The August Fest- Big Ideas start here ..! Creative festival - August 22- 2026

 

The August Fest was conducted at T-Works, Hyderabad, on 22 August. It was an engaging and informative gathering that brought together start-ups, authors, entrepreneurs, creative professionals, and visitors from different fields.

One of the major attractions of the event was the wide variety of start-up stalls. Several new businesses had set up stalls to showcase their products and offer special deals to visitors. There were also stalls featuring new and upcoming authors who were promoting and selling their books. This provided an opportunity for visitors to discover new writers and learn about their work.

A number of innovative start-ups were also present in the food and beverage sector. One such venture, Who Am I ?, offered different varieties of beverages, including coffee, coconut water, pineapple juice, and beetroot juice. There were also stalls displaying handmade products, cotton T-shirts, garments, and other creative items.

Another interesting feature of the fest was the continuous interaction with personalities from the creative and business world. Authors, entrepreneurs, and business professionals took to the stage and participated in conversations facilitated by mediators. They answered questions about their experiences, ideas, challenges, and journeys, making the sessions both informative and inspiring.

I also had the opportunity to interact with the August Fest representatives and learn more about the event. When I asked whether the fest was conducted only in August, they explained that earlier it was primarily held during August. However, it is now being expanded to other months, including September and December, with different themes and a new set of participants and personalities.

The event also introduced visitors to some interesting and innovative business ideas. There was a photo booth where visitors could have their pictures taken and receive the photographs instantly. Another unique start-up had developed an app through which participants could upload a selfie taken before or during the event. The app could then identify and provide photographs taken of them throughout the gathering. This was an interesting example of how technology can be used to create new experiences and business opportunities.

Overall, the visit to the August Fest was a highly interactive and enriching experience. It gave us an opportunity to explore new businesses, meet creative professionals, discover innovative products, and understand how start-ups develop and promote their ideas. More importantly, it demonstrated how such gatherings provide a platform for people to interact, build connections, increase their reach, and explore new opportunities.

Mental Fatigue: Why We Need a Break from Our Screens

 Earlier, fatigue was something we mostly associated with the body. After a long day of physical work, people felt tired, rested, slept, and woke up ready to begin again. But today, we seem to be dealing with another kind of fatigue—one that may not make the body tired, but quietly drains the mind: mental fatigue.
Mental fatigue has become increasingly prevalent in our lives. Almost every profession today demands a laptop, a phone, or both. Whether you are a teacher, a doctor, an engineer, a designer, an entrepreneur, or someone working in a corporate office, staying connected has become part of the job. There is nothing wrong with technology or with being committed to one's profession. In fact, technology has made our work faster, easier and more efficient.
The problem begins when the working day ends, but the screen time does not.
We finish our work on a laptop and pick up our phones. We check messages, scroll through social media, watch videos, browse endlessly and sometimes even carry our work conversations into the evening. The body may be sitting comfortably on a sofa, but the mind is still working.
And slowly, the mind begins to ask for what we rarely give it—a break.
The wiring of our brain is such that it needs pauses. Constant stimulation, notifications, information and multitasking do not necessarily leave us refreshed. They can leave us mentally cluttered. We may not have done anything physically exhausting, yet we feel strangely drained, restless or unable to concentrate.
So perhaps the answer is not to abandon technology. We need our laptops and phones, and we should use them for as long as our work genuinely requires them. But once the requirement ends, perhaps we should learn to disconnect.
Instead of extending our screen time at home, we could give ourselves experiences that engage us differently. Learn a dance. Try a new recipe. Pick up an old hobby. Read a book. Meet a friend. Talk to family. Sit in the balcony without reaching for the phone. Or simply step outside and take a walk.
Our residential communities already have spaces that can help us do this. Parks bring together children, young adults and older people in the evening. Many societies now have yoga sessions, pranayama groups and open gyms. These are not merely recreational facilities; they can become spaces where the mind gets an opportunity to breathe.
Perhaps we need to look at weekends differently too.
With many organisations following a five-day working week, Saturday and Sunday should not become two more days of endless scrolling, binge-watching and catching up on digital content. They could instead become two days of rejuvenation—days to slow down, reconnect, explore something new and spend time away from the constant noise of screens.
A weekend need not always mean an elaborate outing. Sometimes, a quiet walk, a conversation, a book, a home-cooked meal, music, gardening or simply sitting in nature can do more for the mind than hours of entertainment on a screen.
We often charge our phones when their batteries are low. We service our cars when they need maintenance. We take a break when our bodies are exhausted.
Perhaps it is time we learnt to do the same for our minds.
Technology should remain a tool that helps us work and live better—not a constant presence that follows us everywhere.
Because sometimes, the most productive thing we can do is not to do more.
It is to pause.
And perhaps, after that pause, we return to the new week not merely rested, but with a clearer mind, renewed energy and a little more space to think.

Eating healthy food

 Eating a healthy breakfast early in the morning is beneficial as it boosts our energy levels and keeps us active throughout the day. For vegetarians, there are several nutritious options such as sprouts, oats, and soaked dry fruits, all of which provide essential vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats.

