Just Walking Around

Puran poli ..Gujia .. Thandai and the festival of colors

Holi re Holi Purnachi Poli.. up goes the shouts as the Holika Dahan flames touch the sky. You stand near the bon fire soaking in the heat feeling warm and happy inside , praying to the Lord Almighty to burn  away the sorrows , despair , poverty and all things negative and bless us with health , wealth, happiness and prosperity.

Its that time of the year when winter is ending and Summer is about to start , that’s when our ancestors created a festival to usher in the Summer .  Holi comes at a time of the year when people have a tendency to feel sleepy and lazy. This is natural for the body to experiences some tardiness due to the change from the cold to the heat in the atmosphere. To counteract this tardiness of the body, people sing loudly or even speak loudly. Their movements are brisk and their music is loud. All of this helps to rejuvenate the system of the human body.

Besides, the colours when sprayed on the body have a great impact on it. Biologists believe the liquid dye or Abeer penetrates the body and enters into the pores. It has the effect of strengthening the ions in the body and adds health and beauty to it.

There is yet another scientific reason for celebrating the Holi, this however pertains to the tradition of Holika Dahan. The mutation period of winter and spring, induces the growth of bacteria in the atmosphere as well as in the body. When Holika is burnt, temperature rises to about 145 degrees Fahrenhiet. Following the tradition when people perform Parikrima (circumlocution or going around) around the fire, the heat from the fire kills the bacteria in the body thus, cleansing it.

The way Holi is celebrated in south, the festival also promotes good health. For, the day after the burning of Holika people put ash (Vibhuti) on their forehead and they would mix Chandan (sandal paste) with the young leaves and flowers of the Mango tree and consume it to promote good health.

Some also believe that play with colours help to promote good health as colours are said to have great impact on our body and our health. Western-Physicians and doctors believe that for a healthy body, colours too have an important place besides the other vital elements. Deficiency of a particular colour in our body causes ailment, which can be cured only after supplementing the body with that particular colour.

All this is great but the best part of celebrating Holi and Duleti ( Dhulivandan ) is sweets and other nick nack you can savor and hogg on. Leading the way is Puran Poli a Maharashtrian delicacy without which you can not imagine Holi being complete. A soft and flaky roti made of Maida (kanik) stuffed with Puran made of chana dal and jaggery spiked with cardamom(velchi / elaichi) and nutmeg (jaifal) to give it that extra flavor. Eat it hot and pipping smeared with a generous trikle of pure desi ghee . Or try it like I do by dipping its pieces in milk and then finally smack your lips and  give a hearty burp to acknowledge the host / puran poli maker of the pure joy and satisfaction you had enjoying the sweet meal . Every year all of us gather at my mom-in-laws place on Holi and after celebrating the Holi Dahan in the society compound devour the scrumptious and best ever Puran Poli made by my mom-in-law Namrata Desai – Mummy ,made with her secret recipe which includes a dash of extra special ingredient of love and care.

Another favourite Holi recipe is the Gujiya a classic North Indian sweet among Holi special dishes. In the festive season of holi eating gujiya is a tradition.It is made in most part of India and has different names like Karanji and Ghugre. The filling of gujiya is a mixture of roasted dry coconut, nuts, mawa, cardamom powder and powdered sugar. It can be glazed with sugar syrup. To coat or not to coat gujiya in sugar syrup is an option. Bite into this sweet snack and let it melt in your mouth.

For Goans / Karwari like me Holi is very special and a unique sweet associated with Holi is the Mangane .A sweet dish made from Chana dal cooked with jaggery and coconut milk ,added with Ole (Wet ) Kaju and Kismis (Raisin) to produce this famous wholesome dessert.It can be had with hot and fluffly puri’s or simply devoured like a kheer.

Still remember this sweet dish made by my mother in a special round bottom utensil slowly cooked on a low flame and kept on a simmer for a  long time to get the perfect taste which still lingers on my tongue..

But if you are not the sweet eater types you can always enjoy the good old bhajia or crispy pakora made from onion or potato . Or the all time favourite namkeen the Samosa . And where else can you satisfy your taste-buds but the famous A1 Samosa of Gurukripa’s at Sion . 

Fried to perfection of golden brown with its special potato mix stuffing not too spicy not too salty but just right that even the kids and adults love its taste and if its served with chole or mint chutney toh kya kehne..

And how can you forget the Thandai to quench ones thirst after eating all these oily and fried namkeens and sweets. This Holi’s official drink is mainly found in Rajasthan and the north of India. But now a days also available in pre-mix bottles . The most famous being Guruji’d Thandai.Thandai is a very popular drink made with almonds, saffron, milk, sugar and a variety of herbs. It’s also possible to find a version made with bhaang for the extra effect. But mind you it can get you into a tipsy situation which not even the hardest of liquor can match. People drinking this concoction of Cannibis (bhang) combined with milk, refined butter, mango and spices are know to get into a state of psychotropic liberation that makes them emotional and express themselves in loud manner.So I would suggest caution if you are thinking or getting a kick this Holi.

