Category: Culture

C for coffee, C for Chennai

They have always been our wake up alarm. A companion during late night assignments and last minute projects. For the others, it has served simply as a break. Coffee has been an integral part of the lives of humans ever since its find and domestication. In India however, it has gone a step above. This can especially be seen in the city of chennai, famous for its coffee after its dosas and sambar.

A different tale is observed here in Chennai, when it comes to coffee. The ‘coffee custom’ struck the city and soon became an epidemic. Its not just a myth that coffee is addictive pretty much like other drugs. The only difference is that, its legal. The people of Chennai seemed to have become addicted to the beverage more than tea and the taste is passed on through generations, thus making sure that the coffee market here never banks down. The citizens of Chennai have their own customs when it comes to drinking and serving it. Its not a surprise that coffee has become one of the most sought after beverages here, owing to its many benefits.

Its history-in short

The birthplace of coffee is believed to have been somewhere in Ethiopia. However, it was not until the 17th century that the seeds reached the South Indian soil. The drink had already made its way to the other parts of the world by then. It was believed that a certain person, on his pilgrimage, came across the wonderful taste and experience of coffee. He then wanted the people of his city to taste and experience the heavenly feeling, the aroma and the richness of the beverage. So, it is said that he had brought a handful of these seeds, safely hidden inside his waist pouch. Thus, coffee entered the southern soil.

However, the people here were already contented with their traditional beverages, which included buttermilk, porridge and milk. So, naturally, the seeds took it own time to get accustomed to the people. Along with coffee came another refreshing beverage, which was in the form of leaves and went by the name of tea. Tea however, was more easily accepted by the people than coffee and was soon boiling in almost every house. By this time, India came under the control of the British and colonisation happened. During this time, the market was not in favour of the lower and middle classes as prices of even the basic amenities were high. This was another reason for the popularity of tea when compared to coffee. The price of tea was much cheaper than coffee, which was usually drunk by the upper classes and the officials. This was another reason why tea was usually called-“The poor man’s drink” by some.

However, by the start of the 19th century, the tables were turning and tea took a back seat. From then on till now, there was no turning back as coffee smartly captured the first position in the hearts of the people. Before long, every street corner, every road and side-road had a coffee stall. Today, in addition to the many coffee stalls propped up on the roads, there are various other coffee hang-outs, complete with plush interiors, foreign coffee recipes and fully air conditioned centres, sprawled across the map of Chennai.

The coffee culture

As coffee slowly gained popularity, it turned out to be more of a fashion statement for someone,to say that they are coffee-addicts. The modern coffee shops attracted quite a lot of people like flies attracted to a ripe banana.This may be termed as the modern coffee culture in Chennai. Almost contrary to the beliefs of the people, even the roadside stalls are equally frequented.

However, the people of Chennai have the best of both worlds. The traditional culture imbibes the warmth of one serving his/her guests by serving coffee as a complimentary, followed by snacks. The city dwellers prefer a milky blend of 70% coffee and 30% chicory. This is varied though, according to one’s requirement. The chicory content is either increased or decreased depending on whether one wants a strong or light blend. Back in the olden days, the meager average income was just enough to buy jaggery or honey, as sugar seemed almost improbable because of the taxes implied on them.

Coffee had become such an integral part of everyone’s lives that various coffee -powder producing shops opened up. These, specialized in grinding the raw coffee beans, brought in fresh, from the coffee estates. They had specialised grinding machines, where, fresh beans along with the chicory powder were put in the exact required proportion and were crushed to a fine powder. They are then packed and hermetically sealed to prevent the rich aroma and the taste from being lost.

Coffee was usually the beverage of the working class. Though there was a small hesitation in accepting the filtered coffee by certain groups of the society, it soon lost its steam and coffee found its way into the shelves of every home.

The filter ‘kaapi’

The perfect filter coffee is made by the right ingredients and the right vessels (or containers) are used. The filter, is a metallic, perforated, flat plate used to neatly filter only the essence of the coffee powder. This is in turn, used to make the essence or the decoction, from which the coffee is actually made, by mixing it with hot milk. The vessel used to make the decoction is a stainless steel vessel containing two halves. The top half contains the place where the perforated plate-like vessel is placed firmly. Boiled hot water, along with the coffee powder is poured in slowly at a steady rate to prevent solidification of the powder. It is then left for sometime for the essence to slowly sediment and drip down to the lower vessel which acts as a storage container.

Though there are various flavours and types of coffee now available, the basis for the preparation of the essence is pretty much the same.

Coffee has indeed become a part and parcel of the people of Chennai and there’s always the whiff of coffee in the air, here in Chennai.

