Category: Culture

Karma – A Buddhist

Gautam Buddha was born in a the royal family of Lumbini. Lumbini is now situated in Nepal. In the year 563 BC, Buddha decided to renounce all kinds of worldly pleasures for he believed that real happiness lay somewhere else. So he read the teachings and books from religions to find the true meaning of life.

300 million people across the world are followers of Buddhism. The word Buddhism comes from ‘buddhi’ which literally means ‘to awaken’. To many, Buddhism goes beyond religion and more than a religion it is a way of life. Buddhism was founded by Buddha Shakyamuni. He taught and lived in India around two thousand years ago. Since then, many people around the globe have followed the spiritual path Shakyamuni had shown. Even today, the Buddhist beliefs of living in peace, loving, kindness, wisdom are just as relevant as they were in those ancient times. Buddha had said that confused and disturbed states of mind were the sole reason behind all of our problems and all the happiness that arises from a positive and peaceful state of mind. Buddhism tells of methods for gradually overcoming anger, ignorance, jealousy and develop love, compassion and wisdom within us. The last peace that each one of us seeks, that absolute happiness can be experienced on this path. The best thing is about Buddhist beliefs are that they work for everyone.

Karma is a bitch. They all say that. We often hear clichéd lines about Karma. Buddhism believes in Karma too. How real is the entire concept? How does Buddhism perceive Karma is something really interesting to know about?

‘There was guy named Michael Mastromarino. Who became a multi-millionaire by stealing organ tissues, bones, and other body parts from more than 1200 corpses. About 10,000 people received transplants from corpses, some of which were diseased with AIDS and Cancer.

Eventually, Michael died of Liver cancer that spread to his bones.’

Buddhism also talks about the mind being a totally unique and separate entity from other parts of the body. It is neither physical nor a by-product of physical processes. When a body dies and disintegrates, the mind does not cease to be. The mind that dissolves at death is a superficial mind but it disintegrates into another level of consciousness which the subtle mind and this mind has neither a beginning nor an end. This mind completely transforms into the pure mind of Buddha.

Now how is Karma related to our mind? Karma is every action that we perform or everything that we do. In fact, every karma has a potential to give rise to its own repercussions. Imagine your mind to be a field and your actions are the seeds that you sow in that field. Maybe this is where the famous saying ‘You reap what you sow’ comes from. You sow positive seeds and the fruits would be positive and you sow negative seeds, the future would be filled with suffering. Every action that is performed by us leaves an imprint and that action eventually leads to its own effect. The ‘law of karma’ as people call it, is simple. You will be happy if you are virtuous. You will suffer if you are not. Buddhist morality is totally based on this law.

‘Bardo’ is that intermediate stage that your mind enters the moment you die. This is a dream like phase. And in this phase, one experiences various visions that the subtle mind activates during the time of death. These visions could be beautiful or they could be terrifying; it all depends on the seeds you had sown. When these seeds ripen completely, we are given the choice of rebirth. But here is something really interesting to know- as samsaric beings, we cannot choose our rebirth and its totally depends on our karma. If good karma ripens, you will be born as a human or a god, but if bad karma does, you might be born in the lower states of lives such as animals and birds. Basically, the winds of karma blow us into our next life and we land up being reborn in the higher or the lower states of life.

‘Samsara’ is a Sanskrit word which means the cyclic existence is the uninterrupted cycle of death and rebirth. It’s more like a Ferris wheel at the fair. It goes up to the upper 3 realms and then down to the lower 3 realms. Or it could be compared to a pendulum, which goes to and fro, never stopping at one place for more than a few seconds. As long as you sit on this Ferris wheel, you shall experience a cycle of dissatisfaction and suffering, and the Ferris wheel doesn’t even stop when you die. Lasting happiness can only be experienced when you let go of this Ferris wheel and let your subtle mind pass into that “enlightened nothingness”.

September 14, 2014
Dances of Rajasthan!

They invite you; engage you and you are bound to be induced by them as you tap your foot along with the Rajasthani dancers. They are folk dances and their history can be traced back to the traditional customs and heritage of the state of Rajasthan. And something that really surprises me is that these traditions are kept alive by the common people rather than professional dancers. The beauty of these traditional dances lie in the fact that the rural people still continue to draw inspiration from their age old traditions. Their costumes are extremely colourful and vibrant and the daring moves that the dancers perform, will surely give you goose bumps. The setting sun becomes the backdrop and the dancers take centre stage in the Thar Desert where you see them sway to the rhythm of Rajasthani folk music that steals your heart away.

Some of the really popular folk dance forms from Rajasthan are:

Kalbelia

As the name suggests, this form of dance is performed by the ladies of a community known as the ‘Kalbelia’ tribe. An intriguing thing about them is that they are basically snake charmers. And this is where ‘Kalbelia’ dance draws its inspiration from. The moves of the dance are similar to the way a serpent moves and even the costumes are black in colour. ‘Been’ is an instrument used to charm snakes. This dance form will totally enthral you with its sensuality and uniqueness.

Ghoomar

This dance form is performed by traditional Rajput women on festivals and other such occasions. The faces of the women are covered with veil and they sing traditional songs and charm the onlookers with their graceful movements.

Chari

It’s a dance that requires a lot of skill and poise. Tourists who witness this dance form being performed feel goose bumps by the time the performance is over. And why does this happen? Because the dancers perform this dance with pots kept on their heads and lamps in their hands. The movements are very flexible and graceful and this kind of dance is performed on an occasion like a marriage or when a child is born.

Kacchi-Ghodi

‘Kacchi-Ghodi’ means a dummy horse. This dance form originated in the Shekhawati Regions of the state. All the dancers wear elaborate costumes and the dummy horses perform fighting sequences with a lot of vigour. As Rajasthan is known for its brave and chivalrous rulers, a ballad sings their tales and the dancers perform on the tunes of the ballad’s song.

Fire Dance

Sounds extremely dangerous, isn’t it? It is indeed one of the most dangerous forms of dance in the world. This is a dance performed by the Banjara community of Rajasthan. The dancers perform fire stunts that will take your breath away. With rods in their hands and mouth full of kerosene, they blow the rod and dance along.

