Hong Kong's Mid-Autumn Radiance: Lanterns and Mooncakes

By Author

Published on October 6, 2023

Hong Kong lights up with excitement every year during the Mid-Autumn Festival. This cherished celebration, also known as the Mooncake Festival, brings families together to enjoy age-old traditions and create new memories under the full moon.

A Festival of Gratitude and Unity

The Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, which usually falls in September or October. Hong Kongers use this time to express gratitude for the harvest and pray for luck. Families eagerly reunite after time spent apart, making it a special occasion.

Mooncakes: A Symbol of Unity

Mooncakes are the festival's stars. These round pastries symbolize unity and are typically filled with lotus seed paste and salted egg yolk. Over time, innovative flavors like ice-cream mooncakes and snow skin mooncakes have emerged.

Lanterns That Illuminate the Night

Traditional paper lanterns add to the festival's charm. They come in various shapes and sizes and can be found in parks, streets, and along the waterfront. Some lanterns even feature modern LED lights, creating mesmerizing displays.

The Fire Dragon Dance: A Dazzling Tradition

Hong Kong boasts a unique tradition—the Fire Dragon Dance. This captivating dance, over a century old, features a 200-foot-long dragon adorned with thousands of burning sticks of incense. It's a vivid display of culture and heritage.

Moon Gazing and Lantern Riddles

The full moon serves as a backdrop for moon gazing, a time for reflection and inspiration. Families and friends often gather at parks like Victoria Park to enjoy this serene moment. Lantern riddles, attached to colorful lanterns, challenge participants with their wisdom and good fortune messages.

Delightful Mid-Autumn Delicacies

The festival is incomplete without indulging in mooncakes, but it's also a time for enjoying fruits with auspicious meanings. Star fruit and pomelo are popular choices. Families often end their reunion meals with glutinous rice balls, symbolizing togetherness.

Celebrating Resilience and Unity

In recent years, the festival has taken on new significance, symbolizing resilience and unity, particularly after the challenges posed by the pandemic. It's a testament to Hong Kong's unwavering spirit.

As the lanterns light up the city and families come together, the Mid-Autumn Festival in Hong Kong continues to be a cherished tradition—a time to express gratitude, celebrate unity, and look to the bright future under the moon's gentle glow.

Image Source - Hong Kong Tourism Board

HRAWI Celebrated Platinum Jubilee at 20th Regional Convention, Honours Hospitality Pioneers

By Hariharan U

Published on October 22, 2025

The Hotel and Restaurant Association (Western India) – HRAWI commemorated its Platinum Jubilee with a landmark awards ceremony at its 20th Regional Convention, celebrating 75 years of leadership and service to the hospitality industry.

The evening was graced by actor Boman Irani, who felicitated all past presidents of HRAWI for their enduring contributions. Dr Shashi Tharoor, Member of Parliament and Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, presented Lifetime Achievement Awards to Dr Ajit B Kerkar, President of Honour, and Vivek Nair, Member of Honour, recognising their exceptional contributions to Indian hospitality. As Dr Kerkar was unable to attend, Jimmy Shaw, President of HRAWI, accepted the award on his behalf.

“Seventy-five years is a remarkable journey. Each of these leaders has carried forward the legacy of Indian hospitality, setting benchmarks of excellence and resilience. It is a privilege to celebrate their contributions to the industry and to the Association,” said Boman Irani, reflecting on his early career as a waiter at The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai.

Dr Shashi Tharoor, delivering the keynote address, lauded HRAWI’s legacy and emphasised the wider role of hospitality in national development. Describing tourism and hospitality as “mirrors of a nation’s soul,” he highlighted the need to advance India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision through three pillars: Image, Infrastructure, and Immigration.

“This evening isn’t just about honouring the leaders and pioneers who have shaped our Association; it’s about celebrating seventy-five years of an industry that has built careers, created opportunities, and welcomed the world with open arms,” said Jimmy Shaw.

Founded under the leadership of the late JRD Tata, HRAWI has grown into one of India’s most influential voices for the hospitality sector. The Platinum Jubilee ceremony honoured stalwarts including the late AP Sabavala, Rustom Masani, DRD Tata, Maneck S Shaw, and many others who have contributed to shaping Western India’s hotel and restaurant landscape.

Over the decades, HRAWI has played a defining role in policy advocacy, skill development, sustainability initiatives, and industry growth, serving stakeholders across Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa, and the Union Territories of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu. The Platinum Jubilee celebration not only paid tribute to its illustrious past but also reaffirmed HRAWI’s commitment to shaping the future of Indian hospitality.

If you want, I can also draft a shorter version optimized for social media or a press release snippet to highlight the awards and key personalities from the event.

Sting Brings Its New “Energy Ka Bas Ek King” Proposition With Lakshya

By Hariharan U

Published on October 22, 2025

Sting®, one of India’s fastest-growing energy drink brands from PepsiCo India, has unveiled its latest campaign film featuring actor Lakshya, known for his dynamic screen presence and youthful charisma. The new film captures the essence of Sting®’s proposition, “Energy ka bas ek king, Sting®.”