And finally after eating all these sweets I hope it will definitely make you a happy person if not a sweeter person.

So let me pray to God that this Holi bless us all with Happiness and joy and make us a better person for years to come. Happy Holi to all my readers….

Lets enjoy this Holi and Dhulivandan with that famous song from the Blockbuster movie “Sholay” which goes like this ....

Holi ke din dil khil jaate hain
rangon mein rang mil jaate hain
holi ke din dil khil jaate hain
rangon mein rang mil jaate hain
gile shikwe bhool ke doston
dushman bhi gale mil jaate hain

Holi Hai…….

Just Walking Around

Just Walking Around

Trams Tam-Tams & Pilots …Unconventional modes to commute

Ask any young guy or girl or Melenials as they are known,how they commute in the city and pat comes the reply “ Take out the mobile open the Uber / Ola app put the destination check the wait time for the cab and book it . Simple” And if you ask who pays for it answers is simple “ Dad’s Credit card is already configured” .What about when these aggregator cabs were off the raod during the several strikes few months back. And the answer would Oh then “Kaali Peeli hain Uncle” . Wow that’s great I say. Ask them if they ever travelled in the BEST bus or the local train few of them laugh at you for such a sinful suggestion. They will say “Kaun jayega us bheed mein” or “Uncle AC kahan hai usme”.I laugh at my own advice and shake my head in despair. We as parents are to be blamed for not making our kids bold enough to take the public transport. The transport we as kids used to travel across the length and breadth of our Mumbai city.

So the following weekend which was the Republic Day long weekend when we had decided to head to Alibaug for a short RnR vacation I decided to try out our public transport and teach my elder daughter Netra how to use the fastest means of travel to reach a place in Mumbai. Since she had school on Jan 25^th as also oral exams scheduled we could not allow her to bunk school. So rest of the family members my wife my little one Bhakti alongwith extended family members went ahead in the afternoon taking the Gateway to Mandwa jetty launch (boat ) service. Me and Netra had to reach Gateway once she came home from school around 6:45pm well in time to take the last launch at 8pm. Once she was ready I said lets take the train to CSMT (good old VT station)  rather than a Kali Peeli or Uber so we can reach early. 

And I was correct it took us exactly 20 minutes to reach CSMT station. Then from just outside the station we took the cities landmark Red bus from BEST to reach Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Museum near Regal Cinema and onward we marched to Gateway on foot to reach at exactly 7.35 well before the last launch would depart at 8pm. Being a long weekend there a huge line of at least 50-60 people already waiting there. We joined the serpentine line and Netra took a food break of sandwich and Frooti back in her backpack. We spent some time enjoying the great view of the floodlit Gateway standing tall against the rough sea in the background and the chilly wind swirling around.

 After waiting for sometime and with the que not moving we got uneasy, and then the Police van came announcing the unfortunate news . The launches which had gone to Alibaug in the evening had not returned due to the rough sea. As a result the further services stand cancelled. Both of us were crest fallen. All this rushing for nothing. We decided to give it one last shot to try to reach Alibaug. I said lets try to get to Mumbai Central Bus depot and take the MSRTC Shivshahi AC bus or in worst case the Lal Dabba. Again we rushed outside to where we could take the Share Cab to Churchgate so as to take the train to Mumbai Central  the best possible way to reach in the fastest possible time. 

Once we reached Churchgate I said let grab some Burgers from Burger King right across the station as did not know how long and when we could eat on the way to Alibaug in a bus if go ahead with the travel.Taking the next train to Mumbai Central , we reached the Bus depot in 15 minutes.

Once there I checked if a bus was available for Alibaug , a bus was present but filled to capacity with not even a space to stand . I then checked with the Bus Stand administrator when was the next bus he said it will be at 12 am . With 5 hour journey to take that bus would have taken us the wee hours of the next day to reach our destination. Dejected I decided that it was better we call it off for the night and catch the 1^st launch the next morning at 6am. I could see the dis-appointment in Netra’s eyes but she understood that it was a good decision. On the way home I asked her how was her experience of travelling by these mode of transports and she was enthused to travel more . We took a cab back home reaching home for a late dinner of Whopper Burgers and Fries and retired for the night with hope in our minds of making it early the next morning.