Terah Taal Dance

Terah in Hindi mean the number thirteen. Taal is the Hindi word for beat. So Terah Taal translates to the ‘Thirteen Beat’ dance. Manjeera are small brass discs that the dancers tie on their wastes, hands and legs (basically at thirteen places) on their body. This a dance performed to please and impress a local deity of the state of Rajasthan.
Other folk dances that are performed in Rajasthan are Jhoria, Kathputli dance, Raika, Matka-bhawai etc. and these are performed on different occasions in various tribes.
All these forms of dance that are mentioned are a very integral part of the Rajasthani culture and they help in showcasing the extravagant and grand culture that the desert state possesses. The amount of hard work and dedication that these dancers put in is just commendable. They treat their dance as their religion and dedicate their entire lives mastering their form of dance. They have learnt a lot from their ancestors and they follow all that they have learnt with a huge amount of dedication and courage. A Rajasthani dancer is truly attached to the culture and rituals of the state and pours his heart out while performing the folk dances. The dances are very colourful and extremely lively. Whenever a celebration happens in Rajasthan, it is these dances that add festivity and life to the occasion. The dances are simple but very expressive and everyone who watches them being performed, enjoys a lot. A very close attention is paid to small details including the costumes and the make-up. Each and every dancer is very skilled and trained in his/her form and this is one of those many reasons why these dancers are invited to foreign countries and make grand performances.

Rajasthan is a state known for its rich culture and heritage. People from all around the globe visit the state to experience its great culture. A culture that has been highly cultivated, a culture the world is enthralled by, a culture that is amazingly is beautiful.

September 14, 2014
Candy bars: Part 1

“There’s nothing as cozy as a piece of candy and a book.”

― Betty MacDonald.

So they say that! I believe candy bars are not just a treat for the kids. I, at twenty-two can jump with glittering eyes and a wide smile if you offer me a bar of Bounty! Chocolates are not just a delicious snack but also a great source of instant energy. While travelling, just before exams or something important, good rains, after a good workout, or just while watching your favorite movie, every time is the right time to grab a candy bar!

Some chocolates I grew up with and bring back a jet of nostalgia with every bite are mentioned below. I just think it is a great idea to know a little more about them. My article on Candy Bars has been split up into two parts, this being the first one. For more on these delicious treats, look out for the second part too.

Cadbury Flake

Flake is a chocolate bar brand which is currently manufactured by Cadbury Ireland. It has an interesting flaky texture and consists of thinly folded Dairy Milk milk chocolate. Founded by an employee at Cadbury in 1920, it was developed when the excess from the moulds was drained off and fell off in a stream. This created folded chocolate with flaking properties on hardening. As it has a flaky texture, it is a little difficult to eat it without dropping any as it tends to crumble apart.

Many other variations have also been developed though the original flake was a constant hit amongst its fans. Flake Dipped, also known as Flake Luxury is the original milk chocolate Flake dipped in milk chocolate. It was launched in 2003. Flake Noir is a dark chocolate Flake bar while Flake Dark that was launched in 2006, is a dark chocolate Flake bar covered in dark chocolate. Flake Snow, the white chocolate variant of Flake Dipped was known as Snowflake until 2003 and was then discontinued in 2008. Many other flavors and variants of Flake have been introduced and launched in different parts of the world. Some of them are Flake Praline, Flake Allure, Orange Flake and Flake Mint.

Hershey’s Kisses

A famous brand of chocolate manufactured by The Hershey Company came up with these bite-sized pieces of chocolate having a distinct shape resembling that of flat bottomed tear drops. Hershey’s Kisses are packed in lightweight aluminium foils of different colors depending on the flavor of the chocolate. They had a narrow strip of paper protruding from the top. These are one of the most popular chocolate brands in the States and in the rest of the world. Kisses are mass-produced by machinery that would pump a specified amount of viscous chocolate on a conveyer belt and then are allowed to cool down so as to lend it the shape.

These candies get their name ‘Kisses’ because of the ‘kiss-like’ sound that the machinery makes during production. It was first introduced in 1907, and a century later, they are still reigning the market and the hearts of the fans. They form an integral part of American history and pop-culture. Kisses is also available in a variety of forms like the Kisses with Almonds, Dark Chocolate Kisses, Caramel Kisses and Kisses with Hazelnut. ‘Hugs’ or the mini Kisses covered in white chocolate was my personal favorite though it was a limited version. Some other limited versions were ‘Layers’ i.e. white chocolate on the top and milk chocolate in the bottom, Special Dark Coffee flavored Kisses, Extra Creamy with Toffee and Almond, Dark Chocolate Orange flavored and many more.

Bounty Bar

Bounty is a chocolate bar produced by Mars, Incorporated. It was first introduced in 1951, in the United Kingdom and Canada. What distinguishes this chocolate bar from others is the moist coconut filling in the centre which is enrobed with milk chocolate. This is available all over the world except the States, where Mounds by Hershey’s, a similar product is marketed. The dark chocolate version of Bounty is also available in the market. The thick milk chocolate coating provides a perfect contrast and balance with the mild flavor of the soft coconut center.

The chocolate bar should be eaten right out from the refrigerator as it tastes the best then. It might even take you to the tropical beaches lined with coconut palms in your imaginations as you bite into this delicious candy bar. For its variants, there were limited editions of a Cherry Bounty Bar which was available since 2006 in Australia. A limited mango flavored edition was available during 2004-2005 and a few years later again in Russia.

Twix

Twix is a popular chocolate bar manufactured by Mars, Incorporated. It consists of a biscuit finger, coated with other confectionery toppings, most commonly caramel and milk chocolate. Twix Bars are typically packaged in pairs. The chocolate bars apparently got their name from combining the words, ‘twin’ and ‘biscuits’. It was first created in 1967 in the United Kingdom, and was later introduced in the United States in 1979. Twix was called Raider in certain parts of the world like Denmark, Belgium, Poland, Spain, Israel, Turkey and many other countries till 1991, when its’ name was changed to match the international brand name.

Twix is available in various other flavors like Twix PB that has a chocolate biscuit, peanut butter coating instead of caramel and milk chocolate coating, Cookies-n-Cream Twix where a cookies and cream filling replaced the caramel filling, Twix White with a white chocolate coating, Triple chocolate that contained chocolate flavored butter cookie, chocolate flavored caramel and a chocolate coating. Many other versions were the Choc ‘n’ Orange Twix, Twix Mint, Coffee Twix, and Dark Chocolate Twix Towers etc. They are also available in different sizes and as singles too.