July 20, 2014
Food: Around The World

How often has it been the case when you have craved to try something other than the regular Indian food? Very often, isn’t it? I’m sure most of you will agree. But then again, this takes away nothing from the fact that Indians love their traditional dishes and it will always be the first choice, wherever they go. Trying and experimenting is a part of human nature and there is no reason why one should leave food out of this!
There are a wide range of cuisines from around the globe, with every country having its own set of trademark dishes. Some of these cuisines have gathered fame all over the world and have become the people’s food of choice because of the sumptuous tastes they offer. Whether you are at home, or on your next trip to a restaurant, I suggest you too try some of these and enjoy the tastes from all over the world! Who knows? You might not have come across your favorite dish yet! So, break the monotony and be ready to try dishes with a different yet delicious taste. Here is a list of the most popular cuisines that are a must-try at least once:

Italian –

Well, Who doesn’t know Italian food! The first thing that comes into everyone’s mind on hearing Italian is the all-time favourite duo of Pizza and Pasta! Lesser known but equally delicious are the Italian delicacies of gelatin ice-cream known as Gelato and the cake like pastry known as Cassata. Other dish that one should definitely try is the Risotto, an amazing combination of sauce, cheese and rice. Even the yummy chocolate sauce Nutella has Italian roots. Surprising, isn’t it?

A lot of ingredients are used in this amazing cuisine. The most common ones that are present in almost every dish are fruits like tomato, all sorts of vegetables, various kinds of meats, cheese and a great selection of sauces. Flour also plays a major contribution as it is the basic component of the endless types of pastas and pizza bread. Well, with such a large variety of dishes, I’m sure you already want to try it. Right, buddy?

Mexican –

A very different and intriguing cuisine, Mexican food has a lot to offer. There are so many dishes that should be on everybody’s list to try. Some of them would be: Tacos, Tortillas, Quesadillas, Mexican Herb Rice, Fajitas and Enchiladas. Even the world-famous Salsa sauce belongs to the Mexican this cuisine! Your mouth must be watering already, isn’t it buddy?

Mexican, like others is a quite complex cuisine. Most of the dishes have corn and chili peppers as the basic ingredient. Some of the other important ones are meats like pork and chicken, cheese and tomatoes. Even though it is influenced by food from a lot of parts of the worlds, especially Spanish and often debated for its unique credentials, Mexican does manage to have its own individuality with its style of serving and consumption. If you want to give something different a shot and keep your taste buds pepped up, look no further!

Chinese –

Oh well, does this cuisine need any introduction? Possibly the most loved and widely available food in the world, Chinese has something for everyone. It has dishes that I’m sure you must have heard of. The most famous ones are Noodles, Dim sums (think Momos!), Fried Rice and Chilly Chicken. Such is the craze for this, that Indian variants of many such dishes using substitutes like cottage cheese have been made!

An amazing combination of sauces, spices and herbs, this cuisine offers a completely unique flavor which leaves the foodies always craving for more. While I’m sure you must have had the basic and popular Chinese dishes, it’s time to dwell deeper in the menu and try some new dishes that you might not even have heard of. So, are you game for it?

Continental –

Another cuisine quite popular all over the world is the continental cuisine, also known as the European cuisine. Comprising of food from all over Europe, this is probably a cuisine containing the largest variety of dishes. Even though it is almost impossible to choose from so much, the most popular dishes under this would be – baked meat and vegetables, steak of various meats, stew, fondue and a variety of French bread.

Although there is a large variety, the dishes in this cuisine do have a few common characteristics. To name a few – Meat is a more integral part of the dish, there is a lot of use of sauces and seasonings, and a lot of dairy products like cheese and milk too. If you aren’t in the mood for anything spicy or sort, this is your answer!

Well, there you go my friend! There is still so much you haven’t experienced in food too, let alone life, isn’t it? Don’t worry, it is never too late. Buckle up and do give all these cuisines a try. If you want to have a go at making them yourself, go to the bookstore now and buy the various cook books right away! And if you are at the restaurant, do remember to flick all the pages of the menu and move ahead of the lucrative Indian food.

Don’t experiment too much though! Keep a tab on the ingredients in the dishes and go with what you are sure to love and lick your fingers afterwards. So, what are you waiting for, mate? It’s time you went on a food trip around the world!

July 15, 2014
Ramadan

Sweet and savoury delights, evening get togethers, group prayers, sighting sunrise at the dawn and sunset at dusk and thirty days of being peculiarly polite and gentle in all the dealings, Ramadan, the holy month of Islam is celebrated annually across the world. It is the ninth month according to Islamic Calender, which marks as the most sacred period of the year. In this month all the muslims over the world fast, from dawn till dusk. The significance of fasting is ‘purifucation of one’s soul’ and thus, a manner through which the devotees connect better with Allah.

Every person who has faith in Islam and has hit puberty, is morally and spiritually constraint to fast in Ramadan. Each day 1/30th part of ‘Quraan Sharif’ is read/recited, hence, till the end of month the whole of Holy book is completed and people put efforts in implementing all the teachings of Quran in their respective lives. Since in these days, people engage in prayers and kindness more and thus, help themselves to get free from moral defilement, so as to get better treat ‘after life’. Though, the pregnant ladies, menstrual hit women, extremely ill, who are always monitored for medical issues, travelers and sole feeders of infants are exempted from fasting. But they are better asked to make up for the left times afterwards.

Everyday of Ramadan is the day of hard fasting, i.e., no drinking and eating. Therefore, the devotees wake up early before the sunrises and have heavy and abundant breakfast, to keep them going for the whole day. The breakfast is called ‘Sehri’ or ‘Suhoor’. After this, Muslims begin their fasting with first morning prayer, called ‘fajr’. Here lies another important teaching of Ramadan, that is, self-control, self-discipline and sacrificial traits. The all day fasting keep Muslims aware of the hardships and other difficulties faced by the poor and unprivileged ones. Hence empathizing with them and thus performing good deeds.