Next day we got up real early and reached Gateway of India again , this time the line was short and it moved swiftly . We took the upper deck of the Ajanta Launch . When it left the jetty we could see the Mumbai skyline light up in yellow glow of the street lamps. The launch moved at an even pace and we enjoyed the gentle breeze on the deck , it was still little before Dawn with Sun still below the horizon and the darkness engulfing the sea ahead. In just a few minutes though the entire scene chaged with the Sun rising and the sky turning the shade of red and then slowly the sky getting bright. A gaggle of Seagulls hovering close to the launch and the few passengers on the deck giving them bread crumbs or wafers to get them to come closer for some selfie moments. We reached Mandwa in an hour and 10 minutes that was around 7.15 am. Next we had to reach the Hotel at Chondi as we walked down the road outside we found a odd looking yellow coloured rickshaws locally called Tam-Tams. A 7 seater with 2 parallel bench behind the driver to seat 6 and one could sit next to the driver on the front extended seat. I have seen these Tam-tams all across Maharashtra be it in Raigad , Pune or even in the western Maharashtra belt while travelling for work. Most often than not the driver takes 8-10 passengers during a shared ride to make the most of the trip in monetary terms.

We reached the Hotel in time for a hearty breakfast of Poha and garam chai and some sugar dripping jalebi’s and some rava cake coursey my Wifey and my Brother-in law Naazim. It was a great experience using some of the unconventional modes of vehicles to reach our destination.

But if you travel across the vast country as India you are bound to come across much more of such unconventional means. Take for example the city of Mathura , when I was stationed there for a Software project for IOCL refinery we were put up in a 2 storied Kothi near the city center and the only means to travel to the refinery were the Phat-Paht’s used by the locals as share-a-ride option. The most iconic bikes of the Second World War era became a mode of public transport in the North of India. Imagine a Harley Davidson bike accommodating 10 people. Well, that’s what a little “Indian Jugaad” (innovation) can do. Popularly called as Phat-Phat because of the bike’s loud exhaust sound. Phat-Phat is modelled from Harley Davidson’s WLA motorcycles, which were manufactured during the Second World War. In the years leading to the War, Harley Davidson Motorcycle Company was unionized and received a contract to manufacture a variant of the civilian bike for the United States Army. During the Second World War, the WLA motorcycle symbolized reliability and was used in massive numbers. However, with the advancement of communication technology post Second World War, these bikes became redundant for military use.

In the US and Europe, most of them were sold as surplus. Sold cheaply, these bikes led to the rise of the ‘chopper’ and ‘biker’ culture, where they were modified. In India, the Harley-Davidson WLA got a fancy new avatar and a new lease of life. It was transformed into a public transport vehicle rambling on crowded Delhi streets, ferrying daily passengers across the city.

The motorcycles front part and the engine was attached to a bright rear passenger-carrier covered with an umbrella, often painted in some bright hues.

Somewhere along the journey, the Phat-Phat was redesigned to seat six to eight passengers. In reality though, these were seen ferrying at least ten passengers. If circumstances and size permitted, the enterprising drivers would have two more passengers sharing their own seat.

Across the river from Mathura is the Temple town of Vrindavan a sleepy little place with small bylanes for streets but a sacred place for Hindus due its importance as the town where Lord Krishna grew up and many a temples built to honour the great lord of pure love . On one of the off days I and my colleague ventured out to see the beautiful temple of Banke Bihari right in the heart of Vridavan. To reach there we took the Phat Phat from Mathura upto the main chowk of Vrindavan and then asked some locals for direction to reach the old heritage temple. We were told the best option would be to take the cycle rickshaw 

.So we hopped on to one and asked the rickshaw puller to takes to the temple. And rightly so the bylanes were so narrow that  it could accommodate these cycle rickshaws and may be a person walking besides them. On reaching the temple we soaked in the sights and sounds of the centuries old wooden pillared temple with the most beautiful and innocent looking Banke Bihari  Krishna. As we entered the temple premise we could see the pillars and roof smeared with bright pink Gulal . When we asked ablut the same we were told that the temple plays host to the Colourful Holi festivities for 5 days when the locals and tourist alike enjoy playing with Abhir and Gulal like the Lord himself did with his fellow friends , gopikas and his devotees . We had reached during the evening Aarti time and so stayed back to experience the once in a life time spiritual experience. As the Aarti ended loud shouts of Hathi Ghoda Palki Jai Kanhaiya Lal ki and Banke Bihari Lal ki Jai went up in the air .

When I travelled futher east to Kolkatta I could see even more options of travel. Besides the State transport buses  there were the big fat & completely yellow old Ambasador cars turned into taxis. Travelling in them brough back memories of childhood when I used to travel in my maternal Uncles prestine white Ambasador Mark IV with its spacious rear seat which was more like a sofa seat . Even the front seat was a sofa seat as the gear being part of the Steering wheel giving enough space for the co-passengers sitting next to the driver. 

You can also travel the city streets on Cycle rickshaws and till a few years back you had the Human rickshaw pullers who would pull and run taking the heavy load of their Bhadralok’s. 