These chocolate bars are bound to take you through a variety of memory lanes, I am sure! Go get your favorite candy bar and pamper your taste buds. But before you leave, remember: ‘Candy Bars: Part 2’ coming soon!

September 14, 2014
Candy Bars: Part 2

Candies and chocolates form an integral part of our growing up and growing old alike. The first part of ‘Candy Bars’ covered facts about some popular chocolates that make our lips smack just at the mere mention of the names. This article covers a few more of them.
Toblerone

Toblerone is a Swiss chocolate bar brand that has been named after its’ creator Theodor Tobler. It was first launched in 1908. It is well known for its distinctive prism shape or that of a pentahedron. The shape of the chocolates is apparently inspired from the Swiss Alps. However, Theodors’ sons claim that the triangular shape comes from a pyramid shape that some dancers created at a show that Theodor saw. The uniquely shaped milk chocolate includes nougat, almonds and honey thus lending it a characteristic flavor. ‘Torrone’, Italian for nougat lends the chocolate its’ second half of the name.

Toblerone is sold in a variety of sizes and flavors ranging from ten centimeters to nearly one meter. The variants of Toblerone that have been produced are equally popular. Dark chocolate, White Chocolate, Snow top (with white chocolate peaks) and Toblerone Pralines are some of them to name.
Mars Chocolate bar

Mars is again a chocolate bar manufactured by Mars Inc. It was first manufactured in 1932 by Forrest Mars in the United Kingdom. A delectable chocolate bar featuring nougat and caramel covered in milk chocolate. In the States, a different confection with nougat almonds and soft caramel bore the same name until it was discontinued in 2002. In 2002, the Mars bar that was sold worldwide was reformulated and the price was revised. The nougat was made lighter and the chocolate layer on the top was made thinner. Mars has been marketed in various sizes, from bite sized ‘Snack Time’ versions to large ‘king-size’ bars.

Several limited edition variations have also been released in different countries. Mars Almond and Mars Triple Chocolate with chocolate nougat and chocolate caramel are my personal favorites. There have been dark chocolate versions, now called Mars Dark (earlier Mars Midnight) and Mars Dark and Light as well. A variety of other products like Mark Lava (orange flavored), Mars Vanilla, Mars Loaded and Mars Honeycomb have also been produced.
Snickers

Snickers has been my comfort food before all exams and after all important events. It is my personal favorite when it comes to chocolate bars because of the perfect balance of taste that is struck among the ingredients. Snickers is a brand name for a chocolate bar produced by Mars Inc. It is a rich chocolate bar with nougat topped with peanuts and caramel, covered with milk chocolate. In countries like Ireland, the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man, Snickers was sold under the name ‘Marathon’ until 1990. The candy bar has been named after the favorite horse of the Mars family.

With a variety of variations and limited editions of the chocolate bar, the original one still stays a hit. Snickers Almond Bar was another popular variation which was later stopped in 2009. Peanut-butter and dark chocolate versions of this have also been released. So find your favorite and as they say, ‘Grab a Snickers!’
3 musketeers

3 musketeers, as fascinating as the name sounds, I bet it is one of the most pleasant experiences for your palate. It is a candy bar manufactured in the United States and in Canada by Mars Incorporated. It was the third brand produced by Mars in 1932 for the first time. Originally, it had three different pieces in the same package with chocolate, strawberry and vanilla flavors; hence the name. Rising costs and other constraints left only the most popular chocolate flavored bar phasing out the other two. It is basically a fluffy-soft whipped chocolate core covered with milk chocolate.

Manufacturing 3 musketeers is a fascinating procedure. The nougat chocolate center is first formed into large slabs, cut into required sizes and after the centers are formed, they are enrobed in milk chocolate. In this process, the centers pass through a continuous flowing vertical “sheet” of chocolate while, a rotating chocolate covered wheel under the mesh belt coats the base of the bar simultaneously. 3 musketeers has been released in a number of varieties. The mint version was the first brand extension, which was introduced to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the chocolate bar in 2007. Mocha Cappuccino, French Vanilla and Strawberry are some other limited editions that have been introduced.
Hershey’s Krackel

Krackel is a chocolate bar manufactured by the Hershey Company. It contains crisped rice in milk chocolate which makes it very similar to rival company Nestle Crunch. When it was first introduced in 1938, it also had almonds in the recipe. Peanuts were later added in 1939; but both the nuts were later removed in 1941. It was originally sold as an individual candy bar product and sometime later was only available as one of Hershey’s miniatures.

It was again reintroduced as an individual chocolate bar in 2014. The creamy milk chocolate and the crispy rice make this a very popular treat. There have been any variations in the flavors as such but the comeback of the chocolate bar as an independent product after 17 years was a great news for all its fans!

So, doesn’t just reading about chocolates make us happy? It makes us crave for one too though! Now that these fact files about some really popular chocolate brands have been covered, select your favorite one and go grab a bar!

Nothing satiates a huge appetite more than a piece of chocolate. Make sure you complete the chocolate bar in one sitting! Most of us do that, as they say:
“Strength is the capacity to break a Hershey bar into four pieces with your bare hands – and then eat just one of the pieces.”

September 14, 2014
Tales served in a plate!

Have a big party to host too soon? But are too bored of the clichéd party menus available (Mexican, Chinese, Italian, Indian or Mughlai)? I have just the thing for you, that will surely elevate your stature to the “PARTY KING/QUEEN” and give you and you’re fiction-fellas the best time of their lives! Yes, give way to your literary gastronomy as I bring forth a list of fictional literary food items that you’ve read about in novels or watched your favourite characters sip or bite onto them in movies and TV series!

