MAM
Licious unites Ghotis & Bangals with meaty delights this Durga Pujo
Mumbai: The intra-community rivalry between the ghotis & bangals has made for some fun banter over the years. No family gathering in a traditional Bengali household is ever complete without members of each side striving to establish one-upmanship, be it on culture, language, sports or food. As this contest of words and wit ensues, this Durga Pujo, Licious brings peacetime & festive fervour with an extensive spread of meaty delights. In its latest film, the brand brings together the ghotis & bangals to celebrate the spirit of Pujo with Bengal’s best – Hilsa, prawn, mutton and much more! The film now live on Licious’ Insta and YouTube pages, showcases a chapter from the book of ghotis v/s bangals that ends at the dining table with a mouth-watering feast of kosha mangsho, malai curry, bhapa ilish, muitha, ilish bhaja and pabdar jhal.
Licious VP brand Santosh Hegde said: “The Durga Pujo film underscores our belief that good food has the power to unite even the most spirited cultural rivalries. And there is no better way to celebrate the rich Bengali heritage than through its flavoursome cuisine. Armed with our expertise in meat & seafood, we have the leverage to offer specialized products & cuts to ensure our consumers have a memorable Pujo celebration. So whether you are a ghoti or a bangal, whether you prefer hilsa, prawn or mutton – Licious has you covered this Pujo!”
The film is set in a bustling Bengali household, abuzz with vibrant decor and preps for Durga Pujo. The dinner table is being set with the choicest of dishes and meaty delights, right from ilish macher bhaja, muita, pabdar jhal, kochi pathar jhol and more. Just then the lady of the house gets teased by her ghoti relative on whether the spread today features bangal specialities or are there any ghoti delicacies as well. For the uninitiated, people originating from East Bengal (now Bangladesh) are referred to as ‘Bangal’ and those hailing from West Bengal are called ‘Ghoti’. With witty banter and humourous rejoinder, the debate continues in true Kobir Lorai style (a poetic volley of words between 2 people, set to a tune & aimed at outsmarting each other) as the lady and her ‘opponent’ continue to take a dig at each other’s cooking styles, choice of fish and more.
The rhythmic beats of the dhak add to the tempo of this lorai; onlooking family members cheer on, at times even singing along. Who wins, you wonder; of course, the meaty delights by Licious do! Young family members intervene to remind that this isn’t the time to argue, but it’s the time to come together & enjoy the delightful spread that’s brought the family together, all thanks to Licious. Amidst laughter & marked by the festive spirit, the family rejoices with the delicious Pujor Mahabhoj made with Licious’ offerings for the season, forgetting all about their differences. After all, tasty meaty delights from Licious are what every ghoti and bangal would unanimously bond over this Pujo season.
Embed link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9alInxWQqA&ab_channel=Licious
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33 per cent of women believe the salary scale is rigged: Naukri report
Voices @ Work study finds rising calls for equal pay audits and lingering bias
MUMBAI: Progress may be visible in India’s workplaces, but many women still feel the need to tread carefully. A new report by Naukri reveals that one in two women hesitate to disclose marriage or maternity plans during job interviews, worried that such information could influence hiring decisions.
The findings come from the second edition of Naukri’s annual Voices @ Work International Women’s Day report, titled “What Women Professionals Want.” Drawing insights from more than 50,000 women across over 50 industries, the survey sheds light on evolving workplace aspirations alongside the biases that continue to hold women back.
One of the report’s most striking insights is the growing demand for equal pay audits. The share of women calling for regular pay parity checks has climbed to 27 per cent this year, up from 19 per cent a year ago. The demand now stands alongside menstrual leave as the most sought after workplace policy.
Interestingly, the call for pay transparency grows louder higher up the income ladder. Nearly half of women earning between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 1 crore annually say equal pay audits are a priority, suggesting that pay gaps become more visible as women move up the career ladder.
At the same time, confidence and ambition appear to be rising. About 83 per cent of women say they feel encouraged to pursue leadership roles, a significant jump from 66 per cent last year. Cities in southern India appear particularly supportive, with Hyderabad leading the way as 86 per cent of respondents there reported encouragement to step into leadership positions. The education sector recorded the highest sense of encouragement at 87 per cent.
Yet the report also highlights a growing trust deficit around pay equity. Nearly one in three women, or 33 per cent, say they do not believe men and women are paid equally at their workplace. That figure has risen from 25 per cent last year, pointing to widening perceptions of disparity as careers progress.
Bias in hiring and promotions continues to be the biggest hurdle. About 42 per cent of respondents say workplace bias is the main challenge for women from diverse backgrounds. The concern is consistent across major metros, with Chennai and Delhi NCR reporting similar levels.
Reluctance to discuss personal milestones during hiring processes is also widespread. While 34 per cent overall said they hesitate to share marriage or maternity plans in interviews, the anxiety increases with experience. Among professionals with 10 to 15 years of work experience, the figure rises to 40 per cent.
Info Edge group CMO Sumeet Singh, said the data reflects both progress and unfinished work. “Behind every data point in this report is a woman who is ambitious. The fact that 83 per cent feel encouraged to lead is something to celebrate. However, the fact that one in two still hide their marriage or maternity plans in interviews tells us the work is far from done. As India’s leading career platform, it felt not just important but necessary for us to shine a light on these gaps through the second edition of our report,” he said.
The report suggests that while ambition among women professionals is growing, structural changes around pay transparency, fair hiring and supportive policies will be key if workplaces hope to keep pace.
