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Bhatura, Jilebis, Pumpkins And Books!

Discussion in 'Snippets of Life (Non-Fiction)' started by Srama, Nov 4, 2024.

  1. Srama

    Srama Finest Post Winner

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    Dear @sln sir, thank you for your words and feedback! The joy on her face when she took the first bite of that jilebi.....so delightful! Somehow I felt a lot of gratitude!
     
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  2. Srama

    Srama Finest Post Winner

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    Dear @joylokhi,

    Thank you for your feedback and words. It was interesting to see the blend of two cultures when they fell on the same day. It is awesome that we receive Happy Diwali greetings as well from locals here :)
     
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  3. Srama

    Srama Finest Post Winner

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    Dear @Thyagarajan sir,

    I truly appreciate your appreciation. The other fun thing I did was wear a very simple saree to school on the day students were allowed to wear costumes for Halloween! Each one was talking about their costumes, and as I walked in, I heard them say to one another, "She is dressed as an Indian Princess!" I wish I could share my class picture here ...but! My DD helped me carve the pumpkin - it is the next generation I think about, and I am glad you liked it! Interacting with students, Indian or otherwise, I can tell you it is fantastic to see the openness and the lady I took out to lunch - she is another story altogether. It is fantastic to have a no-strings-attached friendship. All she wants is for me to spend some time in her garden. Who in their right mind would refuse that?
     
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  4. Srama

    Srama Finest Post Winner

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    Dear Satchi,

    Thank you my friend! You have put up with my idiosyncracies for so long now.....:)
    Thank you for your words!
     
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  5. Srama

    Srama Finest Post Winner

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    Dear @Swetha52003 ,

    Thank you for your kind words. As kids grow up, I am learning that dogs and plants are my way of meeting people! I love anyone who shows interest in a garden. You must tell me about your hydrangeas. All I have been able to do is kill them! I have never been able to grow them well!

    No need to share our "kali avatar"!
    It is reserved for special occasions only! And aren't you glad we don't have to share that on day to day basis!

    That must have been such a fun thing to do!
    Hope you had a wonderful time celebrating both the festivals!
     
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  6. Srama

    Srama Finest Post Winner

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    Dear Vani!

    First, thank you for your feedback! Hope you are better!
    I am used to chole bhature...you know the puffy puris that punjabi restaurants sell? I am glad the one I took her to were serving bhaturas as she knows them and truth be told, being a south indian, I had never paid attention! I could barely manage to eat a quarter piece :)
     
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  7. jayasala42

    jayasala42 IL Hall of Fame

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    Dear Srama,
    It was a lovely snippet that took my memories to older times.In a big joint family of twelve daughters

    i was the youngest of all.I have witnessed all the weddings with kai murukku and jangiri made at home.

    When Amma was grinding rice
    for idli,she used to give a handful of pasted rice to practise doing kaimurukku on a

    small cloth.we will be doing and redoing until amma appreciated our work.it was mixed with idli batter.Within 12 month

    we became experts in doing kaimurukku. Whenever weddings were arranged in our village,summer myself and my sister

    would make our assured presence and help in making murukkus of seven rolls with the names of bride and bride groom appearing within murukku.

    we learnt the art of jangiri making also.A thick kaada cloth was taken and a small hole was made with a compus.The

    double folded cloth was stitched well around the hole.Now training was with urad flour.We prepared jangiries and let them into a

    basin of water.Initially we were disgusted,There were lines of urat dal inside the basin and no jangiri of any

    kind..Amma taught us the technique of revolving our fist very fast so that we could do jangiri rolls within the circle.

    After having trg for a month, we were given opportuniy to do jangiris while amma was watching.

    we had 20 percent success.out of 15 jangiris 3 were very good in shape.Other 12 in bits and pieces were

    distributed among us.Amma consoled us saying"full jangiris are only for seeing.We have to eat in pieces only."When


    I was in standard X ,for a deepavali I tried Jangiri and i could make 18 full jangiris out of 20.I felt elated when

    everyone appreciatedme.After marriage I have made jangiris for nearly 45 years since it is the cheapest sweet

    and worked out to just four annas in those days for a sweet when made at home.After children have left abroad, Deepavali has lost all the sheen and your snippet has kindled my memories.

    Thank you Rama for the delightful way in which you have coined your take. All the best.

    Jayaala 42

     
  8. Viswamitra

    Viswamitra IL Hall of Fame

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  9. Viswamitra

    Viswamitra IL Hall of Fame

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    Dear Sabitha,

    It is always nice to share our culture, festivals, and even food with people from other culture! As you probably know by now, I am part of Sri Sathya Sai Baba center here in Tampa, Florida. The problem I have is the Westerners know more about our culture and tradition including food items than me personally. They ask deep questions about Advaita philosophy, asking me to explain Ilayaraja's "Thiruvasakam", and sometimes inquire about Bollywood movies. They all visit India regularly and spend 2-3 months in Sai Baba's Ashram in Puttaparthi and come back. They are pleasantly surprised how a hospital is run in the Ashram totally free of charge. They ask always how people in India are so friendly and hospitable despite so many challenges. I remember a Polish guy fluently reciting "Adhitya Hrudhayam", a British citizen reciting "Rudram & Chamakkam". When we have a celebration in the Center, they come early and participate in flower arrangement, tying mango leaves in the enternace and watch the Rangoli made in front of the building. They even ask when we are ready to serve breakfast whether we have any Pongal (pronounced Puangale) or Upma (pronounced Youpma). They enter into vigorous debate about the teachings of Sai Baba. They take over completely when we celebrate Christmas including Christmas carol singing. Them singing Sanskrit Bhajans is spectacular to watch and they sing them with deep devotion.

    As far as your garden is concerned, even at such a distance, we enjoy just listening to your narration and no wonder she was enjoying your garden so much. I always struggle to explain the difference between Jangri and Jelabi. The rate at which Indian restaurants are opened here in Tampa is delightful to watch and 90% of the customers are westerners. They are very fond of Nans and curry.
     
    Last edited: Nov 5, 2024
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  10. Srama

    Srama Finest Post Winner

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    Dear JS Ma'm,

    I am so happy to hear that my snippet rekindled your Deepavali memories. You are a treasure trove of experiences and stories and I so loved reading your experience. I cannot believe you have been making jilebis so long - I have never ever tried it ever! It is amazing how many locals like jilebis the best and bring it as a gift often! My mom, in a way, was a perfectionist, but with vegetable cutting - she made sure particularly cabbage and chayote squash looked like small pieces of flowers in the curry!

    It is with fascination I read about the making of jangri! What patience - both your mom teaching and you girls learning. This is something I cannot even imagine!

    Thank you, aunty for sharing this wonderful narration. Loved every bit of it!
     

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