1. Butterbeer (Harry potter series):

“Why don’t we go and have a butterbeer in the Three Broomsticks, it’s a bit cold, isn’t it?”-Hermione Granger.
Ah! The reveries of sipping through the clouded peaks of tankard-full butterbeer, on chilly December mornings ,while crouching over the wooden benches of The Three Broomsticks, or Leaky Cauldron, has enticed us since our ripe days of innocence( and they still do). So, why not relive those days, just not in reveries but in reality! Set up old shaggy benches, restrict the light source to quivering candles, and Cheers!
INGREDIENTS
• Cream soda- 2 litre
• Butter extract- 2 tbsps.
• Rum extract- 2 tbsps.
*add drops of the extracts into a 2 litre bottle, put on the cap and slowly rotate (not shake) until combined.
• For the crème topping- 17oz container of marshmallow crème
• Whipping cream- 1 cup
• Rum extract- 1 tbsp.
METHOD

• Add all the items together in a blender and combine until smooth
• Pour the butterbeer into a glass and drizzle with the cream topping and Enjoy!

2. Scooby Snacks (Scooby- dooby doo series) :

Our very own beloved stoner mates of childhood! Remember the eternally hungry Scooby and Shaggy, who were always lured to chase the villains using this snack!
INGREDIENTS
• Dry oatmeal- 1 cup
• Flour- 2 cups
• Sugar- 1 cup
• Eggs- 2
• Butter- ¼ pound or ½ cup
• Walnut extract- 1 tsp.
• Vanilla essence – 1 tbsp.
• Cocoa powder- ½ cup
• Finely ground cannabis- 1 oz.
METHOD
• Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients. Stir continuously.
• If the consistency becomes too thick or tight making it difficult to stir, then add a tablespoon of milk into it, and mix.
• Taste the batter and adjust the sweetness according to preferences.
• On a lightly greased cooking sheet, place them in scoops or bone shape cut-outs and bake for 8-12 minutes ( depending upon the size of the cookies)
• If you wish to bite on to dry and crispy cookies, bake for longer, but if chewy and soft is your thing, a shorter time span for baking them, is fine.

3. Hotpie’s Wolf Bread (Game of thrones):

Does this ring a bell? In Season 3, this becomes a parting gift for Arya by Hotpie, remember? Of course you do! So, now imagine, breaking pieces from this Wolfbread we’re about t0 make and dipping it in the Virginia Woolf’s Boeuf en Daube (in the next point) , ah, heavenly delicious, and such a intermingled literary hotchpotch! Well, let’s proceed.

INGREDIENTS ( makes 3 breads)
• Coarse meal- 2 cups
• Wheat flour- 3 cups
• Egg(beaten with a little water, for the wash) – 1
• Baking powder-1 tsp.
• Baking soda- 1 tsp.
• Butter- 6 tbsps.
• Honey- 4 tbsps.
• Pinch of salt
• Buttermilk or sour milk
METHOD
• Combine the dry ingredients and rub in butter
• Then, stir in the honey, buttermilk, and fold in a soft workable dough
• Roll it out around 1/2″ thickness, and skilfully cut out the dire wolf shape with a knife by placing the template(below) over it( template given at the bottom)
• Once satisfied, transfer it to a baking sheet lined with a parchment paper. Brush all over it with the beaten egg
• Now, for 20 minutes, let it bake at 250 degrees F, until it’s tinted in lovely golden brown colour. Enjoy!

4. Boeuf en Daube (To the Lighthouse):

Direct from Virginia Woolf’s imaginative kitchen, this recipe is a star for any party especially if the dwellers are meat lovers. Known to spell magic with her words, Woolf in ‘To the Lighthouse’, one of the best English novels of the 20th century tickles the gastronomic sensations of her readers with her vivid descriptions of this delicacy. So let’s have a look at the recipe!
INGREDIENTS
• Primed beef (can also use mutton), cubed and trimmed of fat- 5 lbs.
• Peeled shallot or onions- 8-10 pieces
• Burgundy wine- 750 ml
• Olive oil- 1-2 tbsps.
• Fresh thyme- 1 bunch
• Garlic cloves( peeled and chopped finely) – 4-6
• Bay leaves- 2-4
• Lardons (or smoked bacon pieces) – 1 lb.
• Orange peel( dried) – 6-8 pieces
• Soft brown sugar- 1 tbsp
• Cepes( a type of mushroom), soaked for 1 hour- ½ ounce
• Sea salt
• Fresh ground black pepper
• Sun-dried tomatoes (drained and chopped finely)- 2-3
• Cognac – 2 tbsps.
• Corn flour – 1-2 tbsps.
• Tomato sauce- 2 cups
METHOD
• In a bottle of red wine, marinade the beef with herbs, shallots, and garlic overnight. Drain and keep the wine aside.
• Take a large frying pan, pour olive oil and sear and brown the beef pieces over high heat, till nutty and golden brown.
• In a cast iron Le Creuset Casserole Dish, or a crock pot, place the beef. Fry the lardons or chopped bacon pieces until crispy and golden brown. Drain and add to the beef.
• Then, brown-fry the garlic in the bacon fat and add to the beef and bacon.
• In the crock pot, add all the ingredients including the reserved wine except the corn flour.
• Cook on high flame for 4 hours and low up for 6 hours. Or, preheat oven to 175 degrees C or 325 degrees F n cook for 4-6 hours, slowly. The meat must become extremely tender.
• Once done, stir in the corn flour and cognac into the stock encased within the crock pot.
• Serve with Mashed, steamed and pureed potatoes, and green beans, or with French bread, salads and pasta! Try and make it on the day before the party, it tastes better. Best for main course!

5. Turkish Delight (The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe):

Remember Edmund in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, who after inhaling the Snow Queen’s Turkish Delight had betrayed his sibling?! Yes, disgust for the character seeps into your veins at this nostalgia, but never mind he learnt his lesson, right? And, the Turkish Delight, is surely a delight!