These hand pulled rickshaws are banned by the honorable Supreme Court and by law as it took into consideration the plight of rickshaw pullers and their inhuman conditions of their bleeding feet on tar / concrete roads and most pullers suffering from an eventual TB related death due to poverty and malnutrition on the meager wages they earned from their trade.

Moving around in Kolkotta is cheap though as you can still hop on to a running tram chugging gently on the roads taking the passengers from point to another. These relics of the past are very environment friendly as they run on electric cable which runs like a spiders web all across the older parts of the city. Trams are known to be fun to ride with its mild speed and old world charm.

Did you know even Mumbai had a network of tram lines and station well into the late 1960’s. the idea of mass transport system in Mumbai was originally proposed by an American company in the 1860’s. Envisioning a horse drawn tramway system , the American company proposed a system that would connect Pydhoni ( Central Mumbai) with Colaba (the southern tip of the city). At the time during the American Civil War, Mumbai had advanced as a global exporter of raw cotton to the United States. Unfortunately after the Civil War ended in 1865 Mumbai’s cotton production declined and the entire country fell into an economic depression. Due to the depression the proposed American tramway system was never implemented.

But in 1873 with the permission on the Bombay Municipal Corporation (BMC) , Bombay Tramway Company Ltd (BCLT) the earlier avatar of BEST was licensed to begin perating the horse drawn trams throughout the city. Nearly one year after its establishment the company started operating 2 routes from Pydhoni (Dot #11) to Colaba / Sassoon Dock (Dot #1) and from Bori Bunder (Dot #5) to Pydhoni (Dot #11) . Despite revolutionizing transportation within the city, the initial horse drawn trams were not popular with the residents in Mumbai because they were perceived as expensive and slow.Due to lack or ridership the company closed down the horse drawn tram system in 1905.

Shortly afterwards in 1907 the Bombay Electric Supply and Tramways Company (BEST) purchased Bombay Tramway company Ltd (BTCL) and began operating the city’s 1^st electric tram system. The electric tram system was incredibly popular with the local Bombay residents because of the price and the comfort of the system. Soon the company added additional routes to the tram network introduced Double Decker trams and even began the Red bus service  inspired from the London bus service .The tram and bus network covered the entire city .

In 1964 because of low ridership operating losses and inefficient technology BEST company shut down the nearly 100 year old tram system. The company still continued operations of the city’s bus network which to this day represents an integral part of Mumbai’s transportation system.  

"Kahin Building, Kahin Traame, Kahin Motor, Kahin Mill..." - the vanished trams that the '60s Bollywood hit had immortalized may soon make a comeback, not in their old trundling form, but in a modern avatar.

Recently , while speaking on the coastal road project in Mumbai, Union Minister for Environment Prakash Javadekar announced that trams may be part of the multi-modal corridor planned between Nariman Point and Kandivali.

The draft notification, he said, "mentioned that the metro, buses and trams could be included... The electric tram runs fast. If anything of that sort is incorporated, it will help the people."

May be these old world transportation will add to the charm of the maxim city making traveler and tourist friendly.

Another unique mode of transportation that Uber and Ola are trying to start is the Bike cabs . Since the traffics situation in most metro and big cities getting bad to worse with long taffic jams the latest trend is that people are shifting from cars to bikes . Much easier to zip past and manoeuvre in the traffic . They have been doing pilots in cities like Pune and Ahmedabad where the response has been great. But there is one state where Bike taxis have been part of the roadscape since last 30 years is Goa. There they are known as Pilot . Painted black and yellow like auto-rickshaws or taxis, these two-wheeler motorcycle pilots are found waiting for passengers in almost all towns, cities and even villages, along 1200 km of major and minor arteries of Goa. The unique system of motorcycle pilots started during the Portuguese rule in Goa. It was later recognized by the Indian government and the Motor Vehicle Act in 1979.

Today, it’s a well-regulated business carried out under the watchful eye of the State as well as a code of conduct willingly formulated by the Pilot’s Association.

Struggling with a handful of papers and files or carrying luggage? Need to rush to work or have an urgent appointment in court, a government office or an interview? Late for school or college? Motorcycle pilots swoop in to rescue you from distress.

They ferry the day’s newspapers to the remotest village before you wake up. Take you to visit relatives untraceable on Google maps. Hired to drop tiny kids to Kindergarten, young girls and married women rely on them to reach their destinations safely. You would not come across any eve-teasers, street fighters, hirelings or drunkards among pilots as they go strictly either by self-discipline or their own code of conduct. They even censure or reprimand each other for any misbehavior.

A motorcycle pilot is also considered ‘a trusted neighbor, guide, helper in good times or bad and a trustworthy friend’. Staying far away from all forms of rash riding even if their clients coax them to. There are a negligible amount of rash riding incidents involving motorcycle pilots in Goa.