When sun sets in the evening, Muslims break their fast usually by eating dates or simply drinking water. After the long day of fasting, a good and great amount of meal is prepared. This is called ‘Iftar’. They offer another prayer, and then after it the main meal is served. Iftar is chiefly organised in gatherings at mosques. But nowadays, iftar parties are also conducted by hosts for their respective guests, at banquets or at homes. A large buffet styled meal is served to the invitees. A wide range of delicacies is plated on. Traditional, as well as bit modern blended dishes. A few most sighted dishes in India are shammi kebabs, meat samose, bread pakoras, fruit chaat, chicken rolls, spring rolls, rosuba (pancake filled with cheese), etc.

In beverages too, a lot of varieties are served. Rooh Afza, being the most prefered choice amongst all. Other than it there is lemonade sharbat, which is evenly liked. Apart from them, flavored milk, fruit juices and tea are also a great deal to sight.

Most portion of iftar is sweet and dessert like. A few to name, sheer, shahi piece, fruit custard, jalebi-rabdi, milk falooda, buttered noodles pastries with cheese, etc are a common delight to see.

Offering of iftar to poors and needy ones is a divine deed. Feeding them with love and affection, who share similar faith in divinity, is considered to be a fortunate chance to compensate for your wrong doings.

Though iftar is enough for one to end his meal need of the day. But many a times people also dine at night, again, after iftar to abide the ‘three times meal a day’ cogitation. Once the sun has been set and the fourth prayer of the day has been offered, Muslims are free to eat whenever they feel like until next day’s suhoor.

There is a large variety and diversity in food which is ingested, across the world. Due to the regional differences, muslims spread over various countries, enjoy eating largely assorted meals during Ramadan. A few famed ones are, Qatayef, Haleem, Kolak, Laghman soup, Balochis, Es boua, etc.

Also, during this period, muslims avoid engaging in bad habits such as using abusive language or having malicious intent for others. Even they refrain from having any kind of physical intercourse. Listening to music and watching tv is also considered to be offensive, as nowadays tv commercials and tv programs come with unethical and immoral scenes, which are not to be observed, in this sacred month of Islam.

After completion of 30 days (or 29, as the case may be), Eid-ul-fitr is celebrated, which is marked as the most awited and happiest festival among muslim community. A three day long celebrated festival, brings happiness and rebuilds faith in Allah, among the devotees. And yet another reason to enjoy world class delicacies and savor the joy of togetherness.

July 15, 2014
Food Addiction: Sign, Symptoms and Treatment
Food Addiction is one of the major problems with many people and no matter how hard they try, they simply cannot overcome it. With the help of the various research conducted in different parts of the world it has now been proved that people get addicted to one or the other food items and they love to eat it frequently. Although they are most likely aware that that eating these food items will harm their body but they cannot help it. This is absolutely wrong and is called as the food addiction. Are you among those people who are addicted to food? Or do you have loved ones who are very much addicted to the food items. Then you must read this article carefully and find out the measures using which you can detect the food addiction and take steps to cure it.

Defining the food addiction is quite easy. It is the scenario where the person gets addicted to the food items just as a drug addict gets addicted to the consumption of drugs. They cannot simply work properly if they are not provided with that food. Some people also term it as the eating disorders. This unhealthy and unwanted relationship with the food is very much harmful for the human body. If you have food addiction, then you must take steps to get rid of it. Mostly people have addiction with the fast food items. They simply cannot resist themselves and love to eat it regularly without considering that it may be affecting their health in a negative manner. Life is precious. You must move forward in life with utmost care and protection else you will be the one who will suffer. Mostly those food items which have wheat and sugar in them are problematic. Their excessive consumption can lead to the emotional and physical instability. Ultimately the quality of life is affected. The following are the symptoms of the food addiction.
1. Although you are feeling full but then also you cannot stop yourself from eating any particular food item.
2. When you are served that particular food item, you eat it excessively which is much more than you have intended to.
3. When you know that this food item is not good for your health and yet you eat it.
4. You have tried to stop yourself from eating a particular food item many times but every time you have failed to capitalize on it.
5. You try to hide you eating habits from other people as you know they will scold you and ask you to stop eating it.
6. When you find excuses so that you can eat the food item that you are carving for.
If you are among such people who experience all of the above mentioned addiction signs, then you must take serious steps immediately to get rid of your food addiction else it will be too late and your health will surely suffer. The alcohol and the drugs addictions are very much similar to the food addictions. The thought process and the consequences of all these addictions are ultimately similar. It is just that the other mentioned addictions here such as the drugs and the alcohol addictions have to face the social consequences too. But what is most important is the health condition and it should not be compromised on any cost. You may suffer from obesity, cancer, heart disease, diabetes among other diseases. So you must understand it quickly that the food addiction is simply ruining your life. You will not be happy when other food items are served to you, even if they are far more beneficial for the health.

