Khasi in Dashai

Dashai came and dad is searching Khasee around.Dashai without khasee has no value and the guests will be welcomed with its variety and dad brought a khasee paying twelve thousand today itself.The preparation of various items of mutton takes lots of time and lots of ingredients .literary meaning of Goat is Khasi, which is also termed as khasi, khashi, khasee, khashee, boka, voka, etc and meaning of fried is bhutan, bhuteko, tareko, vuteko, taareko etc. So, Khasi Ko Bhutan Masu simply means “Fried Goat Meat Recipes”. Khasi Ko Bhutan Masu is a one of the favourite dish in non-vegetarian Nepali population.

ingredients for How to Cook Nepali Khasi Ko Bhutan Masu

• 1 Ib goat meat
• 1 inch piece fresh ginger
• 6 cloves garlic
• 1/4 cup vinegar or lemon juice
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp chilli powder
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 cup water
• 1/4 cup oil
• I tsp turmeric
• 1 tsp cumin powder

Process for how to cook Fried Goat Meat Recipes

• Cut meat in one inch cubes.
• Grind ginger and garlic.
• Mix with vinegar and salt.
• Rub meat with mixture and let it stand for about 15 minutes, drain oil liquid.
• Heat oil in flying pan, stir in turmeric, add meat and stir well.
• Cook over slow fire till it is brown,
• add remaining spices and the drained liquid.
• Cook till liquid is evaporated.
• Roasted Mutton
•  

Ingredients :

• 150 gms mutton – boneless
• 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
• 1/2 tsp red chili powder
• asofoetida – a pinch
• 1/2 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
• salt to taste
• 1 tsp mustard seeds 
• Method :
  
• Heat oil in a wok or kadhai. Tamper mustard seeds and add washed mutton pieces. Add turmeric powder, asofoetida and 1 cup water. Cook it covered till mutton is 3/4 cooked.
• Stir it frequently. It may take around 20-25 mins to get cooked.
• Add ginger-garlic paste, red chili powder and salt to taste. Mix well with the mutton. Add little water and cook till the mutton becomes dark red and crispy. Make sure it is dry now and remove from the heat. Serve hot.

• Mutton Curry Home Style

   
• Ingredients :
  
• 250 gms Mutton – cleaned and washed
• 2 onions
• 1 tomato
• 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
• 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
• 1/2 tsp red chili powder
• 1/4 tsp fennel seeds
• 1/2 tsp pepper powder
• 1 tsp coriander powder
• 1 tsp maida (all purpose flour)
• 1/2 cup coconut milk
• asofoetida – a pinch
• salt to taste
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• 4 cloves
• 1/2 cinnamon stick
• 20 curry leaves
• 1 tbsp chopped coriander

Method :

• Pressure cook mutton with turmeric powder and 1 cup water for 5-6 whistles. If mutton is too tender, then pressure cook for 8-10 whistles. Remove from the heat and allow to cool. Keep it aside.
• Heat oil in a kadhai. Tamper mustard seeds, fennel seeds, cloves, cinnamon and curry leaves. Add chopped onions and fry for 2 mins.
• Add ginger-garlic paste and chopped tomato. Stir a while. Add cooked mutton and mutton stock.
• Add red chili powder, coriander powder, pepper powder and asofoetida. Cook for 5 mins. Add coconut milk and salt to taste. Cook it closed for 10-15 mins till the oil separates. 
• Mix maida with little water and add to the curry. Cook for 2 mins and garnish with chopped coriander. Serve hot with rice or roti.

Jamara in Dashai

Plant Jamara Dashain are Jamara which are planted in Dashian, first day of Dashain festival. Plant Jamara in first day of Dashain, called Ghatasthapana.This is known as Ghatasthapana. On this day, a Dashain Ghar or a prayer room, where a jar filled with holy water and other items of puja are placed for worshipping throughout Dashain, is established. It marks the beginning of Dashain. The sacred jar symbolizes Goddess Durga, who is worshipped for nine days. Some seeds of barley or rice or corn are also sown in a dark room asjamara in a container like an earthen pot or a  tapara.  Jamara, which is yellow in colour as it is grown in dark, and considered sacred, is worn on head as Durga Mata’s prasad on the tenth day, Vijaya Dashami.

Without the tika or the jamara, Dashain does not feel like Dashain at all. These red (tika) and yellow-green (jamara) splashes of color are an integral part of the festivalBesides adding color to Dashain, the tika and jamara are of great significance. In addition to their wearers feeling loved and protected by their families and relatives, it is believed that Goddess Durga bestows shakti (power) on them.