So if you are an avid traveler or even the regular commuter do go beyond the app based aggregator cabs and experience the charm on any city / place you visit by travelling in the local mode of transport. You will experience the trill and adventure associated with the place and also be able to catch the sights and sounds which you are sure to miss in the AC enclosed environment of the Uber / Ola cab..

Have fun , travel wide , stay safe and experience the thrill.. Happy journies and make some happy memories..

Just Walking Around

Eggcellent Eggilicious Sunday’s

One day in the week everyone looks forward to after the daily grind and other family responsibilities taken care off is the SUNDAY. A day spent catching up on lost sleep, relaxing and generally lazying around at a pace much slower than the rushed up week days.Sunday’s is also for those late breakfasts in between many cups of tea and the customary reading of The Sunday Times to catch up on the weekly news , views and all that in between on Arts Culture and Sports . A perfect start to the morning or late afternoon depending upon when you get up.

But the one thing I look forward to is the Eggiliscious breakfast on such lazy Sunday. I am passionate about eggs. For a person who doesn't quite enjoy toiling in the kitchen, an egg is like a wonder ingredient. From plain, simple and sumptuously satisfying omelettes to the more exquisite preparations including the worlds of the Benedict,Scotch eggs and much more - it is an item that can go along with its master - whether a beginner or a sophisticated chef. I don't care much about my breakfast till it is energy dense, full of nutrients sans any junk. Perfectly done eggs along with a glass of juice or our kadak chai, a couple of slices of whole grain bread or the soft ladi pav and I am set. Though I am the kind of person who doesn't get bored of classics easily, having a profession which involves a lot of travel, a chance to eat a variety of egg preparations for breakfast is something I would call my personal bliss.

Moreover, there is just so much that one can do with eggs. You don't need elaborate prepping to cooks eggs. While omelets, half fries and the classic hard-boiled would seem passe to most food enthusiasts, the poached, scrambled, baked or for that matter deviled versions are a certain hit with foodies. Lets admit, eggs and breakfast go hand in hand for most of us. It is as ubiquitous a combination as that of a needle and thread. But for those who loathe monotony and detest routine in their days there are recipes that are yummy and also fills the tummy. Some mouthwatering some pleasing to the eye and some just spicy to make your taste buds dance with ecstasy.

Parathas are undoubtedly a staple Indian food that can be eaten with almost anything. Mughlai Paratha or the Baida Roti as famously known in Bengali household is one such variety that has a huge fan following. Parathas or Rotis stuffed with eggs and fried to perfection, Baida Roti is popular Bengali street food that is relished right from Kolkotta to Mumbai.

Staying in Matunga and surrounded by Irani / Parsi Café’s like Koolar’s , Café Gulshan and Café Colony one of the special egg recipe is the Akuri. Akuri is the perfectly scrambled eggs for the Indian palate – tad spicy, creamy, hint of coriander. It forms a perfect breakfast dish or a snack sitting neatly on top of a crisp toast.Also can be had with laddi pav or the crunchy Brun or Kadak pav as it is known in Mumbai. 

Another favorite egg dish while sitting at any Irani Café is the Masala Omelette. A spicy combination eggs whisked with flavorful spices, onions and tomatoes. Masala omelette is the classic Indian breakfast recipe that is quick, easy to prepare and full of flavour. Another specialty at Koolar’s Café is The Wrestlers Omelette. The aptly named Wrestler Omelette packs in five eggs, and is vouched for by some of the city’s best body builders including fitness expert Kaizaad Kapadia. This  five-egg omelette may constitute a typical breakfast for a wrestler, but for those of us not in the muscle flexing business, it's a breakfast challenge. The omelette takes about 20 minutes to prepare, but is well worth the wait. The eggs are whisked with chopped onions, green chilies and some coriander, and seasoned with just the right amount of salt. Two people can easily split the dish, or if you're feeling particularly indulgent, take it on by yourself.

A complex egg recipe is the Eggs Benedict . Bread topped with blanched spinach, smoked salmon, a delicately poached egg and Hollandaise sauce with a pinch of paprika. Let your taste buds go on a roller coaster of flavors with this classic egg dish. 

One more difficult egg recipe is the stuffed egg. A little bit of effort and this recipe helps you tap your culinary potential. Hard-boiled eggs loaded with masalas, nuts, cheese and tamarind paste, dipped in a smooth batter and fried golden. One of my favorite recipes and made lovingly by my wifey’s maternal aunt Sunita Maushi. Yummy to taste and finger licking recipe, when you eat this you can’t stop at one.

One egg recipe which I found was unique and unusual was the Omelette Curry introduced to me Jagdish dada , again my Wifey’s cousin from Goa. As you know Omelettes are simple, filling and never boring. This recipe offers a fresh depart from the usual, a tomato based curry with omelette chunks dipped deep in. A twist to the usual omelette that we have in breakfast, turn it around and relish it for lunch too

And how can you write about egg recipes and not write about the childhood favorite Egg and Cheese French Toast. The mouthwatering breakfast option is made up of slices of bread coated in a batter of egg and spices along with a generous helping of cheese.