More often people get addicted to the junk food as they are spicy and delicious in taste. In today’s culture you will find junk food everywhere and there is no way you can simply eliminate them completely from your lifestyle. So it is important that you understand the pros and cons so that you eat them occasionally and eating junk food does not becomes an addiction for you. To overcome a food addiction, you need proper determination and strong will power. You must be strong enough to convince yourself that eating this particular food item will affect you and your health will deteriorate. Once you have made up your mind, then it becomes easier to avoid such food. Now if you find it difficult to convince yourself then you must prepare a chart of the pros and cons if you continue eating those addicted food items. Your chart should include what all you will gain and what all you will eventually lose if you don’t stop those food items. I bet the cons column will be long enough to convince yourself and you will eventually get rid of your addiction. I know it is pretty much difficult to stop eating the food which you love but for the sake of your health and brighter future, you will have to stop eating them. Once you are confident that your addiction is over then you can start eating those food items occasionally.
July 15, 2014
A look at Irish Culture

Every culture in this global world is unique and gain its own specialty.The Irish Culture too comes into that category.Coming to the Ireland,it is situated in Western Europe,occupying five-sixth of the islands in the North Atlantic Ocean which is to the west of Great Britain.The capital of Ireland is Dublin with a population of about 4,487,000.Irish language known as Gaeilge is a Indo-European Language of the Celtic family.

A picture showing about Irish culture in brief

The people of the Ireland are very culture oriented irrespective of their interests.Irish Culture has a nice variety of traditions,cultures and historic legends.There are some symbols which uniquely relate to the Irish culture.Ireland is often known as ‘Land of Saints and Scholars’ which refers the golden age of monastic learning.It is also referred as ”The Emerald Isle’ which means its green landscape.

Ireland a land of saints and scholars

This old country has many traditions of customs which are practiced from hundreds of years and some of them are found even now.The legends are passed on from generations to generations.The culture here is in a similar way to the Western Culture in TV,movies,music and literature.But the one aspects that makes unique is the pub culture.Pub refers the meaning of public house or bar.The pub culture here has more issues than over-consumption of drinking.Pubs are considered as meeting places where people can gather whether they are friends or neighbors in a peaceful atmosphere.The pubs differ largely with the area it is situated and the customers they serve.In earlier days,pubs were separated as the men would most likely in the main part of the pub while the lounge is filled with women.Due to modernization,it is diminishing and now it is a free space. Since 2004,the Government has made an act which declared that smoking in a place of work,even pubs are considered as illegal.

Irish pub culture

The Irish people are too concerned about their food.The home made meal are loved by them especially the Irish breakfast or a bowl of stew.They even gained the comfort of drinks to ease their homesickness while living in different countries.The Irish diet is similar to that of North European nations.They very much consume meat,cereal,bread,potatoes mostly at meals.The meals are most commonly accompanied with cabbage,turnips, carrots,broccoli.The eating habits of Irish consists four meals which are breakfast,dinner,tea and supper.Dinner is the midday main meal while tea is taken in early evening at about 4.00 p.m. and supper is a light meal before going to sleep.

irish_food_pyramid_mousepad

The traditional meals mostly consists of roasts,stews, beef,ham,pork,beef and turkey.Even fish(mostly salmon) and sea food(preferably prawns) are popular here.Some foods like wheaten breads,sausages,bacon rashers and drinks like Irish whiskey,national beer have a specific symbolic role in Ireland.Many varieties of stews,potato casseroles and breads are considered as the regional foods.

Irish-people-drinks

Ireland has even many people who has great musical talent like U2,folk singer-Christy Moore and many more people.The Irish traditional dancing is even popular there where it is originated and now spread to the whole world and has taken many different forms.

Trinity-Irish-Dancers

The people in Ireland are mostly Roman Catholics.88% of the population there are mostly identified as Roman Catholics according to the records. The church used to have a dominating power in society and politics in early days.Later on ,a generational divide with people over 50 who have observant and conservative views came up.The religion has many sayings of the view of family ,marriage and abortion in the society.They prefer the dominating social structures in their extended family.Even though they move to various cities,they stick to their home bonds.

The Irish people have a great reputation for their wit and humor.Due to this popularity,they are called as ‘craic’.The people are very fast in jokes which brings out humor.They even bring out the humor on themselves even if it is self deprecating.The practice of trading insults and teasing one another among a group of close people are known as slagging.The people there are mostly witty people and won’t take anything too personal.

Coming to the 20th century the people of Ireland have adopted their new western food habits.During the modern age both of the US fast foods and continental European dishes have influenced on the people of Ireland.Here most of the common meals include pizzas, curry, Chinese food.As there are adverse effects of these fast foods and deep fried items the government has broadcast television advertisements to discourage meat consumption.

Sports are popular in Ireland and are widely encouraged.Varieties of sports are played in Ireland and the most played are Football, hockey, hurling, Gaelic, rugby.Along with these sports many of the other sport are practiced like Swimming, golf, aerobics, soccer, cycling, Gaelic football and billiards are the sporting activities with the highest levels of playing participation.At the Olympics, a person from Northern Ireland can choose to represent either the Great Britain team or the Ireland team. Also as Northern Ireland is a home nation of the United Kingdom.They also send their team to Common wealth games every four years.