The method 

1. Soak barley seeds over night. I used a Jamara mix (barley, corn, wheat) from Nepali grocery shop. 
2. Get a deep bowl or container with a flat bottom. Fill it with a layer of sand about one or two inches thick.
3. Sprinkle a layer of soaked Jamara mix into the container. Make sure it is only one layer of the seeds so they have enough room to sprout.
4. Cover the seeds with thin layer of sand. 
5.  Sprinkle some water in the container. The sand should be moist , not be soggy. 
6. Cover the container and put it in a dark place away from sun.
7. Check the container daily to make sure that the sand is moist.  
8. Hurray, Jamara is ready for Tika.

Dashai ,Kite and Ping

Dashai came and Kites in Sky represent Dashai fully.Whole day I watched my neighbors playing with kites and I enjoyed the competion among them.The skies are filled with kites being flown from fields and rooftops before and during this festival. Kite flying is believed to send a reminder to god not to send any more rain. Youngsters make kites from lokta paper and are excited not only flying the kites but also trying to cut each others' kite strings.

In most towns and villages swings, commonly known as ping, are set up especially for Dashain on the tallest bamboo poles possible. Young people, especially girls and women, gather to watch and take turns flying into the sky.Even my uncles have prepared ping and whole day we enjoy on the day of Dashai.

One of the most important aspects of Dashain is the huge business that comes along with the festival. There is a massive flow of sales and purchases of animals, grains and vegetables, alcohol, fruits and mithai (sweets) around this time of the year. New clothes are bought and old ones discarded. Old houses are cleaned, renovated and painted, whereas the new ones are decorated and beautified. Every sector of the economy experiences a boost. 

A lot of people travel within the country, returning to their homes. This is the only time in a year when people like to and can afford to be extravagant and live a more lavish life. It is the time when the entire country looks more beautiful and lively also because of the weather conditions- it stops pouring, the temperature remains relatively lower than the preceding months, but it is still not too cold. The sun shines, trees look greener and beautiful flowers are in full bloom. We can feel the freshness and the festive ambience of Dashain ubiquitously.   

The broadcasting channels from Gujarat and Rasjasthan have been live about the Goddess and significant of Navaratree in our daily lives.I can see my mother and granny busy with the big TV box which has been telecasting the live pray to Maata Durga Bhawani.Both are busy in decorating homes and cooking delecious prasad everyday as mentioned by Gurudev on TV channels and the religious interest in festival has made me curious about those aspect.My granny narrates value of Kul puja during days by male members of our family and as they offer goat in the temple and cook food items and enjoy as feast.

Of course day after tomorrow is Vijayadashami.It is Saturday and all the relatives are busy in communication of the ritual and how they plan for this dasai with muhurta and other essential preparations for festival.IMO,FACEBOOK and VIBER are busy with free wifi at home,bus and office including malls and restaurant as the cyberspace has interlinked all in worldwideweb and the communication has caused the unity ,comprehension and a sense of belongingness,homeness and similar identification to all at the same time and has been increasing visual and audio scenerio during festivals.The talk about jamara and tika has increased a lot with superb snaps in facebook ,videos in youtube and uploading and suscribing them has been regular duty to all.So,this dashai has been more inclusive of Kite,Ping and other lovely things we demand on daily life and the overall linkage has made this Dashai more interesting.

My Bordubi Journey Last Year

Durga Puja in Bordubi is the most memorable moment ,it is one of beautiful town of Tinsukia district in Assam.The near by town to Duliyajan Oil India has a charm in itself as it has beautiful locations like gulf field,tea gardens around and the famous Tilanga Temple with bells on the tree has created lots of sensations among tourists there.The railway facility and road vehicle make your journey easier to travel in those areas but on foot you can reach to Duliyajan town for shopping .

Last year I got the golden opportunity to reach Bordubi to celebrate Durga Puja there,in the early morning I took a bus to Sunauli Border from Kathmandu and reached there at evening and I crossed Station and from Guwahati I took a local train to Tinsukiya Railway Station via which I reach to Bordubi  Railway Station in another local train.

It was really enjoyable to walk the street on the foot ,nothing had changed except the malls had taken place of the old shops  ,the local street market was alike before and I tried to reach at home on time.The family gathering during Durga Puja has another charm and Dashai tika also add a flavor with blessing from elders and the group photograph session help a lot to lock the memories in pages.

I met my mama and maiju there,he was the elder brother of my mom and his wife ,my maiju was wearing spectacle and was unable to recognize me.Both were very old in age and it was urgency to meet them .Being nostalgic maiju,my aunt started different conversation ,she wanted to share with me and prepared the meal for me.It was steam rice,lentil,mutton fry,tomato pickle with timmur and Pui Saag.I love this saag and she knew it and started to prepare a tasty item of it.

