My First Crush

He passed away. 

The last I saw him was when I was still in school may be. He had finished his study of medicine at Grant medical college. His journey was amazing, from primary schooling in Thal and later in a municipal school in Colaba. He grew up to become a Physician and had a long practice of 40 years in Backbay transit camp. 

My Dwarkanath mama’s son Parshuram and he were buddies and classmates in Thal until they grew up. Sadly Parshuram left this world very young in his 20s.

Doctor would visit my home along with his kaka or my MJ kaka. That is the last image of him I remember. A tall dark and handsome man. Since we were family friends from the same village we would see each other often for holidays. 

I recollect me sitting in the woven old relaxing chairs in  our family home in Thal in the upper floor hall and stealing glances at him from behind a book. He in his white cotton sadra lehenga a la Hrishikesh Mukherjee film hero. I wrote him letters years later when he was interning at Alibag. I wonder if he ever received those letters in Thal that I posted from Mumbai. I never received any replies.

I was in my graduate year and my exams coming up when I got to know that his family was looking for a bride. I sent Baba and PJ kaka with a proposal. I had not finished college yet and wasn’t a doctor so the proposal fell through. 

I was very depressed and remember not eating that night. I flunked that year. Later however we never got to see each other as he got married to a doctor and his practice kept him busy. 

While he was my inspiration to study well and to become something in life turned into my biggest goal.

सतगती लाभो तुला किसन 🙏🏽 आणि खूप खूप प्रेम ♥️🌹

The fragrance of Kanika

Kanika has a fragrance that entices. When I visited Odisha in Jan 2024 and tasted this rice as part of the bhog at the Lingaraj temple sitting on the stone floor of the temple it was a moment that connected me to my Sanatani roots like never before. In Maharashtra there are few old stone temples and certainly none serves food on the premises! 

Hot food was served on disposable plates. Sai Priya of  mycookingcanvas my dear friend and Chef was making sure I was getting to taste the best of Utkal. Later I also enjoyed it at the Jagannath temple.

A morsel of it on the tongue and the spices and sweetness did a dance on my palate. 

Sai Priya has been doing Odisha temple food pop ups across the country and I have been tempted to go attend but alas! 

After a couple of days of drooling on her posts on Instagram finally I got into the kitchen to make Kanika. I would have loved pachedi too but I had other saved food in the fridge. 

Here’s how I made it after going through a few recipes online. 

Ingredients 

1 measure small grain rice like ambe mohor or Gobindo bhog

1/4 measure of jaggery

2 green elaichi

1 black cardamom or badi elaichi

1 tej patta

4 cloves 

1/4 teaspoon dalchini powder

10 peppercorns or miri

1 tablespoon Ghee

1 pinch saindhav / rock salt 

Handful of cashews 

Handful of golden raisins

Terracotta pot is a must for temple food cooked in Odisha style.

Begin with rinsing the raw rice. Then soaking it for 20 mins. 

Heat the Terracotta pot. Add ghee and let it melt. Once heated. Fry the cashews to golden and keep aside. Then fry the spices till aromatic. 

Now the rice that is soaked for 20 mins is drained on a sieve. Add this drained rice to the hot aromatic ghee with spices. Sauté for 2 mins. Add a pinch of Saindhav or rock salt. Top up with 3 measures water. Cook the rice till grains are fluffy about 15 mins. At the end add jaggery. Give the rice a nice mix and cover and cook another 5 mins. Remove cover fluff rice. If it looks slightly sticky no worries. As it cools the grains will separate and become fluffy as the jaggery and ghee coat the rice and stop further cooking. Now the final garnish is done with fried cashews and golden raisins. 

Serve and enjoy the flavours of temple food in the comfort of your home. 

ग्रह

Our birth is calculated and planned by the Universe. When we are born a certain alignment of stars influences what life we will live on this earth 🌏 

The more difficulties we have we will understand how we are but only puppets on the world stage. My father always said this. I took it as an information passed on from generations. As recorded in the scriptures and literature. However unless it is our experience we don’t really understand the meaning. That is why we have to live life. 

I have begun to realise that our will is least important. It can be a dream, desire but not reality unless the universe wills it. 

There are good people and bad people. The good people will not wrong another. The evil will always be the reason for others pain and difficulties. Both are creations of the Universe. Equal in her eyes. So what is the reason we feel bad about our wishes, dreams and desires when they are not fulfilled? It is the ego! 

It is the ग्रह We don’t have a choice. We are born. We will live and when it is time we will leave. 

However certain evil people can be identified. Their history indicates it. Right from birth they only spell ill luck for the parents, family and extended family. It is truly a battle of good against evil. Waiting for the right ग्रह to align. Hoping for the best for myself. Only prayers work. I pray that the universe knows best so learning not to ask for my wish to be fulfilled but let it happen as it is designed. 

Meanwhile as I sit in the balcony with Omid on my lap demanding rubs I am filled with gratitude for what I have received so far. The good and the bad. That has shaped me. Hope this helps in the evolution of my soul. Finally that is my goal 🙏🏽

I Believe In Miracles!

Shree Maharaj I believe you are going to show me a MIRACLE! 

What is in the future? What I do not understand? What is unknown? 

Is all in your plan and you know!

Teach me patience. Give me strength.

Shree Ram Shree Maharaj 🙏🏽 🌼🌸