Irish sports

July 15, 2014
The World of Scarves

Be it the dull gloomy grey winters or the scorching heat of the Delhi summers, step out of your houses and you’ll see women and girls all covered up in scarves and stoles of varying colors and sizes. A must-have in your handbag, a style-statement, or a meter protection from the heat or the cold, the scarf is one humble piece of clothing that not many would like to miss.

The history of scarves can be traced back to Rome where it was first used to help people keep clean. It was called a ‘sudarium’ and men would normally tie it around their neck or waist while they would go off for work. Although the dates and place of origin for the culture of scarves cannot be determined exactly, it is said that the Egyptian Empress Nefertiti would wear a woven silk scarf along with a conical head-dress back in 1350 B.C. Sculptures and literary evidences also suggest the use of scarves in the Chinese culture. Warriors of the Chinese Emperor Chang used to wear cotton scarves that would mark the designations and ranks.

The famous Egyptian form of dance, called the Belly Dancing used sequined and colored scarves, worn low around the hips as a part of their vibrant costumes. Back in the 1700s, the French used to wear colorful scarves called ‘Cravats’ to demonstrate political support by the color of ones’ scarf. In early New England, it was a custom for the family of a deceased person to give scarves to the friends and community members at the funeral ceremony. It was later banned as an attempt to curtain the extravagance. In the Victorian Era, as proposed by Queen Victoria, these fanciful accessories were used to differentiate between the castes and classes of the society.

Though the scarf has now translated into an ornamental piece of clothing, or a statement clothing or a fashion accessory as many fashion magazines call it, it has had a significant cultural, religious and social importance in various early societies. The evolution of scarves have epitomized the changes in art, culture and history. The book ‘Scarves’ by Nicky Albrechtsen highlights the fact that scarves in the early 20^th century were not just a fashion accessory. They happened to be social artefacts that would walk one through the growth and evolution of art, fashion and social lifestyle. In the early 1930s with the invention of Rayon, women who could not afford a silk scarf would opt for this alternative to keep up with the requirements of the growing fashion world. In the 1940s, designers and manufacturers started experimenting with other fabrics and soon the silken-square of style could be found in various fabrics like cotton, fur, wool or linen.

With time, this humble piece of clothing was attached to various historical events and important practices. During World War II, wearing a scarf became a necessity in some cases; women working in ammunitions factories during the war had to wear scarves on their heads, for their own safety to prevent their hair being caught in machinery. Knitting of scarves had become a patriotic war time duty in the United States. Later in the 1980s, the manufacturers would even print logos and commercial sketches on scarves that would even serve as a platform for advertising. It is also said that scarves were used as a travel souvenir in the 1960s. A scarf depicting the St. Tropez harbor (now the Marina Port Harbor) in France would have to be worn around the neck of well-travelled elite. Scarves were also used to hold account of excerpts and fragments of historical events. An interesting example of this is a scarf that had extracts from Winston Churchill’s speeches.

Scarves were also produced to mark important sporting events, for instance, the 1953 Coronation Derby winner, Pinza, or the London Olympics in 1948. They have as well been used to commemorate royal occasions. Besides these, a scarf is often attached to various cultures and communities as a part of their legacy or the sentiment attached to the initial practices of wearing a scarf. Members of the student community in the UK traditionally wear scarves of distinctive stripes identifying their respective colleges or University. Scouting groups had scarves as an important part of their uniforms to differentiate their groups. Bhutanese men wear scarves called ‘kabneys’ on a formal visit to an office. These identify the designation of the person. Bhutanese women wear smaller scarves called ‘kiras’ that are hand woven and have fringes at the end.

Till date scarves are incorporated as a part of the uniform in defense services in various countries around the world. Silk Scarves were used by pilots to protect themselves from the exhaust and smoke and to prevent neck chafing. Today, the military flight crews wear scarves imprinted with emblems to keep up the spirit and the age-old heritage.

As stated above, Scarves are also an object of great religious significance. In the Muslim community, men and women are expected to dress up modestly. As a result, women are to cover their heads with a head scarf, commonly called the ‘hijab’. In Judaism, a Jewish prayer garment called the ‘Tallit’ compulsorily has fringes on all four corners and these fringes are commonly known as tzittzit. They symbolize the commandments that God spoke to Moses. The Tibetan tradition considers the practice of offering white silk scarves (khatas) during the beginning of new relationships, be it marital, business or political, as a symbol of ones’ good intentions. They are also offered to spiritual images and statues of Buddha, nuns, spiritual preachers, monks and leaders like Dalai Lama.

While walking through the gullies of Delhi street markets, one can see rows of scarves on display ready to be sold like hot buns. Girls and women of all ages and castes pick these beautiful squares of color to pull together their outfit. A bare essential in ones’ wardrobe, is not just a fashion accessory but serves the purpose of protection and also caters to various cultural and religious sentiments. Who would have ever thought that this simple piece of cloth has had its own share of historic significance? So grab a vibrantly hued or patterned scarf, roll it , wrap it, wear it like a tie or a turban with you regular outfit and you’re good to go!