I can not but skip a very unique eggitarian dish I recently had during one of my sales visits in Ahmedabad. An otherwise pure vegetarian city but there is this place called the Ahmedabad Food Truck an open area / ground near Karnawati Club where you will find 10-12 food trucks parked duiring the day and night. During evening time this area comes alive with lights and action . With smeels of delicious non-veg food wafting from each Truck. It’s a non-vegetarians paradise. Here your get Tandoory chicken , Chicken tikka's and kabab's. Wraps of multiple kinds , some spicy some cheesy but all of them mouth watering. Some specialize in Chicken and Mutton dishes and 2 in egg dishes. At one of these trucks called the Egg’s World you get Old and famous John Ki Roti a really scrumptious egg wrap made in a very unique way.It has and hot dog bun filled with sauteed tomato onion and cheese mixture blended with garam masala to give it a spicy taste. This subway type sandwiches is coated with a batter of whisked eggs and fan fried to perfection .Cut into bite size pieces and Served with mint chutney. The first bite itself will explode in your mouth with flavours you have never tasted before. A truly mouth watering and heavy dish. One John Ki Roti and your tummy is full.

Besides these they serve lots of other egg recipes be it the simple boiled egg salad sprinkled with chaat masala to make finger licking. Omelette curry masala with bread slices and many other delicious dishes to choose from.

And finally for those midnight hunger pangs and food craving what best than the classic Mumbai roadside Masala Egg Bhurji. Scrambled eggs made the Mumbaiya Ishtyle. Eggs, lots of chopped onions and tomatoes a little bit of masala and butter all coming together to make this much loved street food. This recipe of Egg bhurji is a personal favorite among all the eggetarians since these scrambled eggs are easy and quick to make. Great with toast or pav and is sure to satisfy any palate.

Eggs are versatile to make just about anything.So go ahead try an egg next itme when you are hungry . A meal my itself and rich in protiens. So what are you waiting for Sunday Ho Ya Monday Roj Khao Ande….

Just Walking Around

New Year …New Calendars.

The latest joke going around on the social media is “ Utarli Kaa ???........Bhinti Varchi Calendar’s….ha ha ha…

As the New Year starts , it’s the start of a new yearly journey and new beginning for every one of us with the start date set at January 1^st and end date set at December 31^st . The 365 days in between for us to live our life to the fullest and make some of our dreams come true. Some milestones to achieve , so important events to attend ,have some great time with our families and overall make some memories.

Every one knows that the English Calendar or  The Gregorian calendar is the most widely used civil calendar in the world. In 1582, when Pope Gregory XIII introduced his Gregorian calendar, Europe adhered to the Julian calendar, first implemented by Julius Caesar in 46 B.C. Since the Roman emperor’s system miscalculated the length of the solar year by 11 minutes, the calendar had since fallen out of sync with the seasons. This concerned Gregory because it meant that Easter, traditionally observed on March 21, fell further away from the spring equinox with each passing year.

The Julian calendar included an extra day in February every four years. But Aloysus Lilius, the Italian scientist who developed the system Pope Gregory would unveil in 1582, realized that the addition of so many days made the calendar slightly too long. He devised a variation that adds leap days in years divisible by four, unless the year is also divisible by 100. If the year is also divisible by 400, a leap day is added regardless. While this formula may sound confusing, it did resolve the lag created by Caesar’s earlier scheme—almost.

Though Pope Gregory’s papal bull reforming the calendar had no power beyond the Catholic Church, Catholic countries—including Spain, Portugal and Italy—swiftly adopted the new system for their civil affairs. European Protestants, however, largely rejected the change because of its ties to the papacy, fearing it was an attempt to silence their movement. It wasn’t until 1700 that Protestant Germany switched over, and England held out until 1752. Orthodox countries clung to the Julian calendar until even later, and their national churches have never embraced Gregory’s reforms.

According to some accounts, English citizens did not react kindly after an act of Parliament advanced the calendar overnight from September 2 to September 14, 1752. Rioters supposedly took to the streets, demanding that the government “give us our 11 days.” However, most historians now believe that these protests never occurred or were greatly exaggerated. On the other side of the Atlantic, meanwhile, Benjamin Franklin welcomed the change, writing, “It is pleasant for an old man to be able to go to bed on September 2, and not have to get up until September 14.”

Julius Caesar’s calendar reform of 46 B.C. instituted January 1 as the first of the year. During the Middle Ages, however, European countries replaced it with days that carried greater religious significance, such as December 25 (the anniversary of Jesus’ birth) and March 25 (the Feast of the Annunciation). The latter, known as Lady Day because it celebrates the Virgin Mary, marked the beginning of the year in Britain until January 1, 1752.