The high-energy film opens with Lakshya in the middle of an intense table tennis match against an opponent sipping a generic energy drink, while he chooses Sting®. As the rally heats up, Lakshya’s energy stays unmatched, even as two more players join the opposing side. Unfazed, he takes them on single-handedly, pausing mid-match to casually answer a phone call saying he’s “just practicing,” before sealing his victory in style. The film closes with the tagline: “Energy ka bas ek king, Sting®.”

“Sting isn’t just another energy drink, it’s the king of energy. The new campaign captures Sting’s unbeatable edge in a fun, relatable way. Lakshya brings that energy alive effortlessly, sharp, dynamic, and impossible to miss,” said Sanya Sehgal, Sting Equity Lead, PepsiCo India.

“Being part of this campaign has been an amazing experience. For me, it’s about pushing limits and going all out — exactly what Sting represents. Like I always say, Energy drinks toh bahut hai, par king sirf ek, Sting,” shared Lakshya.

“Our goal was to show how real energy lets you own the moment. The table tennis match became the perfect metaphor for that unstoppable Sting spirit , bold, witty, and always one step ahead,” added Saarthak Dutt, Executive Creative Director, Leo India.

Uday Singh Gauri, CEO, Dharma Cornerstone Agency, commented, “Sting and Lakshya are a natural fit, both embody high-voltage energy and a fearless attitude.”

The campaign will run across TV, digital, and social platforms, aiming to connect with audiences who seek energy that fuels their ambition and full-charge lifestyle.

Disclaimer: PepsiCo India claim as per NIQ retail index data for period MAT July ‘25 for the India market in energy drinks segment of soft drinks category.

About PepsiCo:

PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in over 200 countries and territories. In 2024, PepsiCo generated nearly $92 billion in net revenue, driven by iconic brands such as Lay’s®, Doritos®, Gatorade®, Pepsi-Cola®, Mountain Dew®, and Quaker®. Guided by its pep+ (PepsiCo Positive) strategy, the company continues to drive growth with sustainability and human capital at its core.

Credits: The campaign was conceptualized and executed by Leo India, under the leadership of Rajdeepak Das, Chairman, Leo South Asia & CCO, Publicis Groupe South Asia, and Amitesh Rao, Chief Executive Officer, Leo South Asia. The creative team included Vikram Pandey, Co-Chief Creative Officer; Jaikrit Singh, Managing Partner; Sakshi Chawla, Associate Vice President; Saarthak Dutt, Executive Creative Director; Hardik Trivedi, Associate Executive Creative Director; Siddharth Menon, Senior Creative Director; Naman Gera, Brand Services Director; Supriya Jain, Associate Creative Director; Urvashi Sharma, Copywriter; Manasvi Pandit, Art Director; and Arpita Vatsa, Brand Services Associate.

Unox India Partners with Learn for Life to Empower Youth Through “Baking a Better Tomorrow”

By Hariharan U

Published on October 22, 2025

Unox, the globally renowned Italian brand known for its professional ovens and smart cooking technology, has launched its first Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative in India in partnership with Learn for Life, an NGO focused on empowering underprivileged youth through education and skill-building.

Titled “Baking a Better Tomorrow,” the initiative kicked off with an engaging baking workshop at the Unox Experience Centre in Gurgaon, where 30 students from various Delhi-based NGOs associated with Learn for Life participated. The session offered them an opportunity to explore the world of professional baking and learn practical skills using the same cutting-edge Unox ovens used by top cafés, bakeries, and hotels around the world.

The Experience Centre was transformed into a learning space where participants were guided by Unox chefs, gaining hands-on exposure to modern kitchen technology. The goal was to boost their confidence, inspire curiosity, and equip them with employable skills for the fast-evolving food and hospitality industry.

“On World Food Day, our focus was simple — convert access to equipment into access to opportunity,” said Vikram Goel, Regional Director, Unox India & SEA. “By teaching practical skills on the same technology used by industry professionals, we want to help young people imagine and prepare for careers in modern kitchens.”

The event also welcomed Mr. Davide Colombo, Deputy Head of the Economic and Innovation Department at the Embassy of Italy in New Delhi, as Chief Guest.

“It is inspiring to see an Italian company in India combine innovation and education to empower youth,” said Mr. Colombo. “This initiative shows how technology and skill development can together create meaningful opportunities for future generations.”

Representing Learn for Life, Michael and Nicole, Programme Leads, shared, “This partnership was not about handouts but about empowerment. For our participants, this workshop was a chance to learn, to create, and to take their first step toward building sustainable futures in the baking and hospitality industry.”

The workshop marks the beginning of Unox India’s long-term CSR vision, Baking a Better Tomorrow, a commitment to nurturing skills, promoting employability, and driving social impact through education, innovation, and technology.

About Unox

Founded in Padua, Italy, in 1990, Unox designs, manufactures, and markets professional ovens for the foodservice, retail, pastry, and bakery sectors. With over 9,600 units sold worldwide and operations in 44 countries, Unox leads the industry in ENERGY STAR®-certified ovens and smart cooking technology. Its Data Driven Cooking (DDC) platform, powered by IoT and AI, helps businesses optimise performance and sustainability.

About Learn for Life

The Learn for Life Empowerment Project supports underprivileged communities through education and vocational training in bakery, hospitality, tailoring, and tourism. Based in Varanasi and Delhi, the organisation connects classroom learning to sustainable employment, ensuring a path to long-term independence for its beneficiaries.

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