July 15, 2014
4 Italian Dishes You Must Have

The entire human race can spend all their birthdays thanking their stars for blessing them with this sect of super humans called Italians. Yet, they would not be able to thank enough. Be it the field of art, literature, sports or food, Italians have given us everything on this Earth which is amazing like hell and is sure to be forwarded to the progeny. If we talk about Italian cuisine, we would notice that it has its origins in Greek and Roman cuisines. The simplicity of Italian dishes make them stand out in the crowd of loud cuisines. Italian dishes have a subtle taste to them which is loved by all, irrespective of their quirky individual preferences. The way Italian dishes are cooked and the kind of spices that go into them, make them a really healthy option when pitted against other cuisines from all around the globe. Not just spicy food, Italian cuisine has some great desserts too, one of which we have include in this list too. There are some Italian dishes that one must try in order to feel the awesomeness of Italy’s food. Here are listed some Italian dishes that you have to have. No questions asked.

1. Pizza

Pizza is round flat bread baked in the oven and topped with tomato sauce, cheese and various other toppings. Classic Margherita pizza is one that most of the people abide by. It is topped with tomato sauce, cheese and basil. The simple taste of this pizza is way better than most of the other over-done dishes that we find in other cuisines. Pizza tastes absolutely lip smacking, whether it is topped with bell peppers, jalapeno, pineapple or chicken. Pizza can also be a healthy option as it is rich in carbohydrates due to the base and the toppings and cheese provide various other nutrients. It, thus, becomes a sort of melting pot of various toppings which are rich in nutrients as well as taste. If one picks up a healthier pizza base and cooked with a little bit of calculation and smartness, one can include it as a diet food option. However, with oodles of mozarella, one can definitely suit it to one’s sinful cravings. Pick up one you like!

2. Arrabbiata Pasta

You talk about Italian cuisine and you do not talk about pasta? Are you serious? Pasta is to Italian cuisine as Britney Spears is to rehab. The main ingredients of arrabbiata sauce are tomatoes, red chillies, garlic, clove and olive oil. It is often given a tinge of oregano, basil or parsley, as per one’s preferences. Pasta has a number of variations in sauces and arrabbiata sauce is one classic sauce. It has a spicy flavour that is very rich on tongue. A fun fact would be that the word “arrabbiata” literally means “angry” in Italian. The sauce has been named such because of the fuming heat that is produced due to the red hot chillies. So, what are you waiting for? Get that anger out of yourself onto your pasta and it would not even mind, because it knows that it can straighten out that rage of yours in a jiffy with its heat which is too-hot-to-handle. Grab this and you are in for a delightful experience!

3. Tiramisu

Now, you have had that super spicy pasta and you feel you will die in the next moment if you do not have something to burn that heat. Then, tiramisu is the answer to all your worries and discomforts. It is an italian dessert that is highly recommended to anyone who has a sweet tooth and to anyone who does not have a sweet tooth. It is made in the form of layers of biscuits that are soaked richly in coffee liquor and covered with a thick dollop of mascarpone cheese and egg yolk mix. At times, its taste is enhanced by adding cocoa and rum. Owing to its delicious taste, it remains Italy’s most famous dessert, despite the fact that there are innumerable debates regarding its origin. Tiramisu has a light feel attached to it which makes it an object of envy for other desserts that make you feel as if you have eaten a huge chunk of Mount Everest itself.

4. Risotto

Risotto is a dish that is made with rice and has broth that leaves it with a creamy consistency. It can be either vegetarian or non-vegetarian as the broth tastes equally palatable when meat based as it does when it oozes with numerous vegetables. Risotto is served in the first course. However, there are some heavier versions of it that are served in the main course. Romana and Milanese are two variants of risotto which are most popular and relished by people of all ages. The presence of delicious butter, crispy onions and and gooey parmesan cheese make it a sinful craving.

July 14, 2014
5 Table Etiquettes You Must Follow

Table manners or etiquettes are a set of rules that one must follow while dining,whether at one’s own place, in a restaurant or at somebody else’s place. Different cultures have different set of norms and rules for table etiquettes. Within a particular culture too, table manners differ from family to family, at times. Dining etiquettes are present to maintain social decorum and standard. In addition to that, it helps in maintaining a certain level of atmosphere whih does not make you puke over the laid out food. Bad eating habits are a huge turn off for everyone out there. Nobody likes eating with a person who eats in a way that is enough to induce a wave of killing spree inside someone. In order to avoid being murdered and public embarrassment, have a look at the table etiquettes you must follow.

1. Do Not Make Noise

You are eating a lot of crunchy food. Chips and crisp lettuce are all that you have for dinner. However, that does not mean that you have to sound like an anaconda while munching them away. Imagine you are sitting on a table with your date having a romantic, candle-lit dinner. Everything is going pretty smooth and you imagine yourself having babies with that person but instead of the wailing of your future kid, all you can hear is Crunch! Poof will go those dreams! You do not want to be that cruncher yourself. You do not have to be too vocal about loving your food by constantly emitting sounds like “nyom nyom”. In addition to that, you do not have to open your mouth ha! h! ha! The first thing for table manners is not to make noise while you are eating. It is just not done.

2. Pass

When you are sitting on a table and you cannot reach that bowl or bread basket kept at the other end of the table, you might try matrix-ing your way through the table. No matter how cool that might sound and seem in your imagination, you are not supposed to do that. Nobody likes somebody’s sleeves dipped in the bowl of curry or a spilled glass of water on the table. It is thus important to learn to pass. You know you have been passing your time reading this article for so long, it is high time that you learn how to pass the bowls too. It not only makes eating less clumsy, but also helps in avoiding being stood up the next time you go on a date with the same person.