Pui Shaak isBasella alba belonging to spinach family, is also known as climbing spinach . It is also known as Malabar,East Indian ,Chinese and Vietnamese spinach ,broad bologi etc.In English it is known as Malabar climbing spinach or nightshade.Bengali it is known as Pui Shaak,In KonKani it’s Valchi Bhaji,Kannada name is basale soppu ,in telegu it’s bachhali.In Vietnam it is made into soup with crab meat and is avery popular dish in north-Vietnam.In fact climbing spinach is an integral part of Chinese cuisine also and is stir/fried as well.

She cut and cleaned the shak first, cut the leaves and then chopped them , also cut the danta ( tender stalk ) approx 1 inch long pieces and slit them in between .Throughly cleaning them in running water  .Now heating up a kadai , adding mustard oil, tempering it with Panch phoron ,add potato, frying them at med , adding all the masala powders ,salt,sugar ,frying them at low for 5mints.Now adding chopped puin shaak or green leaves and fried a little ,adding water( just a little bit is sufficient) ,covering and cooking for 10 minutes.

I loved the way she prepared the meal and the saag had the best flavor in my taste buds.It had royal taste in itself due to my aunts effort in cooking.I took a short rest and in evening I started visiting my other relatives.All were busy for Durga Puja .So,we planned to visit different functions organized by local youth clubs in Bordubi,the boys organized a play in school area which had the similar story of Ramayana .After that we reach to another stall of Durga Puja where local girls with local teams were dancing with dhuni ,the firedhuni in mouth ,hands and  in different parts of body and the speed dance made me shocked.They were  very skilled dancers.There was the prize distribution program too.Anyway we moved to another street or pandal of Durga Mata near to Tilanga Temple or Bijlibari area.

Somebody told the best pandal would be Tinsukiya organized by Culcutta committee where lightening with dance of the different statues were arranged.We reached to area ,the main town of Tinsukiya by bus and enjoyed whole day walking around street to observe the pandals and programs there.Most of pandals had fooding systems for every visitor and Bengali Society of Tinsukiya including businessmen had been working volunteerly .We had khichuree there and other snacks at mealtime.

We decided to enjoy some programs in fair market,where wheels,circus,fun parks were settled for one month.We took a ticket of circus room and entered the hall,the dance of girl on rope ,the bear jumping around,the little girl walking on rope and use of knives to hit the exact point were the most interesting parts of this fair-mela.I enjoyed the panipoori or fulki there ,biharee people were serving paan suparee too and I really like the taste of mitha pan as they provided.

Anyway the same schedule for many days happened and we reached different Durga Pandals to Duliyajan Town area,Namrup areas,Naharkatiya area and local areas of Makum.We enjoyed a lot and prepared for Dashai and my aunt-maiju with sisters prepared selrotee,masu,lapsee achar , papaya curry with grams,radish pickle,some coconut laddos and we all relatives started having tika from Mama.He gave clothes ,money and fruits with sweet to all.Later , my aunt served us the meal which we really enjoyed and paan supari with chuna was given at last.I loved the way we celebrated Dashai there.Anyway ,this year, during Dashai I have been remembering the moments and wish to be there once again.

My Journey Last Week

The places of Syangja district that keeps their name in history are Sataoun chandi,Manakamana,  Bhirkot durbar, Alamdevi, Nuwakot durbar, Chhangchhangdi, Ridi, Godhagodhi taal, Mirmi etc. Chhangchhangdi (Chaya-kshetra) is mentioned in Swasthani as the place where the last organ of dead Satyawati fell when she was carried by Lord Shiva. Kali-Gandaki A hydro electricity in Mirmi is the largest hydro electricity project in Nepal producing 144 MW of electricity.  Putalibazaar municipality is in eastern and central Syangja. Waling is a municipality in western Syangja. It is a longitudinal valley along the beautiful Adhikhola river(it is claimed to be tears of Shrawan Kumar). Biggest valley in Syangja is Bayarghari. 