INGREDIENTS
• Water- 1 ½ cups
• Cold water- ½ cup
• Corn-starch- ¾ cup
• Orange juice- ½ cup
• Orange zest- 3 tbsps.
• Granulated sugar – 3 cups
• Light corn syrup- 3 tbsps.
• Unflavoured gelatin-3(.25 ounces) envelopes
• Vanilla extract- 1 tbsp
• Pistachio nuts( chopped)- ¾ cup
• Confectioners’ sugar for dusting
METHOD
• Take a large saucepan, place it over medium-high heat and add water, sugar and corn syrup to it and bring to boil. Stir continuously until the temperature reaches 115 degrees C or 240 degrees F, on a candy thermometer. Set aside and keep hot
• Stir in the orange juice and zest, and sprinkle with gelatin and set aside. Take a small bowl and pour in ½ cup of cold water, dissolve the corn-starch in it and stir into a hot syrup, over medium flame, until thick.
• Remove from heat and stir in vanilla essence, pistachio nuts and a little more of the orange juice. Sprinkle an 8×8 inch pan indulgently with the confectioners’ sugar. Pour the Turkish Delight into the pan and let it cool (do not refrigerate) until set, for 3-4 hours approx.
• Once cool, now sprinkle on top another thick layer of the special sugar. Cut them into 1-inch squares and dredge each well in the confectioners’ sugar. Store in room temperature in an airtight container! Serve with tea, coffee or just as welcome sweets or even as end-of-the-meal desserts!
Set the mood with the right décor, music and games, and the rest, leave it to these scrumptious delights to handle! Rest assured, just dig in!!!

September 14, 2014
Unique cultures that exist around the world

A culture is said to be unique if it is said to have different types of food habits, traditions, clothing and culture when compared to other cultures.If we travel around the world, we can explore unique cultures and traditions.As culture represents geography, identification, lifestyles and much more,if we study about various cultures around the world we can encounter unusual things too.

1.Mourning of Muharram:

Mourning of Muharram

Mourning of Muharram is one of the odd and unusual cultures seen in Muslim communities.This takes place on the death anniversary of Husayn Ibn Ali.On this day, a number of Shia Muslims go out with whips having knives and blades attached to them and they start beating themselves continuously with them.Few people cut their own heads using these knives.This tradition may look awkward but it has been blindly passed over to their descendants from generations.One of the interesting thing about this culture is people participate in this weird culture voluntarily.

2.Carrying Pregnant Women Over Coal:

carrying-pregnant-woman-over-coal

This is one of the weird Chinese culture.According to this culture, husband should carry his wife over burning coal before he enters into their home for the first time.They feel that following this custom will ensure that the bride will have an easy and successful delivery.They also feel that reading a good literature during pregnancy has positive effect on the unborn child and on the other side, it is very bad for the pregnant woman to gossip or laugh loudly.

3.Tossing the Babies:

Tossing the Baby

The phrase Baby tossing itself says that it is a wired culture.This unusual culture is visible in Solapur village situated in Maharashtra state.According to this culture ,the new born babies are tossed from a height of 50 feet terrace.People stay at the foot of the terrace holding sheets to catch the baby safely.It is believed that following this culture gives their children good luck, long and healthy life and they also believe that they will grow smart.

4.Hanging Coffins in China:

Hanging Coffins in China

In China, we can see lots of hanging coffins on the chillingly steep cliffs along Yangtze River, China.Few people in China known as Toraja follow this ususual culture.According to this culture, people bury their family members in coffins after death and hang them over some cliffs.These coffins are usually hung at a height of 33 to 164 feet and few coffins are hung as high as 328 feet above the ground.It is still a mystery how these coffins were placed at such great heights.This type of weird culture is not only seen in China but also seen in some parts of Indonesia and Philippines.

5.Kanamara Matsuri of Japan:

Kanamara Matsuri Festival of Japan

Kanamara Matsuri is one of the weird festival celebrated in Japan.This is a festival of steel penis that is celebrated on the first Sunday of April every year.People celebrate this festival by holding a giant wooden phallus.Holding this phallus people march around the town.People believe that celebrating this festival will bring regenerative abilities on the local crops and also ensures the fertility for everyone.But most of the people wonder about this culture that an entire festival in Japan is dedicated to Penis.

6.Kidnapping the Bride:

Kidnapping the Bride

This is a unique culture followed by Romanian people.This criminal tradition has been carried out since centuries.According to this culture ,some of the friends of the groom decide to kidnap the bride.In exchange they demand for bottles of whisky or something more romantic.The guys who kidnapped the bride mange through phone call.This is a harmless tradition and is celebrated on marriage occasions.

7.Living with the Dead:

Living with the Dead

This type of odd culture is followed by few ethic groups in Indonesia.According to this culture people wrap the dead in special grabs and keep it safe in the house they live.People believe that their loved ones soul will be preserved until they are buried.

8.El Colacho Baby Jumping:

El Colacho Baby Jumping

This is one of the odd traditions that is existing in the world.This old culture is followed by the residents of Spain since 1620.This culture was mainly organized to keep the devils away.According to this culture, children are laid on the mattresses in the street and heavy crowd gather to watch.Usually the jumpers wear traditional costumes to look like devils. During the jumping some injuries takes place but this culture is still popular in Spain.

9.Walking Dead:

Walking Dead

According to this culture, as funerals are sometimes costly and some of the families can’t afford an initial proper burial.So, such people place bury the dead body in a temporary coffin and when they are having enough money to do the burial, the corpse is raised from the dead and walks to its new resting place.

10.Monkey Buffet Festival:

Monkey Buffet Festival

This unique festival is celebrated in Thailand.This is fun and strangest festival that still exists in the world.In this festival people set up fruits, flowers, cakes and candy on the tables in the downtown area and all the monkeys are attracted by this food and hop all over the tables entertaining the viewers.This monkey buffet festival was started in the year 1989.Thousands of tourists visit Thailand to attend this festival every year.This festival is usually celebrated on 25th November every year.

September 14, 2014
Chutneys are Yummy! Part 1
Often while having food, you find that the dish lacks a certain punch. A flavor so to speak. You wonder how to solve this problem. Well, worry no longer. There is a solution at hand which will leave your taste buds tingling in the process. What can that be you ask? One word we say in reply. Chutneys!

Chutney (also translated as chatney or chatni) is a family of condiments mainly associated with South Asian cuisine that usually contain some mixture of spice(s), vegetable(s), and/or fruit(s). Chutneys may be either wet or dry, and can have a coarse or fine texture. There are various types of chutneys.

The name “chutney” covers a wide variety of foodstuffs. The common element which makes them all “chutneys” is that they are added to meals to add flavor; the best English “translation” of “chutney” is “relish”. As such, they can be, and are, eaten with a wide variety of foods.