3. Let Everyone Finish

In almost all the countries and sub cultures, it is considered rude to get up from the table before everybody else has finished eating. You might have hogged like a ninja but you cannot expect the same from everybody. In some cultures, you cannot get up from the table until the host or the elderly person has gotten up. It is just a little sign of respect for the others around you. This sign of gratitude is one that requires you to just relax after having had your food. Now, who has a problem with having a few minutes to relax after you have eaten bucket loads of Butter Chicken? So, stay calm. Enjoy finding faults in others’ table etiquettes and feel like a Boss.

4. Use Correct Cutlery

Now, we do not mean that you need to know all the spoons and forks and knives that Jack is supposed to know in Titanic. But, at least you should not commit the heresy by dipping a soup spoon in you bowl of curry. And do not even think of eating your salad with your dessert spoon. You are an adult and you should be able to identify A from B. It is no rocket science and this much you can learn just by Youtube-ing the same. You should start picking your cutlery from outside and then use them for each course. If you are aware of the different kinds of spoons and their uses, who knows you might just impress the person with weird liking habits, sitting at the other end of the restaurant.

5. Move That Elbow! Nudge

Do not think of me as a propagator of some Victorian norms. But, do not keep those elbows on the table, please. If you keep your elbows on the table, where do yoiu expect the person sitting next to you, to keep his/her glass of wine? Yeah, wine is more important than those non-manicured elbows. You do not want to constantly nudge the adjacent person unless you want to bring to their notice some quirky happenings around. On a more serious note, you need to keep your things within your space and do not intrude into somebody else’s. Be satisfied with what you have got, hungry fellow!

July 10, 2014
Treat From The South!

Think of South India and the first thing that comes to the head of a North Indian like me is the yummy ‘Idli and Dosas’. But what else do we know about South Indian cuisine except the fact that it is amazingly delicious. But there is a lot more to know about our favourite cuisine.

South India being hot and humid climatically, gets rain in abundance each year and so fresh fruit, vegetables and rice are readily available throughout the year. Malabari cooking comes from Kerala with its catalogue of yummy seafood dishes. Nizams have ruled Hyderabad so the food that comes from Andhra is rich and full flavour. The food is full of dry fruits and nuts (and especially exotic spices like Saffron.)

On the whole, South Indian cuisine is the hottest of all Indian cuisines. Most of the meals are centred on rice and are rice based. Sāmbhar is a soup-like lentil with which is rice is combined. Rasam is a hot-sour lentil soup, again eaten with rice dishes.

Yes they love Rice! No meal in South India is complete without rice being an active participant in the entire cooking process! Idles, Dosas, Uttapams are all a part of their daily meal. Coconut oil is usually used for cooking and frying purposes and vegetable oils and ghee is spread over rice when meals are cooked on special occasions. Curry leaves, mustard and peppercorns are the main ingredients in every south Indian dish.

Let’s talk about the various culinary schools of South India:

Andhra: Food from Andhra is mostly vegetarian but in the coastal areas of the state, you would get to taste a variety of seafood. Prawns and fish are fried in coconut oil and ground pepper is used to flavour the dish. Again, Andhra food is usually served with rice. Rice and Sāmbhar along with other lentil preparations, steamed vegetables that are flavoured with coconut oil are all a part of the Andhra culinary school. Pakodas and vadas are served for snack. They taste even more delicious when they are dipped in Sāmbhar. One can also try the payasam or the exotic Hyderabadi Sheer Khurma for dessert. Andhra cuisine will definitely take you heart away!

Karnataka: On a visit to the state of Karnataka? Then you would surely find a typical Kannad meal served to you that would include very specific dishes and in a definite order. And the surprising part! You start your meal with a dessert! Then come some soup-like dishes as majjige huli, Kootu, saaru etc. and these are eaten with rice. The raita comes next and then the Bonda is served. Finally, the meal is ended by serving a bowl of curd rice. For sweets, try the famous Mysore Pak, Pedha or Chiroti!

Hyderabad: The fancy Nizams and the even fancier and amazingly delicious cuisine from Hyderabad. The cuisine from Hyderabad is a combination of techniques of the Muslim rulers and the vibrant spices and ingredients from the local Hindu people. It tastes sour and sweet and everyone who tries it returns to Hyderabad for some more. It is one of India’s most exotic and finest cuisines and people from all across the globe love to savour their tatste buds with the Hyderabadi Biryani.

Tamil Nadu: Cuisine from Tamil Nadu is popularly called ‘Chettichand Cuisine’. If you think that its tastes similar to the simple, bland cuisine of the traditional Tamil Brahmins, then you are definitely mistaken, because Chettichand cuisine is one the oiliest and the most aromatic food in the country. Though, Chetiars are popular for their yummy vegetarian meals, their preparations also include a variety of other items like meat, fish etc. Since I already mentioned that its one of the “oiliest “cuisine, the use of oil is extremely liberal while cooking these dishes and have a large amount of bay leaves, cinnamon and red chillies in them. Some popular dishes are veruval which is a dish fried in spices and onions, poriyal is a curry and kuzambu is a dish which has ingredients that are stewed in gravy of spices and coconut. And where there is oil and spice, can pickles be far behind? So you will find that a variety of pickles and pappads and dry snacks are a part of Tamil Cuisine too. Murukkus are small spiral shaped snack fried out of rice dough. Other small snacks include thattai, masala vada, etc.

