I opened my sleepy eyes one summer morning and looked outside. My bedroom window opened straight in the garden and I could see the lavish greenery, blooming flowers and chirping birds right from my cozy bed. My eyes wandered with a tiny sparrow chirping and …
Who else remember the onset of those dreamy winter mornings, when the world seemed covered in a lazy, chilly, misty blanket. Where the soothing green grass slept lazily wearing it’s beautiful dewy diamond dress, glittering merrily in the sunbeam’s tryst. The calm mornings, where the …
Photo courtesy: Balakrishnan K | www.utopianhere.com
It was a blazing hot summer afternoon. I was fumblingly wrapping up the clothes put outside for drying in the morning while tiny sweat drops lazily rolled down my forehead. I turned my head and saw the happily dancing newly blossomed white jasmine flowers and my heart swelled up with pride and contentment. I lovingly bent over to caress and smell them for a moment when my eyes caught up seeing a young couple in the nearby shop. The nervousness of meeting in the most secured and safe hours, the excitement of seeing your love amidst the fear of getting caught. That tender love which can lift you to cloud nine in just a whiff of your lover’s perfume. The lover’s smirk, the rolling of the eyes, hastily running your fingers in your hair and then nervously whimpering for things which you don’t even know why and what you want it for? Isn’t young love so pure and cute? You know it won’t last (mostly), you know it is just a phase yet you fall for it. But, when you grow older and wiser, maybe one day, doing the most random things, you might catch up seeing a younger version of yourself which can leave you lingering with sweet maybe funny memories of your own days?
Photo courtesy: Balakrishnan K | www.utopianhere.com
When I was in my teens, there was a small grocery shop near our home. I still remember those nervous tinkling eyes and the stammering voice which always asked for 100gms of Sattu from the shopkeeper. I wasn’t sure whether he liked eating Sattu that much or blurted it each time just because his brain somehow knew it was affordable and healthy! I wonder how many kilos of Sattu he would have bought just for a glimpse of his love. My vague memory remembers his mom complaining about finding packets of Sattu in random places of her house and I guess this caused so many Sattu delicacies often trips to our home 😀
Both Bihar and Jharkhand, strive on Sattu. It is still one of the most sought out food there. Apart from being really healthy and nourishing, it is very fulfilling and easy to prepare too. I can not fathom anyone from there who would not carry a packet or two of this while travelling outside the state :). A variety of dishes are made from this humble soul. Litti, Sattu ka sharbat, Sattu ka jhor, Sattu ka paratha and Sattu ki kachori to name a few. You can even find random joints selling a combination of Sattu ka sharbat and sprouted brown or green chana (chickpeas) early in the mornings. A semi dry preparation of Sattu along with chopped onions, green chilli, finely chopped coriander and mint leaves, pinch of cumin-pepper powder and salt too is a morning breakfast favorite among the locals during the scorching summers. Winters are reserved for hot-piping Sattu parathas along with kheer, coriander-tomato chutney and some homemade pickles. Nights when the weather becomes really cold, the members of the family get together, play antakshari, lit up charcoal and bake themselves some delicious litti and chokha. Some days it could be teamed up with a spicy garlic chicken. Sattu was a saviour even during our 4:00am morning schools during summers. A quick stir of sattu ka sharbat and we were ready to go to school with a full stomach.
Photo courtesy: Balakrishnan K | www.utopianhere.com
Photo courtesy: Balakrishnan K | www.utopianhere.com
I have loved the humble Sattu in all its form. But, Sattu ki kachori has been my all time favorite. It is my childhood love. It is nostalgia. I remember going to my grandmom’s house and among lots of other delicacies she wouldn’t bat an eyelid to cook these lovelies for me in breakfast. I would wake up with a big smile on my face smelling the aroma of these kachories being deep fried in coal stove. The smoke, the atmosphere, the busy mornings, the mist, the shared laughter and the feeling of being loved, together, has created magic in my head. I can still sit and think of those times for hours. So you see, every time I go back home, I ensure, rather goad my mom to make a couple of these for me. Those perfectly round fluffy beauty can lift anyone’s mood in a jiffy. The aroma, the crunchiness and the taste can keep on lingering to your soul for years.
Photo courtesy: GulmoharDoodles
No wonder, whenever I see my daughter’s fluffy round cheeks, an instant feeling of biting those comes in my mind 😉 I have resisted from doing so by pampering myself with some kachories. Forget the calories, just gulp and enjoy 😀
I believe that this humble soul, can create that urge in your tiny heart to come visit that land from where you belong to once again. To come and get pampered, love and relate to it again and see what you have been missing this entire time. It can remind you to take a moment, relax, take a deep breath and cherish the moment. I invite you to Jharkhand, live in it, cherish its humbleness, it’s beauty and the unadulterated serenity. Don’t just believe me, come, find it and discover it yourself 😀
Photo courtesy: Balakrishnan K | www.utopianhere.com Jharkhand I never thought that one day I will be sitting and writing down my journey of nostalgic, rustic and might be forgotten food/ recipes of my state. The state which has given me a lot. It has given me …
Listening to the radio today, I got to know that the world is observing International Mother Language Day today. Till date I was unaware of any such day of celebration. Isn’t it fascinating to know that such a day exists? A day to cherish and …
Aren’t some flowers a real messenger of good times ahead? Their occurrence solely can fill the mind with numerous memories and hearts with immense joy. The robust yellowish-orange color marigold flowers are like tiny beams of the sun rays in the dark, foggy, gloomy days. Their bright colors are the symbol of happiness. As if they flash their colors in the sunshine shouting – “Helloo there! Look at me. I am so happy!”