As a resident of  Syangja District last week I got the chance to travel the local areas nearby and I decided to have a look about the scenerio with the friends,we walked beside the Adhikholo and reached Tikaja ,nearby village to the temple where we spent night at our relatives home.We reached around noon and they prepared the meal,it was steamed rice,lentil  and pharsee ko munta.Pumpkin Shoots are the young, uppermost tender shoots, tendrils, leaves, and delicate stems from pumpkin plants. They are considered a delicacy in Nepal. The shoots are harvested from the growing end of the vine (the top 3 to 4 inches) by pinching off the tender ends. The plants will put out a new shoot or growth after the vine has been harvested. Pumpkin shoots have a distinct light flavor that can be described as a cross between squash and spinach. They should be cooked within a day of picking or they will lose their freshness and flavor. Like any leafy green, the volume of this vegetable reduces by half after cooking.Removing fuzzy outer covering and fibers from all sides.Washed and drained,Frying the whole spices until fully fragrant before adding pumpkin shoots using spices used - dried red chili, fenugreek seeds, ground turmeric, minced fresh ginger and garlic, cumin, and salt. They are so delicious sauteed in fenugreek scented oil with fresh ginger paste and smashed garlic pod and other spices.I just love the way aunt cooked it and served to us .

Evening time we spent around other relatives home too,they have planted various green vegetables around home and shed were full of buffaloes and goats .Some had invested in chicken poultry farm and the environment was really wonderful,the rural life is base to our lifestyle and these homes and scenerio are part our happiness too.They are very close-knit communities. Everybody knows everybody else, their family, and their ancestors. Often the communities are interlinked by marriage too.Houses in the village are usually constructed from local materials according to the weather; in the south where it is hotter houses are made from mud and straw to cool the inhabitants, and in the colder north houses are constructed with stone and tiled roofs.Grown up in village area I was familiar to the lifestyle from the early age and love the surrounding.We  returned  to home .

The dinner was ready .Aunt had made rice,lentil and beans sbji,when the seeds splutter, adding the ginger and sauté till slightly brown,adding the tomatoes and stir-fry till the fat separates,adding the coriander powder, salt, turmeric, chilli powder and garam masala ,adding the beans and potatoes and saute over high heat till they look glossy.I noticed her interest in cooking and taste was owesome.

Next day we began our journey to Sataumn on foot ,we reached to temple and worship the goddess and clicked the pictures .After which we had a meal there and came back to home in local bus to Syangja bajar via Tikaja area.It was really wonderful journey in the area. I was narrated by my friend about local attractions of Syangja speically Gahate Manakamna. Every year Manakamana Mela is being observed on the Purnima (15th day of Shukla Paksha) of Chaite Dashain and Thulo Dashain at Gahate Manakamana. This particular 'Manakamana Temple' is situated at Ward number one of the Manakamana VDC, Syangja. It is around 14 Km north-east from Waling and 20 Km south from Syangja.Other tourists areas were also our interest but we planned for next trip.

Dahare Deurali Visit

As a resident of Dhakalthok Panchamul,I just travel from Syangja to various places of Nepal and I also love group adventure around our mountain area and the family gathering during Dashai and other festivals also help me to visit nearby temples like Kul Mandir of Dhakal and Dahare Deurali Temple.Sometimes to visit  areas of Parbat District like Kusma Market ,Karki Neta ,Ghante Deurali and Baglung Maula Kalika of Baglung District, I began my journey with friends.Dahare Deurali is one of my favorite destinations during festivals.

Dahare Deurali ,which is visited by thousands of pilgrims during Balachaturdanshai. This hill rock is the highest mountain in the entire Syangja district. Trekking route was well built but still it was going straightly upward, it was not a comfortable journey. We were hiking on the side of the community forest. The forest was preserved because it was believed that the deity of the people stayed on the forest. Any kind of activities that harm the forest is not allowed.

I observed that forest seems quite old and well preserved. As we reached the up but below the Dahare Deurali,there was  plane area with small ponds where buffaloes were swimming. It was amazing for me to see at that altitude. As we walked further ahead, we reached the premise of the temple. The main temple seemed old but house was newly constructed.It was on the base of the main peak on the mountain.

The peak was so straight and  adventurous that some frineds were not willing to go more ahead. That peak was full of stones with small vegetation and some places were so humid that sometimes caused the problem of slippery. It was of utmost important to be careful while walking. After walking little less than half an hour,we reached on the peak. From which we can see the panoramic view of one of the famous Himalaya called Annapurna.It was nice experience to watch down from the top.  In the  Baiskash Purnima(The day when Buddha was born, got enlightenment and died) village hangs thread with different colors of flags to mark this day.

It was nearly evening so we decided to return home on time and return to home was easy via Bhakumle Dada to Dhakalthok via our kharbaree.We arrived at home with friends ,cooked delicious food items like Jimbu fried Dal ,Bhat , local lamb mutton,Rayo Sag,Pumpkin Curry and Golbheda Chutney with timmur ,salad and mohi.We enjoyed dinner and started  our night chat there.Anyway ,it was really wonderful day for us.

Temples in Delhi And My Plan for Darshan of Those Temples

The festival of Navaratree has welcomed us from this week and this is the right time to have blessing from temples around Delhi,the temples are in my mind as I have a lot planning to have blessings from these temples.The festive mood and aarti programs in those temple attract me lot.