The word “chutney” is derived from the Sanskrit word caṭnī, meaning to lick. The first chutneys in India would have been sticky fruit based preserves. Sugar, although available in India, was not widely cultivated and honey would have been used to sweeten dishes, this leading to the chutneys being used as more of a dipping sauce rather than a condiment. It is written differently in several North Indian and South Indian languages.

Let’s have a look at some popular Indian chutney recipes!
- Peanut Chutney:
Peanut Chutney, a versatile and easy-to-make spicy chutney, is a must-have accompaniment in South Indian cuisine. It can be of two types, wet and dry. This recipe is for making wet peanut chutney for Dosa and Idli, and it can be used either as spread or as an accompaniment.
- Ingredients:
1) 1/2 cup roasted peanuts, skin removed.
2) 3 garlic cloves.
3) 1/4 teaspoon tamarind paste.
4) 4 dry red chillis.
5) 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds.
6) 4-5 curry leaves.
7) 2 teaspoons oil.
8) 1/2 cup water.
9) Salt to taste.
- Directions:
1) Put the roasted peanuts, garlic, 3 dry red chillis, tamarind paste and salt in the chutney jar of the grinder.
2) Grind them together till a medium coarse powder.
3) Add 1/2 cup water to the mixture, and grind again until a smooth paste is formed. Transfer the paste to a serving bowl, and proceed to prepare tempering.
4) Heat oil in a small pan. Break 1 dry red chilli into two pieces. Add the mustard seeds. When they start to crackle, add curry leaves and the remaining 1 dry red chilli. Sauté for 10 seconds and turn off the flame.
5) Pour the tempering over the prepared chutney paste. Peanut chutney is now ready to be served along with steamed Idli and Dosa!
- Tips:
1) If roasted peanuts are not available, then you can dry roast them over low flame in a heavy based pan for 7-8 minutes. Let them cool for 3-4 minutes and remove the skin.
2) Increase or decrease the amount of red chillis to make more or less spicy respectively.
3) You can avoid topping it up with mustard seeds tempering if you are going use it only for making Dosa.
- Preparation Time: 10 minutes.
- Cooking Time: 2 minutes.
- Servings: 2.
- Coconut Chutney:
Making South Indian Coconut Chutney for Dosa and Idli is very simple. Just blend fresh coconut with chillis, curd and ginger, and mix tempered mustard seeds. However, the real taste differentiators in this recipe are roasted chana dal, tamarind paste, cumin seeds and curry leaves. Follow this recipe and discover how good the chutney tastes. But yes, don’t blame us if you get addicted to it!
- Ingredients:
1) 1 cup roughly chopped fresh coconut.
2) 1 teaspoon grated ginger.
3) 2 green chillis, chopped.
4) 1 tablespoon roasted chana dal.
5) 1 tablespoon curd.
6) 1 teaspoon lemon juice or tamarind paste.
7) 1/2 cup water.
8) Salt to taste.
- For Tempering:
1) 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds.
2) 1/4 teaspoon mustard seeds.
3) 4-5 curry leaves.
4) 1 dry red chilli.
5) 1 teaspoon oil.
- Directions:
1) Take chopped coconut in a small chutney jar of the food processor or grinder.
2) Grind it to make a medium coarse paste and transfer on to a plate.
3) Add green chillis, roasted chana dal and ginger to the same chutney jar.
4) Grind mixture to a smooth powder.
5) Add crushed coconut, curd, lemon juice, salt and 1/2 cup water.
6) Grind them to make a medium coarse paste. If required, add more water to get the desired consistency of chutney and grind again. Transfer to a bowl.
7) Heat oil in a small tempering pan. Add mustard seeds. When the seeds begin to crackle, add cumin seeds, dry red chilli and curry leaves and sauté for 10 seconds.
8) Take the pan away from flame and immediately pour tempering over the prepared coconut paste. Mix well. Delicious Coconut Chutney for Idli and Dosa is now ready to serve!
- Tips:
1) Adjust quantity of water accordingly to make it thick or diluted.
2) Avoid the addition of green chillis while making coconut paste, and avoid dry red chillis in tempering while making white Coconut Chutney.
3) Consume fresh chutney immediately or refrigerate it, and use it for up to 3 days.
- Preparation Time: 10 minutes.
- Cooking Time: 2 minutes.
- •Servings: 6.
Watch this space for recipes of more mouth-watering chutney recipes. Coming soon!
September 14, 2014
Ganesh chaturthi celebrations in India

Ganesh Chaturdhi Festival

Ganesha Chaturthi which is also known as Vinayaka Chavithi is celebrated by Hindu’s around the world.It is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Ganesha.This festival is generally celebrated in bhadra pada masa i.e., between mid August to mid September.It is celebrated with great devotion and with peace of mind.It is one of the grand festival celebrated in almost every part of the country.On this occasion, each and everyone place a clay model of Lord Ganesha in their homes and worship for seven to ten days with great devotion.The preparation of these Idols get started from 2 to 3 months prior to the day of Ganesh Chaturthi.The size of these idols may vary from 3/4th of an inch to 25 feet and even more.

History:

History

According to Hindu stories ,Lord Ganesha is the son of Lord Siva and Parvati.There is a saying that Goddess parvathi has created Lord Ganesha with the sandal paste that she used for bath and created a figure and breathed life into it.Then she said to that little boy to stand guarding at the door till she completes her bath.At that time, Lord Shiva who had gone out earlier returns back and as the little boy doesn’t know Lord Siva, he did not allowed him.Then Lord Siva got extreme anger and told his followers to teach a lesson to the little boy.But being born to Parvati, he is very powerful, thus defeated Shiva’s followers and declared that nobody was allowed to enter while his mother was bathing.Thus Lord Siva got even more anger and cut the head of the child.Parvati after seeing this was furious towards Siva.Then Lord Siva promised that her son will be alive again.In search of that ,devas could not find the head of a dead person facing north,But they founded the head of a dead elephant facing north.They brought the head of the elephant and Lord Siva fixed it on the child’s body and brought him back to life.Then Lord Siva declared that from this day this boy would be called as Ganesha.