A glass of sattu drink is another excellent choice. Sattu is a flour made from roasted black gram (or a mix of roasted pulses) and can be blended with water or milk to make a simple, refreshing smoothie that provides sustained energy. Besan (gram flour) chilla is also a wholesome breakfast option, as it is rich in protein and easy to prepare.

Another nourishing recipe is to roast one tablespoon of gram flour in a little clarified butter (ghee), add warm milk, and mix in a handful of chopped dry fruits. This wholesome drink provides instant energy and helps keep you full for longer.

Sprouts are among the healthiest foods because they are rich in protein, fibre, vitamins, and minerals. Although they take a day or two to sprout, the nutritional value increases significantly during the sprouting process. To make sprouts tastier, you can add a pinch of chaat masala, black pepper, and a little salt. Squeezing fresh lemon juice over them enhances the flavour and increases the vitamin C content.

Adding chopped vegetables such as cucumber, shredded carrots, tomatoes, onions, or capsicum not only improves the taste but also gives the salad a colourful and appealing look. The crunchy texture of fresh vegetables makes the salad more enjoyable, encouraging children and adults alike to eat a bowl full of nutrients. Some people also like to add boiled potatoes for extra taste and energy.

A Day of Shopping and Lunch at Haldiram's

 Last weekend, we visited Inorbit Mall as the sale season was on, and we wanted to make the most of the discounts. Sale season is always tempting. Sometimes, we end up buying things that are not really necessary, thinking, "Let's buy it now because the prices will increase later." However, when I sit back and reflect, I realise that instead of saving money, we often go over budget. Before we know it, shopping ends up costing an arm and a leg.

After spending the entire afternoon walking through different stores, comparing products, and making purchases, we felt quite hungry. We decided to have lunch at Haldiram's. The food court was bustling with people, and Haldiram's, in particular, had long queues. There were so many delicious options on the menu that choosing what to eat became a task in itself.

Initially, we wanted to order the puri-aloo meal, which happened to be the most economical full meal on the menu. Unfortunately, it was unavailable. We then settled for the puri-chole and aloo combo, along with the bhature-chole and aloo combo. The food tasted good and had a comforting, homely flavour. Although I felt the combos were slightly expensive for the quantity served, the taste was satisfying.

The mall was packed with shoppers, and we were fortunate to find seats without waiting for long. One feature that I particularly appreciated at Haldiram's was their token system. Instead of standing in a queue and waiting for the order, they handed us a small circular gadget. We could comfortably sit, relax, and chat while our food was being prepared. As soon as the order was ready, the gadget started vibrating and flashing, notifying us to collect it. It was a simple yet efficient system that made the waiting experience much more pleasant.

After enjoying a hearty lunch, we completed the remaining shopping and headed home. Overall, it was a wonderful outing.

However, this visit also made me think about eating out. If I am spending money at a restaurant, I would rather choose dishes that are difficult to prepare at home or have a unique restaurant-style flavour—such as Chinese, Mexican, or regional Indian cuisines. Dishes like puri-chole or bhature-chole are something I can prepare at home with almost the same taste and freshness. Therefore, I feel it makes more sense to reserve restaurant visits for foods that offer a different culinary experience rather than meals that can be easily recreated in my own kitchen.

Nature - Rainbow , Clouds

 We recently visited Warangal and explored many of its beautiful tourist attractions. On our way back, while driving on the Outer Ring Road, the weather transformed into a spectacle of nature. It began raining heavily—so heavily that it was literally raining cats and dogs in some stretches. Yet, just a few kilometres away, the roads were completely dry. It was fascinating to witness how nature can paint such contrasting scenes at the same time.

Soon, the rain gave way to bright sunshine, and then, for the very first time, I witnessed a magnificent rainbow stretching across the sky in all its glory. We have all read about rainbows in our textbooks and learnt the science behind them—the refraction, reflection, and dispersion of light. But no classroom explanation can match the joy of seeing one with your own eyes.

The vibrant spectrum looked as though God had opened His own paint box and gently brushed the sky with every colour imaginable. It was mesmerizing—a true feast for the eyes. In crowded cities or among tall buildings, we rarely get to see the full arc of a rainbow. It is in open landscapes that nature reveals its complete masterpiece.

As we continued our journey, another surprise awaited us. A second rainbow appeared above the first, creating a breathtaking double rainbow. It felt almost miraculous. Some moments in nature leave us speechless, reminding us that there is a divine artist at work. We may interpret life through different themes and perspectives, but the tone is often set by God Himself.

The clouds, too, have always fascinated me. Looking down at them from an aeroplane is an unforgettable experience. They appear soft, fluffy, and cotton-like, floating effortlessly beneath you. At times, they glow with silver and golden edges as the sunlight touches them. We often hear the saying, "Every cloud has a silver lining." Though its figurative meaning is about hope during difficult times, watching the clouds shimmering with actual silver and golden hues makes the expression come alive in the most beautiful way.

Travelling has taught me that nature is the greatest artist. Every sunrise, every rainbow, every cloud, every tree, and every drop of rain is a reminder of the beauty that surrounds us. All we need to do is pause, look up, and appreciate the masterpieces that unfold on God's endless canvas.