Bhairon Temple

Sri Kilkari Bhairav Temple or Bhairo Temple is situated in the backyard of the Purana Qila (Old Fort) in Pragati Maidan. It is believed that this shrine was built by the Pandavas. Bhairo Temple is one of its kinds as the temple allows devotees to offer alcohol to the deity. There are two wings of the temple – the Doodhiya Bhairav Temple, where milk is offered to the idol, and the Kilkari Bhairav Temple, where the devotees offer alcohol to the presiding deity. It is also believed that Bheem (One of the Pandavas), worshipped in this temple and attained Siddhis as well.

Akshardham Temple

This temple is more than just a place of worship! Reflecting the eir good taste in architecture, Akshardham is a must visit temple in Delhi. This massive shrine is situated near the Common Wealth Games Village on NH 24. The temple is dedicated to Swaminarayan Akshardham. A large complex situated amidst gardens; it is one of the well-maintained temples in Delhi. Along with paying homage to Swaminarayan, one can look at the rich collection of Indian culture here; the light and sound show in the evening is worth seeing.

Hanuman Mandir, Connaught Place

This ancient temple is reckoned to be one of the five temples that were built during the time of the Mahabharata. However, the current structure had been reconstructed by Maharaja Jai Singh in 1724. It is situated on the Baba Kharak Singh Marg in Connaught Palace and is evidently one of the most popular places of worship in Delhi. The main deity in the temple is that of Lord Hanuman. The ceiling of the shrine is worth appreciating where the images of Lord Rama are embossed. Although the temple remains open on all days, a large number of devotees throng on Tuesdays and Saturdays here.

Gauri Shankar Temple

It is an ancient temple that is located near the Digambar Jain Temple on the main Chandani Chowk Road. According to legends this temple was built by a war soldier who had vowed to construct the temple if he managed to come through the injury he suffered in the battle. It is reckoned that the Shiva Linga or the Phallus presiding in the shrine is 800 years old. Other than the idols of Shiva, his consort Parvati and their two sons Ganesha and Kartik, the silver paintings hanging on the walls and depicting scenes from the life of Lord Shiva are the major attractions. On Mondays the temple is thronged by devotees.

Hanuman Mandir, Jhandewalan

It is one of the most popular Hindu temples in Delhi. The shrine is marked by the colossal 108ft statue of Lord Hanuman and can be seen from the both Jhandewalan and Karol Bagh metro station. Tuesdays are quite crowded here, despite the fact that the temple stays open every day. Other than the massive effigy of Lord Hanuman, which fairly does its job of attracting devotees and tourists, the entrance of the temple is also an attraction. The entrance door has been carved in a shape of the mouth of the deity and one can reach the main hall of the shrine through a passageway.

Jhandewalan Mandir

Dedicated to Goddess Durga, this temple is built after Badri Bhagat (one of the great devotees of Mother Goddess) who saw an idol hidden underneath the ground at the place where the temple stands in one of his dreams. Today, the exact location of the temple is the Jhandewalan Road on the way to Karol Bagh. The temple got its name from the act of people offering flags in the temple in order to get their wishes fulfilled. It is believed that the original idol of the Goddess is established safely on the ground level of the temple. On the occasion of Durga Puja and Navratra a large number of Hindu devotees throng this temple.

Sai Baba Temple

Located on Lodhi Road, it is one of the oldest Sai Baba temples in Delhi. The temple is simple yet majestic and if people are to be believed then many testimonies regarding feeling the divine presence of Baba have been recorded since the time the temple was built. The temple has a big idol of Sai Baba that sits in the main hall, where devotees offer chadar and flowers. A sizable population throngs the shrine on Thursdays each week here.

Uttara Swami Malai Mandir

Known as a South Indian Temple, the Uttara Swami Malai Mandir is situated in R.K.Puram Sector-7. Dedicated to Lord Murugan, this temple boasts of a unique architecture, where no cement and mortar have been used to construct the shrine. It is also one of those few places where Hindus from the Tamil, Telegu, Kannada & Malayali communities worship together. The main deity in the shrine is that of Lord Murugan; however other deities presiding here are of the Lord’s mother, father and brother. The complex also has a number of peacocks sanctifying the ambiance. According to legends, the peacock is the Vahana of Lord Murugan and therefore the temple authority decided to have a few peacocks as pets. On Saturday, the temple is swarmed by a large number of devotees.

