Empowerment, wellness, style take centre stage at Bhumika Club

Bengaluru: The conversations at the 28th edition of Freedom Healthy Cooking Oil presents Bhumika Club, powered by Manipal Hospitals and with Eco Crystal as the associate sponsor, centred on cultivating self-belief, embracing healthy cooking habits, and keeping everyday makeup minimal.

The gathering, part of an initiative by Deccan Herald and Prajavani to provide a networking and engagement platform for women, was held at The Koramangala Club on Saturday.

During the inauguration, Sandalwood actor Ankita Amar observed that women often expect the men in their lives to understand their emotions and struggles, but emphasised the importance of equally seeking support from fellow women, as shared experiences often lead to deeper understanding.

Emcees Sneha and Akshaya steered the programme forward by inviting TV show hosts ‘Oggarane Dabbi’ Murali and Suchitra to lead a cookery session. The couple prepared bread masala fry, offering tips like incorporating finely chopped vegetables to make the snack nutritious. Audience members were invited on stage to taste the dish and click pictures with the couple.

A session on heart health followed, led by Dr Anusha A Rao, consultant cardiologist at Manipal Hospitals. She explained the symptoms of heart disease, such as persistent heartburn accompanied by fatigue, clarified the difference between good and bad cholesterol, and highlighted the adverse effects of smoking and alcohol. During the Q&A session, when asked about the healthiest cooking oils, she recommended sunflower oil as the best, followed by olive oil and rice bran oil. She also stressed the importance of annual preventive health checkups for those in their middle age and beyond.

Next, makeup artist Shobha B G facilitated a session titled ‘How to get ready for an award function’. She suggested that for daily wear, a combination of moisturiser, foundation, concealer, and lipstick is sufficient. For grand occasions, she advised adding blush and compact pressed powder for a polished look.

The energy remained high as the emcee duo returned with a quiz on Sandalwood, asking questions like “What was the first Kannada talkie film?” and “Which was the first black-and-white Kannada film that was later colourised?” Winners were given passes to the upcoming Prajavani Kannada Cine Sammana event.

The event concluded on a musical note as Divya Ramachandra sang a medley of Indian film songs. Taking audience requests, she had the crowd singing along to favourites like ‘Sojugaada Sooju Mallige’ and ‘Indu Baanigella Habba’, with many swaying and clapping in rhythm.

Dr Anusha A Rao consultant cardiologist at Manipal Hospitals led a talk on heart health. dh photos / sk dinesh

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