New year doesn't begin on January 1 for everyone.It can vary in different religions and cultures.Among the variations, there is Chinese New Year which takes place sometime between January 21 and February 21 each year and includes celebrations in China and among Chinese communities across the globe.This year 2019 is said to be the Year of the Pig.Which will be celebrated with gusto and pomp . With Dragon parades and two of the most famous Chinese food items as part of their traditional lunch the Jiaozi or the dumplings and Tang Yuan or the glutinous rice balls. 

There's also Islamic New Year, which also has a variable date.In 2019, it will start on September 10 - the first day of the month of Muharram and the start of Islamic year 1441.The Islamic calendar is based on the moon and this means dates move back by 10 or 11 days each year within the longer, sun-based, January-to-December Gregorian calendar used by most of the Western world.This can make it difficult even for Muslims themselves to keep track of the dates.

The Islamic calendar or Hijri calendar follows the cycle of the moon.Hijrah is an Arabic word meaning migration - it refers to the migration of the prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in 622 AD, an event that marks the start of the Islamic calendar.

In 17 AH (638 AD/CE), Abu Musa Ashaari, one of the officials of the Caliph Umar in Basrah, complained about the absence of any years on the correspondence he received from Umar, making it difficult for him to determine which instructions were most recent. This report convinced Umar of the need to introduce an era for Muslims. After debating the issue with his counsellors, he decided that the first year should include the date of Muhammad's arrival at Medina (known as Yathrib, before Muhammad's arrival). Uthman ibn Affan then suggested that the months begin with Muharram, in line with the established custom of the Arabs at that time. The years of the Islamic calendar thus began with the month of Muharram in the year of Muhammad's arrival at the city of Medina, even though the actual emigration took place in Safar and Rabi' I. Because of the Hijra, the calendar was named the Hijri calendar.

The first day of the first month of the Islamic calendar (1 Muharram 1 AH) was set to the first new moon after the day the Prophet moved from Quba' to Medina (originally 26 Rabi' I on the pre-Islamic calendar) i.e., Friday, 16 July 622 AD/CE, the equivalent civil tabular date (same daylight period) in the Julian calendar. The Islamic day began at the preceding sunset on the evening of 15 July. This Julian date (16 July) was determined by medieval Muslim astronomers by projecting back in time their own tabular Islamic calendar, which had alternating 30- and 29-day months in each lunar year plus eleven leap days every 30 years. For example, al-Biruni mentioned this Julian date in the year 1000 AD/CE. Although not used by either medieval Muslim astronomers or modern scholars to determine the Islamic epoch, the thin crescent moon would have also first become visible (assuming clouds did not obscure it) shortly after the preceding sunset on the evening of 15 July, 1.5 days after the associated dark moon (astronomical new moon) on the morning of 14 July.

Four of the twelve Hijri months are considered sacred: Rajab (7), and the three consecutive months of Dhū al-Qa‘dah (11), Dhu al-Ḥijjah (12) and Muḥarram (1). As the lunar calendar lags behind the solar calendar by about ten days every Gregorian year, months of the Islamic calendar fall in different parts of the Gregorian calendar each year. The cycle repeats every 33 lunar years. Each month of the Islamic calendar commences on the birth of the new lunar cycle. Traditionally this is based on actual observation of the crescent (hilal) marking the end of the previous lunar cycle and hence the previous month, thereby beginning the new month. Consequently, each month can have 29 or 30 days depending on the visibility of the moon, astronomical positioning of the earth and weather conditions. However, certain sects and groups, most notably Bohras Muslims namely Alavis, Dawoodis and Sulaymanis and Shia Ismaili Muslims, use a tabular Islamic calendar in which odd-numbered months have thirty days (and also the twelfth month in a leap year) and even months have 29.

The important dates like Shab e Barat (or Lailat al Bara'a) , Ramadan (Ramzan) Eid , Eid Ul Fitr , Moharram and Milad al Nabi (Prophet Mohammed’s birthday )  are based mostly on astronomical charts and are adopted by some Muslims, particularly governments that must plan forward for civic and public occasions.However for a lot of others, a sighting of the primary crescent of the brand new moon is required to find out when a month or occasion ought to truly begin so among the dates may change barely nearer the time.