Shri Jagannath Mandir

A replica of the Old Jagannath Temple in Puri, Shri Jagannath Mandir is situated in Hauz Khas. Highly revered by the Oriya community, this temple has a lot of cultural significance as well. The main deity here is that of Lord Jagannath; other than this the temple has established idols of Lord Balabhadra (brother of lord Jagannath), Maa Subhadra (sister of lord Jagannath) & Sudarshan Chakra. The period when Rath Yatra festival is held is the best time to visit this holy shrine as one can witness the festival being celebrated with great pomp and show.

Shri Sheetla Mata Mandir

Situated on Sheetla Mata Road near Gurgaon Railway station, this temple is one of the most famous temples in Delhi area. Dedicated to Sheetla Mata, who is believed to be the wife of Guru Dronacharya from the famous epic of Mahabharata, this temple is situated in one of the most congested areas in the city. However, a large structure like this can be spotted easily; the temple has a large hallway and within the secure railing is the seating of the idol of Sheetla Mata. Devotees are not allowed to touch the idol but can offer the flowers and prayer from the window like structure built at a safe distance.

ISKCON Temple

ISKCON is a highly renowned name in Delhi if we speak about the places of worship. A massive structure built for the praise and worship of Lord Krishna, ISKCON is situated on Hare Krishna Hill in East of Kailash. The holy shrine has incredible architecture, which has been designed by famous architect Achyut Kanvinde. There is a massive hall that has been embossed with scenes depicted from the Mahabharata. The angelic chant of the Hare Rama, Hare Krishna and the melodious beating of the Mridangam makes the ambiance of the temple extremely pious. ISKCON also has a museum, where one can find copies of the Bhagvad Gita in any language.

Shri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir

This 17^th century temple is probably the one thing other than the Red Fort that you cannot ignore in Old Delhi. A red-stone structure, it is situated opposite the Lal Qila (if you are on Netaji Subhash Marg, going to Kashmiri Gate from Daryaganj) and is amongst the biggest Jain temples in the city. It is a two-storied building with an inquiry office and a shoe house located in the lower floor and the main deity presides on the floor above it. The second floor opens to a balcony that overlooks Chandani Chowk. There are three main chambers inside where statues of various Tirthankars are placed. The most famous ones are that of Lord Mahavira & Lord Adinath.

Chhatarpur Mandir

This colossal complex in Chhatarpur is worth seeing in Delhi. Dedicated to Goddess Katyayani, this temple is one of the most popular places in Delhi to see. Sprawling across 70 acres of area, the temple has a blend of both South and North Indian architectural styles and thus offers a unique picture to the visitors. There are about 20 major and minor temples in the complex and it houses different statue of Hindu Gods like Rama Darbar, Lord Shiva, Laxmi and Radha Krishna. The100ft tall Hanuman statue is one of the major attractions here. During Navratra, around 1 lakh devotees visit this temple.

Lakshmi Narayan Temple

Also known as Birla Mandir, Lakshmi Narayan Temple is situated on the west of Connaught Place on the Mandir Marg. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi and had been constructed in 1930s by the famed industrialist B.D.Birla. The shrine is a multi-storied building with most of the structure built with red sandstone and has intricate designing on its walls and pillars. There is also a big garden in the premises with artificial caves, stone animals, cascading waterfalls and fountains. A life size horse-drawn chariot in white marble is one of the major attractions here.

Kalkaji Temple

Dedicated to Goddess Kali/Shakti, Kalkaji Temple was built around1764AD. The temple is reckoned to be the replica of Vaishno Devi and is often thronged by a sizable population of devotees all through the year. It is believed that people who believe in the Goddess attain everything they want in life and then they come here to pay their gratitude. Kalkaji is amongst the most popular Hindu temples in Delhi and is often crowded during the weekends and during Navratri.

Arya Samaj Mandir, Janakpuri

Founded and established by Swami Dayanand, Arya Samaj Mandir in Delhi is situated on Hanuman Road in Janakpuri. Unlike other Hindu temples, this shrine is a simple structure with plain walls with few posters of Swamiji pasted here and there. The temple was established only to provide a common roof to those who want to learn about the Vedas. There are no idols in the shrine and all one can hear is the melodious chanting of the mantras. The immense peace and the opportunity to learn about the ancient text make this place ever so special.

Mangal Mahadeva Birla Kanan

The tall Shiva statue is the identifier of this one of its kind temple in Rangpuri. The shrine is amongst the well-maintained ones in Delhi; neat and clean premises and only one single stall to buy incense and other offerings. The garden on the left of the temple has tall statues of Ram and Sita, in silver and bronze, respectively; while opposite them are statues of Radha and Krishna. The temple has a Shiva Linga that is usually seen encircled by bees and there are idols of Lord Shiva, his consort Parvati and their sons Lord Ganesha and Kartikeya. The temple even has the effigy of a mouse, which is reckoned as the Vahana of Lord Ganesha.