Photo courtesy: Balakrishnan K | www.utopianhere.com
These lovelies bloom early in the morning unlike us, when most of us are hiding ourselves under those warm, cosy blankets, snoozing the alarm clocks, pulling our feet a bit more closer to our chests. They salute the rising sun with a dance of excitement, each and every day, till they live. Those magnificent golden beauties bring the message that the festivals are coming. The good times are almost here! Are you ready to welcome them?
Photo courtesy: Balakrishnan K | www.utopianhere.com
Most of the festivals which I can think of had these lovely flowers adorning our house, Puja rooms, courtyards, cattle and sometimes our neck or head too 🙂 Those times had a charm of it’s own. Or probably the times were different then. Simple lifestyles, less complicated relationships, laid back attitude and foremost the zeal to really celebrate and be the part of a festivity! The robotic lifestyle was not in fashion then. People were less tired and had the enthusiasm to do things. Resources were abundant, loving was easy, living in peace and adjustments and a simple and humble life brought joy in our homes. Food, love curiosity and excitement, what else can a kid ask for during these eccentric times?
Photo courtesy: Gulmohar Doodles
Being in a joint family, every festival was celebrated in the most traditional ways. Every action was predetermined and had to be followed how it had been done since generations. In today’s world when we think that most of the traditions which were followed were nuisance and unnecessary, I still believe that it carried an old charm of its own with it. If we think then we can realize that most of the traditional rituals have been changed/ removed/ modified according to people’s need, surrounding and the availability of the resources. My parents always tried to include us in all the chores be it cleaning, buying stuffs for the celebrations, cooking or distributing. It was always fun to be a part of the festivity. As a new mother, I try my best to give my daughter at least a glimpse of what most of the festivals really mean to me and how much I have enjoyed celebrating it. I want her to grow up understanding the value, happiness, love, sharing and care which these festivities bring around.
Photo courtesy: Gulmohar Doodles
Of course, I can’t replicate what my parents and relatives did to make every festival look so alive and memorable. The amount of work and dedication which use to go in it, I really doubt I have it in me. But the good part is, I do try and cook a certain dish related to each festival or decorate or follow the rituals of every festival. If not the original at least the modified version. This year as I always do, I cooked Mutter Ghugni for Durga Puja and Thekua for Diwali. We also made the Diwali rangoli together.
Photo courtesy: Gulmohar Doodles
Photo courtesy: Gulmohar Doodles
I try to show her and in the process let her contribute in her own ways. My daughter might or might not follow these rituals in her life. But I surely would know, that I have tried my best to show and make her understand and believe in spreading love, happiness, empathy and contentment in some way or other in whatever she choose. Don’t you in some way try the same?
Photo courtesy: Balakrishnan K | www.utopianhere.com It was a warm, cosy, golden evening. The thousand golden beams of the sun was making our dusky skin glow in its presence. In that trance, soaking myself in that magical moment, I heard a faint voice of my mom …
Photo courtesy: Gulmohar Doodles Bloom, bloom, bloom, where you’re planted, You will find your way. Bloom, bloom, bloom. You will have your day. Look at the flowers, look at them growing They never worry, they never work. Yet look at the way our Father clothes …
Photo courtesy: Gulmohar Doodles
My little sunflower has started to bloom and I fear my greatest fear has loomed
Those tiny fingers which held me tightly most of the time, has left and started to tinkle like a chime
I wonder and can not fathom still, when did you become so big?
Did the time really fly or it passed across me in just a flick?
O my dear little baby, I still remember the day I held you up in my arms for the very first time,
I promised myself to be with you always, singing, dancing, eating, playing or just mime
But everyday is a question, something to worry about, I feel lost, doubt myself and get frustrated,
then I see you looking at me giving that angelic smile, and your those tiny fluffy palms gently caressing me my love, makes me feel appreciated.
Each day in every moment, I have felt alive, moments which I have cherished knowing you are mine,
You are the burning lamp of my life, a soothing flame who keeps me high
My heart tries to hold all the love and aches from those feelings which I can no more hide in my chest,
I flutter with the thought of you my heart, growing so fast and soon leaving me wondering about the times gone by
Everyday I struggle to give you the best, to make you feel loved, cared and to be blessed,
And when the day comes to an end, the day I know which I will never have with you back again,
I take you once more in my arms, hug you tight, blow a kiss on your pretty cheek and wonder
If at all I was able to love you enough today or failed at it doing meagre complain?
Photo courtesy: Gulmohar Doodles
You my tiny firefly, you are turning now into a beautiful butterfly,
And I can’t stop thinking and want the time to just stand by
Could you please pass a bit slow and let me see my princess for a few seconds more?
That angelic face, that mischievous smile, those curly hair, the tiny fingers which I love to adore?
Oh my love, the lamp of my life, thank you for choosing me above any other,
You have made me complete and I can not ask for anything more than being your mother
As long as you are there on my side my baby, I promise you, I will try to give you my best,
Here you are my darling, clinging to me, sleeping soundly trying to hold your tiny nest,
the chaos in this very moment is so real, I wonder how did the day get over or it just passed in a haste?
It had been exhausting, but I know in the end, “How”, “Why”, “When”, these questions won’t matter,
All we will have is laughter, peace, solace, and the aroma of the first rains which will splatter.
In those happy moments, I will once again embrace you in my arms tighter, hold my breath and say,
I love you my butterfly. You did great today!
-Gulomhar Doodles
Legend says that the holy festival of Holi started with an innocent question of a curious Krishna who was teased by Radha and the other gopis for his dark skin color. Bewildered, he runs to his mother Yashoda and asks why she made him black …