Ganesha Chaturthi celebrations in Maharashtra:

Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations in maharastra

In Maharashtra almost every Hindu family will establish their own clay statue in their homes and worship with great devotion.According to the people of Maharashtra ,their domestic celebrations come to an end after the completion of 1 day or 3 days or 5 days or 7 days or even 11 days.At the end of any of these days, people take the idol and immerse in large water bodies like rivers or sea.But due to some environmental concerns ,large number of families are immersing their statue or idol in a bucket of water at home itself.Later the clay from these statues are used for gardening.

Ganesha Chaturthi celebrations in Andhra Pradesh:

Ganesh-Chathurthi-celebrations-in-andhrapradesh

In Andhra Pradesh, clay Ganesha or Matti Vinayaka is mainly worshiped in each and every Hindu house.Few people worship Ganesha that is made out of Turmeric and few worship Plaster of Paris Ganesha.The festival celebrations will continue for five to ten days depending upon the family traditions.People believe that praying Lord Ganesha will fulfill their desires and wishes.He also blesses us by removing all the obstacles in our life.

Ganesha Chaturthi celebrations in Tamil Nadu:

Ganesh-Chathurthi-celebrations-in-tamil nadu

Tamil Nadu celebrates Ganesha Chaturthi very grandly.This is also known as Vinayaka Chavathi in Tamil Nadu.This festival falls after the new moon day in the month of aavani.In Tamil Nadu, the festival is celebrated in all homes by worshiping the idol of Lord Ganesha that is made out of clay.The idol of Lord Ganesha is decorated with flowers and garland.Few dishes like Modak, ladoo and other dishes are offered to Lord Ganesha.In Tamil Nadu we can find Lord Ganesha idols placed in public places during the period of festive days.The height of these idols will not exceed 13 feet and they are made out of paper and clay as Plaster of Paris is banned by the State Government.Some of the idols are made out of coconuts, fruits, rudraksha and other organic materials.After worshiping for five to ten days they are immersed in Bay of Bengal.The police department make special arrangements for celebrating the festival peacefully with great joy.

Ganesha Chaturthi celebrations in Kerala:

Ganesh-Chathurthi-celebrations-in-kerala

In Kerala Ganesh Chaturthi is known as Vinayaka Chaturthi or Lamboodhara Piranalu.This festival generally falls in the month of chingam.During the festive days, the temples have huge crowd and people worship idols of Ganesha by offering nivedyam.Cultural programs are held at different localities and elephants are worshiped throughout Kerala.In Kerala ,on the day of visarjanam the large possessions the tall statues of Lord Ganesha are taken to the nearby water bodies and are immersed in them.The streets are fully decorated with flowers, lighting and rangolis.

Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations in Goa:

Ganesh-Chathurthi-celebrations-in-goa

Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the very important festival that is being celebrated by the Hindus in Goa.The festival preparations begin a month before and the actual festival is on the month of Bhadrapada masa.On this day ,women worship goddess Gouri with lord Siva.Festive celebrations include Pujas, Arati, feasts and many more.According to the tradition of Goa, many classical music instruments are played on the festive day.In most of the places festival is celebrated for two days and on the second day the idols are immersed either in the sea,rivers or tanks and wells.

September 13, 2014
Culture of Delhi

Culture of Delhi

Delhi, the capital city of India has a unique culture.People from different parts of the country have settled in Delhi.So, Delhi has a mixed culture of all the states.It’s culture is considered as the culture of India as a whole.As it is the capital city of India, all the political discussions and decisions are taken here itself.Delhi is a mixture of modern lifestyle as well as old traditions and values.Different types of festivals are celebrated in Delhi.The Chhat puja of Bihar is celebrated grandly as the festival of Durga puja.The Muslim festival Eid ul Fitr and Punjabi festival Lohri are celebrated without any difference.In Delhi ,we can also see the cultures of Haryana, Uttarpradesh, Rajasthan and Punjab as these are the bordering states of Delhi.Different monuments, sculptures, places add additional beauty to the city.

History:

A pic showing history of Delhi

Delhi was treated as the capital of the Pandavas during Mahabharata.Delhi was considered as the cultural, political, and commercial capital of North-West India and the Gangetic Plains during the Delhi Sultanate era.During the period of Mughal empire,Shah Jahan built a new capital city named Shahjahanbad which is now called as old Delhi.During his rule he had built several gates like The Kashmiri Gate, Delhi Gate and Ajmeri Gate.In the year 1911,the Britishers have decided to shift the capital from Kolkata to Delhi.Then they slowly moved their capital to the partially built New Delhi in 1912.When the Britishers left India in 1947, New Delhi became the capital of India.

Architecture:

Sites-monuments-touristspots-architecture-of-Delhi

The city has the oldest buildings that belong to the early muslims.During the period of Khaljis, the Pashtun style has been indulged in the Islamic architecture.The typical features of their style are red stand stone surfaces with white marbles inlays and the windows are fitted with perforated screens.The best examples for this Pashtun architecture includes the Quwat-ul-Islam mosque, the Qutb Minar, the tomb of Iltumish and the Ala’i Gate.In Delhi ,the first Mughal architecture was the Humayun’s tomb.Later the Mughal architecture can be further seen within the red fort.It has massive red stone walls, entertainment halls, balconies, baths, indoor canals, gardens and also one highly decorated mosque.Jama Masjid is also one of the finest architecture bulit by the Mughal empires.Humayun’s tomb and Red fort are UNESCO world heritage sites.During the British colonial rule, they have built the President House (Rashtrapati Bhavan), Parliament and Secretariat buildings.After the Independence, India has aimed to develop its own architectural language in a synthesis between Western and local styles.We can see such type of architectural styles in the Supreme Court building, the Vigyan Bhavan (a conference centre), the Crafts Museum and offices of the various ministries.

Climate:

Climatic conditions of Delhi

Delhi has a unique type of climate.In Delhi the warm season lasts from the month of April to July with the temperature ranging from 25 degrees to 36 degrees.The cold season lasts from the month of December to February with the temperature ranging from 2 degrees to 18 degrees.Monsoon arrives at the end of June with an increase in humidity and the mild winter starts in late November, reaches peaks in January with heavy fog.The average annual rainfall is approximately 714 millimeters.Most of the rainfall occurs during the months of July and August.