Lotus Temple

The temple of the newest religion in the world called Bahai, the Lotus Temple in Kalkaji is the reminder of freedom from the bondage of chains. The lotus-shape of the temple is what attracts the visitors and no doubt that this has made it one of the major tourist attractions in Delhi. The shrine is maintained pretty well and has high security as well. There are many entrances to the main building, which opens to a large prayer hall. People are often seen here offering prayers in total silence; there is nothing inside…noaltar or idol, symbols or any religious artifacts to indicate that it is a house of worship. The peace here is impeccable, and a person can spend hours here meditating and contemplating this unique place.

Svetambara Jain Temple

Reckoned to be the oldest Jain temple in Delhi, Svetambara Jain Temple is situated near the Kinari Bazaar in Chandani Chowk. It is a two-story marble stone structure with the main deity carved in black stone (called Kasauti stone), which is a sculpture of Lord Parshavnath, the 23rd Tirthankara of Jainism. The temple also has sculptures of other prominent Jain Tirthankaras such as Lord Sumatinath (the 5th Tirthankara), Lord Adinath and Lord Ajinath. Since it is the oldest Jain temple in the city, a large number of devotees and tourists visit here.

Pracheen Shani Mandir

Situated in Gurgaoun Sector 45, Pracheen Shani Mandir is a popular place of worship for those who have faith in the power of Shanidev. The temple consists of deities of Lord Ram, Lord Lakshman and Mother Sita, Goddess Kali, Lord Shiva(Shiva Linga), Lord Ganesh, Lord Hanuman, Sai Baba and Goddess Durga. It also houses an ancient peepal tree that is believed to hold significance in Hindu mythology. Next to the Shani Mandir is the temple of Dakshinmukhi Kali, whose main peeth is in Kathmandu; devotees who come to Pracheen Shani Mandir also offer prayer at the Dakshinmukhi as well.

Ladakh Buddhist Vihara

The Ladakh Buddhist Vihara is situated in Civil Lines, Delhi. This Tibetan Buddhist place of worship is a little difficult to find as the entrance to the place is through a market that is always crowded. A left turn from tmarket end takes one to Buddha Vihara, where the monastery is situated. The entrance of the shrine is marked by fluttering colourful Tibetan prayer flags, a statue of Jawaharlal Nehru and Kushok Gyalsras Bakula, who is an important religious as well as political figure for the community. The interior of the monastery reflects the artistic skills of the Tibetans. A large statue of Lord Buddha at the centre is kept and the walls are adorned with large paintings that depict various stories and myths related to the life and times of Lord Buddha.

Yogmaya Temple

This is the only temple of Yogmaya in Delhi and it is situated in Mehrauli. It is believed that Yogmaya was the incarnation of Lord Vishnu and she is worshipped as the Mother of all beings. It is also believed that this temple has been standing in Mehrauli for over 5000 years despite many attempts of sabotage it. During the month of October, when the famous Phoolon ki Sair festival takes place in Delhi, this temple comes to life. Many devotees and visitors walk from the dargah of Qutbuddin Bhaktiar Khaki in Mehrauli till the Yogmaya mandir where the floral fans and canopies are offered to the goddess Yogmaya.

Shri Shiv Mandir

A simple yet majestic Shiv Temple near Dilli Gate, Shri Shiv Mandir is a popular place for the Shiva devotees to offer prayers. Despite the congested location of the temple, it receives a large number of believers, who come here to pray for their wishes to get fulfilled. The identifier of the temple is the huge blue coloured statue of Shiva on the roof of the shrine. The temple covers a small stretch, with sacred trees (Peepal and Neem) covering its periphery. The idol of Kalka Mata marks the entrance of the temple. Inside the temple is the deity of Bhairav who is often offered Madera (rum/whisky) as part of the Hindu rituals.

Kali Mandir, Chittaranjan Park

This Hindu shrine called Chittaranjan Park Kali Mandir is an earthly abode of Devi Kali who is worshipped with profound intensity by the Bengali community. The temple complex has “Kali Maa” temple and a Shiv temple and a Radha Govinda temple is located on either side of the main shrine. It is just not only a religious place but is also reckoned to be a centre for social and cultural activities for Bengalis all over Delhi. During the Durga Puja this place comes to live and lakhs of devotees visit here to offer their prayers and gratitude to their beloved Kali Mata.