The boisterous and jovial Sikh’s also have their own Calendar, “The Nanakshahi calendar” . It was created to establish fixed dates for observing important Sikh commemorative events related to the history of the Sikh gurus which took place in ancient Punjab. It includes Birth (Prakash – The manifestation of Light ), Inaugration as Guru (Guru Gadee – Enthronement) and Martyrdom or Death (Jyoti Jot – the merging of manifest light into Divine Light)

Sikhs have traditionally recognized two eras and luni-solar calendars: the Nanakshahi and Khalsa. Traditionally, both these calendars closely followed the Bikrami calendar with the Nanakshahi year beginning on Katak Pooranmashi (full moon) and the Khalsa year commencing with Vaisakhi. The methods for calculating the beginning of the Khalsa era were based on the Bikrami calendar. The year length was also the same as the Bikrami solar year .The calendar has twelve lunar months that are determined by the lunar phase, but thirteen months in leap years which occur every 2–3 years in the Bikrami calendar to sync the lunar calendar with its solar counterpart.References to the Nanakshahi Era have been made in historic documents .Banda Singh Bahadur adopted the Nanakshahi calendar in 1710 C.E. after his victory in Sirhind (12 May 1710 C.E.) according to which the year 1710 C.E. became Nanakshahi 241. However, according to Dilagira (1997), he "continued adopting the months and the days of the months according to the Bikrami calendar".Banda Singh Bahadur also minted new coins also called Nanakshahi.

The revised Nanakshahi calendar was designed by Pal Singh Purewal to replace the Bikrami calendar. The epoch of this calendar is the birth of the first Sikh Guru, Nanak Devin 1469 and the Nanakshahi year commences on 1 Chet. New Year's Day falls annually on what is March 14 in the Gregorian Western calendar. The start of each month is fixed. The solar accuracy of the Nanakshahi calendar is linked to the Gregorian civil calendar. This is because the Nanaskhahi calendar uses the tropical year instead of using the sidereal year which is used in the Bikrami calendar or the old Nanakshahi and Khalsa calendars.

The amended Nanakshahi calendar was adopted in 1998 but implemented in 2003 by the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee the governing office of Sikhism located in the Punjab to determine the dates for important Sikh events and mandating its use The events and dates of The Nanakshahi calendar entries given may differ by months, or even years, from original historical records such as the Vikram Samvat (SV), or Bikram Sambat (BK), calendar based on lunar cycle dating. Some of the names of the Nanakshahi months are like those of the Hindu Calendar. Like for example Vaishakh , Jeth , Savan (Shravan) , Bhadho (Bhadrapad), Magh and Pahgan (Phalgun).

Talking about Hindu Calendars the most famous one is the Kalnirnay Calmanac. the iconic calendar was born in 1972, originally in Marathi.Jayant Salgaokar creator and the publisher ,envisioned it as more than a calendar. Published in nine languages, it performs a multi-pronged role. It serves most crucially as a panchang, an astrological diary that informs you about the position of planets and hence, is consulted before selecting appropriate and auspicious times for important occasions. It lists festivals, carries a horoscope, recipes, medical advice, and articles written by experts in their fields, by stalwarts like Durga Bhagwat and PL Deshpande. It also serves as a reminder for the woman of the house. It even allows you to jot notes on the number of clothes given to the dhobi or items that have to be procured for the kitchen. So, essentially, everyone in the home would use it.

As Kalnirnay enters its 45th year, the thrust is on conquering the digital space. They were the first in Mumbai to have an online retail website, much like Amazon is doing today. This was way back in 1995. They shut it down eventually when competition arrived. They launched an app in 2010, when apps were a new thing. So they have always been ahead of the times, Right now, they are using the Facebook and Twitter platforms to figure what their customers want. This is in a testing phase. Though their core business will always be the printed almanac, they want to widen their social media imprint to reach their existing customer more effectively while attracting a new audience. Kalnirnay currently prints 20 million copies of the calendar and the app has 5 million subscribers.

In a new advertisement released on their YouTube channel, the almanac is no longer the gift given to a daughter when she is married. Now, it goes with her to Harvard. Kalnirnay is a tradition that's passed down over generations. But now, they don't just rely on the institution of marriage. People from all over the world order it every year. Patel Stores in New York displays it proudly when it gets there at the start of the year, Shakti Salgaonkar Yezdani grand daughter of late Jayant Salgaonkar  and her young social media team ensure that it's not just the almanac that reaches out to their audience but even the writings of literary greats.They go through back issues and pick interesting archival reads for the new reader. It's about giving them everything the almanac offers and more.

Recently, the office of the Prime Minister called Jayraj Salgaonkar son of Jayant Salgaonkar and the current Managing Director of Kalnirnay  and asked, Does Kalnirnay have a Gujarati version?' He said, yes. 'Is it available on iPad?' He said, no. 'Do you know Mr Modi reads on the iPad? He won't be happy if he can't read it in Gujarati on his iPad'. He promptly called his contact in Silicon Valley and got the app designed in Gujarati.That’s what you call Changing with the Times . As in the famous Bob Dylan song “The Times, They Are A Changing”.

So this  New Year Ring out the Old and Ring In the New, in your life both metaphorically and in action.

Wishing all my readers a very Happy New Year 2019 and Happy Reading…..