Economy:

Economy of Delhi

Delhi is considered as the largest commercial center in Northern India.According to 2013 the per capital income of Delhi was Rs.210000, which is recorded as the highest in India.According to the economic survey, the tertiary sector contributes 70.95 percent of Delhi’s State Domestic Product, followed by the secondary and primary sectors with contributions of 25.20% and 3.85% respectively.The workforce in Delhi has increased by 52.52% from the year 1991 to 2001.In accordance with it the unemployment rate has decreased from 12.57% in 2000 to 4.63% in 2003.The key services that are being provided in Delhi are information technology, telecommunications, hotels, banking, media and tourism.Apart from them, construction, power, health, community services and real estate are also important to the city’s economy. Delhi is one of India’s largest and fastest growing retail industries.Manufacturing of goods has also increased considerably with the establishment of manufacturing units and headquarters in the city.

Cuisine:

Spicy street food in Delhi

Being the Capital city of India and centuries old Mughal capital, different food habits have been indulged in it and it is also a place where the Mughlai cuisine had originated.The dishes of Delhi like Kebab, Biryani, Tandoori has world wide popularity.The classic dishes like Butter chicken, Aloo chat, Chaat, Dahi vada, Kachori, Chole bhature, Jalebi and lassi are also famous dishes available in Delhi.Street food is commonly habituated food for the citizens of Delhi.Highway Dhabas offer spicy food at low cost which is popular among the residents of Delhi.Apart from them, we can see the popular restaurants like Karim Hotel, the Punjab Grill and Bukhara.A street in Chandini Chowk is particularly famous for food eateries since the 1870s.Almost the entire street is occupied by fast food stalls or street vendors.It has became so popular such that almost every prime minister of India has visited the street to eat Paratha at least once.However, other Indian cuisines are also available in this area.

September 13, 2014
Culture of Nepal

Nepal has a unique culture which has evolved since many years.It’s culture is greatly influenced by religion, architecture, music and literature.In Nepal, we can find various temples, churches, monasteries and many other religious buildings.There are many ethic groups, tribal and social groups in Nepal.Different type of festivals and practices are seen in Nepal.Nepal got its name from the Kathmandu valley as the founder of the nation established a capital there in eighteenth century itself.

Culture of Nepal

Geography:

The country is spread over an area of 381,200 square kilometers.It is surrounded by three Indian states on south, west and east whereas the north border is shared by Tibet.Most of the Himalayan mountain ranges are in Nepal, including the Mt.Everest.The country is divided into three horizontal zones which are: the high mountains, the lush central hills, and the flat region with low water levels in the south.The trade factor has influenced the ethnic groups.There are more than thirty six ethnic groups and over fifty languages in Nepal.According to 1977 ,the population of Nepal is nearly 22.6 million.As the birth rate is gradually increasing in rural areas, people are migrated to cities.This lead to over population in Kathmandu, at present it is holding more than seven Lakh people.

Geography of Nepal

Ethnic relations:

Nepal consists of many cultural, racial, linguistic groups, that are mainly divided into three categories.Indo Napelese, Tibeto Nepalese and Indigenous Nepalese.Since centuries, they were practicing Hinduism and people speak Indo-Aryan languages.Most of these people settle in lower hills and river valleys.The second type is Tibeto Nepalese who have generally Mongolian features and they speak Tibeto Burmese languages.These people reside in hills and mountain areas.Different groups under Tibeto Nepalese practice Buddhism, Hinduism.Later these ethnic groups fell into single caste hierarchy.The first and the top most caste is Hindus, second is Matwalis who are generally alcohol drinking people.Bottom are the untouchable Hindu castes.Higher caste people buy lands and enjoy political and economic privileges whereas lower caste people are far from these opportunities.Untouchable castes were not permitted to own land.We know that the caste system is illegal, but it has not disappeared in many places.Most of the posts like civil services, army and police were selected by the higher caste people only.

Different Ethnic relations of Nepal

Food:

Nepalese enjoy different food items that are generally hot, spicy and nutritious.Newari and Thakali cuisines are the original taste of Nepal.Generally Nepalese cooking style is influenced by both Indian cuisine and Tibetan cuisine.Nepalese staple food is daal bhat tarkari.Most of the tourists who visit Nepal like to have hot and spicy meat curries that are cooked in their style.The meal includes different varieties of food items and also pickle that is made out of fruits or vegetables are served.Most families eat from individual plates while seated on the floor.It is more common to eat food with hands rather than utensils.In Nepal, high caste people only eat vegetarian and do not take alcohol whereas other caste people may drink alcohol, eat pork and even beef.People of higher caste do not show interest to eat food that is prepared by strangers.

Food of Nepal

Industries:

In Nepal there was no industrial development till the middle of the twentieth century.The industrial development is accomplished with the help of countries like India, China and Soviet Union.With the abundant availability of minerals, industrial development is made possible in Nepal.The major industries focused on was of jute, tea and sugar.Manufacturing of brick, tiles, construction materials, paper making, vegetable oil extraction, sugar refining and many more industries are established in Nepal.

Industrial textile factory

Trade:

The trade of Nepal mostly depends on the neighboring countries -India and China.Major of the goods are imported from India.Goods transportation is limited by the terrain.Nepal import gold, machinery and other equipment.In Nepal although roads and modern transport are available, much of the country goods are transported by porters and pack animals.Generally this type of transport is used where landslides and flooding is more.Not only imports ,but Nepal is also famous for exports of goods like carpets, clothing, leather goods, jute, and grain.Apart from these, Nepal is famous for tourism which is another primary export.

Nepal trade with the neighboring countries

Medicine and health care:

Nepal suffers from malnutrition, infant mortality,respiratory and intestinal diseases.In Nepal, average expectation of life span is fifty seven years.Being very poor , unhygienic and lack of health care, the hospitals are available only in urban areas.But these hospitals are also poorly equipped and unhygienic.Few medicines are also not available in rural areas.There are few western hospitals, but the poor cannot afford them because of high costs.People still believe in religious practitioners and they approach them if they have any health problems.Hence, few people look at Ayurvedic medicines.As they think that illness is caused due to the imbalance of body hormones, they try to balance them using proper diet.Recently malaria is eradicated in Nepal.So at present, health development is concentrated on immunization, birth control, and basic medical care.

Health care services in Nepal

September 9, 2014