Kerala: Kerala is popular for its pancakes rice cakes that are steamed. Kerala is a state which home to various religious communities and this is a reason behind the repertoire of dishes one finds when Kerala cuisine is mentioned. For the Muslims, Biryani is a must. This flavoured Biryani is made of mutton and fish.

In districts like Kottayam and Pala, which are largely inhabited by Christians, a dish called ‘ishtew’ with appam is permanent dish that one finds in every marriage reception. There are fermented beverages which form a part of the Kerala cuisine. Kallu and patta charayam are one of these.

July 7, 2014
Jainism Rituals and Principles
Jainism, popularly entitled as Jain Dharma is one of the ancient Indian religions in the world. It believes in Ahimsa and follows the path of non-violence towards all human beings. It underlines the fact that all forms of life are equal. It basically derived from the root ‘ jin’ which means to conquer. Their history has been traced through the succession of the Tirthankaras.

Jainism is partitioned into two major sectors Svetambara and Digambara. There are about 4.2 million people in this religion. This is a small number so they are counted under minority community. There are various immigrants in Canada, Belgium, Hong Kong, Japan and United States. Though they are minority sector, but they possess highest literacy rate in India i.e. 94.1 %. They have the oldest manuscript libraries in the country.

Jainism origin is not so clear, but during the 6th century BC twenty four great teacher known as tirthankaras revealed the existence of this religion. Mahavira is recognized as the founder of this religion. There is no evidence of the existence of these tirthankaras but Parsva, predecessor of Mahavira was found to exist somewhere in the 7th -9^th century.

There are several principles that people in this religion follow. The fundamental principle of Jainism is related to a man’s personality. They believe that man has dual personality i.e. Spiritual and material. They consider that every soul is bounded by Karma, a delicate particle of matter. Our soul is attached to our Karma just like gold in any alloy which can’t be separated.

Next principle is based on the imperfectness of the human soul. They believe that no soul is perfect and to attain perfectness, it must have four characteristics: infinite power, infinite knowledge, infinite bliss and infinite faith. After attaining these soul is said to be in its eternal state. Third principle states that material nature can be controlled by the spiritual nature of a man. To attain freedom and happiness there must be an entire suppression of matter. Control of thoughts ad senses would lead to the perfection of the soul. The last and fourth principle states that man is solely responsible for his happiness and his problems would not be affected by any other human being. He has to experience the fruits and results of his own actions, whether it may be good or bad. They believe that God has no concern with any of the happenings in the world. This principle makes Jainism different from Christians, Islam or Hindus.

Jain community is categorized into two main sects: Svetambara and Digambara. These two sectors belong to the same community but they are quite different in their culture and rituals. Digambara people believe that desire for materialistic things led to sorrows so they avoid wearing clothes. This is mainly for males and females are generally seen wearing white material and they are known as Aryikas. While Svetambara monks wear white clothes and believes that scriptures does not condemn wearing of these clothes. Females in this community are referred to as Sadhvi. Digambaras considers Mahavira to be unmarried while Svetambara considers them to be married. Svetambara is further partitioned into terapanthi, Sthanakavasi and Murtipujaka while Digambaras is divided into Kanjipanthi, Terapanthi, taranapanthi and Bisapanthi.

The way of worshipping God is very different in Jainism. They start their worship with the Namokara Mantra. This is simple and fundamental prayer of this community which does not include reference to any of the Tirthankaras. They never believe in demanding any of the material things or personal favors from god. This prayer endowed a feeling of respect for other human beings in it and reminds them about their final goal i.e. moksha. The ultimate objective of their prayer to make their soul free from worldly desires and attachments towards material things. Jain has six duties to follow which is called as avahyakas. These are:
- Samyika means practicing serenity
- Vandan means respecting monks and teachers
- Pratikramana means introspection
- Kayotsarga means stillness
- Pratyakhana means renunciation
- Chaturvimshati means praising 24 tirthankaras
The most significant festival they celebrate is Paryushana. It lasts for 10 days for Digambara and 8 days for Svetambara. Svetambara called it as Paryushana while Digambara called it as Das Lakshana. Paryushana literally means ‘coming together’. At the end of this festival they usually spend a day saying sorry for any wrong deeds to the other people and make a commitment that this will not be repeated in the near future. They say sorry in the form of Khamat Khamna or Michammi Dukadam. Mahavir Jayanti is celebrated in the month of Chaitra in each and every corner of the country. They do fasts on various occasions and sometimes they avoid eating anything for the whole day to reduce the effect of their negative karma. They also believe in meditation, which provides a feeling calmness for some time. This is known as Samayika. It is mainly done during the eight days of Paryushana. It helps in managing one’s passion and emphasize mainly on the control of our senses and thoughts. During this festival they avoid eating green vegetables and any sort of food item after sunset.
July 7, 2014