Timmur and Jimbu

Use of Timmur in Tomato Pickle

 

Golbheda ko achaar (tomato pickle) has been one of the most popular and well loved pickles in Nepal. Achaars are an important and almost necessary accompaniment to most dishes in the Nepali kitchen.Heat a small skillet over medium heat and toast the sesame seeds, chilies, timmur, cumin, and mustard, stirring constantly to prevent the seeds from flying all over, until they give off a pleasant aroma and darken. Remove the spices from the skillet, pour them into dry container to halt the toasting, and let them cool. Transfer the cooled spices to a spice grinder, grind to a fine powder, and set aside

 Jimbu

Jimbu is a dried aromatic herb that is virtually unknown outside the Himalayan region.  The herb looks like dry brownish-green grass and has a distinct flavor somewhat similar to garlic and shallots.  It is found wild throughout many regions of Nepal.  The leaves and tender stems are carefully picked and dried, which weakens the flavor, but this is reversed by browning in hot oil until fully fragrant. 

Pressure cook red lentils until cooked through and mushy. Alternately red lentils can be cooked on the stove top until tender. While the lentils are cooking, make the masala. Grind all the ingredients listed under masala powder into a smooth powder. Heat 2tsp oil in a saucepan, add the chopped onions and cook until they are golden brown. Add the masala powder,  AND JIMMUmix well and cook for 1~2 minutes.Stir in the cooked dal, turmeric and salt. Add water if the dal looks too thick. Simmer on medium flame for 6~8 minutes Sprinkle chopped cilantro and serve.

 

Street food at Govindpuri Metro Station and my love of these Indian Spicy food

Govind Puri is a Delhi Metro station in Delhi. It is located between Kalkaji Mandir and Okhla stations on the Violet Line. This is the lovely place during rainy seasons when I love to travel in metro around and the taste of street food is wonderful.The most popular snack and street food of Delhiis samosa. The origin of the samosa can be traced back to the Middle East, where it was known as samosa. 

The vegetarian version consists of a plain flour covering stuffed with potatoes, lentils, green peas or cauliflower. Some even make it sweet by filling it with khoya (thickened whole milk heated in open iron pans) or chhena (fresh curd cheese made from water buffalo milk). The non-vegetarian version of the samosa comes with minced lamb or chicken fillings. The good ol’ champion among Delhi samosas is the aloo samosa, filled with potato (aloo) and served with mint chutney and saunth (a mix of dry ginger powder and tamarind sauce). 

Momos are dumplings stuffed with a mix of vegetables, chicken or lamb. They are steamed and served with hot and spicy red chili sauce and mayonnaise,the most common food of Tibet and Nepal would become one of the most popular foods in Delhi.

Aloo tikkis are fried potato patties stuffed with either just potatoes or lentils and green peas, served with coriander mint sauce and tamarind sauce. They have a crisp outside and a soft inside.

The most common kebabs are Seekh Kebab — minced mutton grilled on a skewer; Shami Kebabs — minced mutton or chicken with a paste of lentils are mixed with chopped onions, garlic, green chilies and fried in some butter; Galauti Kebabs — galauti literally means ‘to melt in the mouth,’ they are prepared by marinating the finely ground meat with unripe papaya and exotic spices and are later fried in butter.

Golgappas are deep-fried delicacies made of whole wheat or semolina flour. The street vendors pinch a hole into the golgappa and add chopped cubes of boiled potato and mashed chickpeas with saunth chutney. They are then dipped into a bowl filled with spicy tangy tamarind or mint water. There are regional variations of golgappas within Delhi.

Chole are boiled chickpeas and kulche is a white flour bread. This dish usually tastes different depending of the street vendor you choose, since everyone seems to have their own recipe. At some places, boiled chickpeas are garnished with onion, tomatoes, spices and lemon; some others add tamarind or dry mango powder chutney to the chickpeas.

The essential ingredients of chaat are yoghurt, onion, saunth (tamarind and dry ginger sauce or dry mango powder sauce) and a mix of spices. There are a lot of variants of chaat: Dahi Bhalla chaat are made of fried lentil balls soaked in yoghurt and topped with saunth, spices, pomegranate seeds and sev (small dried salty noodles). Papdi Chaat consists of little fried and crispy, flat-shaped wheat flour crackers with the same toppings as in Dahi bhalla. The other two common chaats are aloo tikki chaat and samosa chaat.

A typical Punjabi home-cooked dish, is also readily available in food carts across Delhi (mainly outside offices). Rajma is the curry made of red beans cooked in aromatic spices and served hot with steamed rice.

Kachoris are made of white flour dough stuffed with a mixture of lentil paste and spices. This mix is fried and served with hot and spicy potato curry. Kachoris are usually served with tamarind sauce or coriander mint sauce, but some vendors serve them with a delicious mix of potato curry .