are full of the colour, with brides often wearing red, and the couple walking down a red carpet strewn in red flowers. They use red invitations and other red stationery and a couple’s new bed is covered in red bed sheets. It is believed to bring happiness to the couple.

The colour is, however, most extensively used during Chinese New Year celebrations, the biggest and most important festival in China. Families create red couplets, which are two poetic sentences written on red paper stating the person’s hopes and dreams for the coming year and are hung on doors and gates. Many people wear red clothes, including red underwear, give money in red envelopes and set off red firecrackers. According to the Chinese, red means fire, which drives away bad luck and evil spirits, so by exchanging red gifts (red lingerie is a popular gift between partners) they are guaranteed a prosperous and lucky new year.

At ananya we are celebrating Chinese New Year by creating exquisite Chinese new year cards exclusive to Harrods to welcome in the year of the rabbit – a much tamer year than the year of the tiger! We also have a gorgeous range of red wedding invitations, which are perfect for those wanting to celebrate their happy day using the luckiest, happiest and most powerful colour in the spectrum – Red.

Until next time...Namaste and enjoy ananya life!