Gajanan Sthavila Me Namila with Talele Modaks

Hi Friends!

Hope the Ganpati Festival is swinging for you. It has been good for me so far.

This year for the first day of Ganpati I made Talele Modak. Talele Modak is a rare thing in my Koli community. For us it is always Undre. I might have made these Talele Modak before may be a couple of times but since it was not posted on the blog, here I am sharing it. I really liked how they are much easier to shape than Undre as the cover is made with whole wheat flour which lends it self well for the shaping. 

Ingredients

For the filling

1 coconut grated

1/2 cup jaggery

1 tablespoon ghee

1/8 cup nuts and raisins

1/2 teaspoon Cardamom powder

For the cover

2 cups whole wheat flour / atta

1 cup water

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons oil
1/4 spoon salt

First lets make the filling. Heat a deep pan add the ghee. Combine the grated coconut and jaggery and add to the pan. Keep mixing till you get a semi solid ball. Mix in the nuts and raisins and the cardamom powder. This filling is called Chauri in Koli. Our Kolis like their Chauri sweeter but this proportion is what we prefer at home. Divide into 21 equal portions. As this makes 21 modaks the auspicious number for naivedya. Keep aside.

Now knead the dough in a food processor. Add the atta or whole wheat flour and salt, run the FP adding the water slowly. The dough should be tight like for puri. It is slightly harder than we make for regular chapatis.

  

Now pinch off some dough and divide into 21 portions. Then make a ball and with your thumb press in the center and shape it like a basket. Fill a spoonful of Chauri in it. Next step, we need to pinch the edges to form petals around the stuffing. Make 11 petals. Then pull the pinched petal edges of the basket together to peak it.

In my home since this is Naivedya or offering for the Lord we chant this name "Ganpati Bappa Morya" as we do each petal for the modak. We always make 11 petals for each Modak and an offering of 21 Modaks as its is considered auspicious. 

Place all the Modaks on a greased pan. Wet a towel and wring it to remove excess water. Cover the modaks with moist towel to prevent drying up till you fry up all the modaks.

Once done heat oil in a wok. Turn down the heat to medium. Fry 5-6 modaks at a time in the wok so u have enough space to swish them around for a even golden color. 

Sometimes the coconut and jaggery syrup leaks out and starts charing the modaks at such a time just put off the heat and skim of the charred material with a tea sieve. Then restart frying this will save the Modaks from getting speckled with charred particles, which look very unappetizing.

Remove the fried modaks on a sieve, let the oil drain off then space them out in a plate to cool. Serve once cooled. Don't bite into the fried Modak, hot jaggery can scald the tongue. 

It's made for the Ganpati Bappa so offer the Naivedya to him first and then partake it as prasad. Share the prasad with friends.

Enjoy the celebrations till Ananth Chaturdashi while the Lord is still our guest!

Yes Ganpati Bappa or Gajanan be praised and worshiped that is what the title suggests.We do and this is our Ganpati @ my Thal home.

Nagpanchami in Thal

Mixed boiled beans a Nagpanchami special in Thal which after naivedya are made into a usal.

Last Sunday was Nagpanchami, I had almost forgotten it as I was on my way to Thal. In the village where ever I went I was welcomed with Undre/ Modak and mixed boiled beans.

On the fifth day of Shravan the snakes are worshipped in Hinduism. The snakes control rats from proliferating and destroying crops hence they are paid respect. It is a practice to do a small puja and offer milk and other offering to a snake. Villagers pray to the snake that we will offer you once in a while some offerings but don't show yourself to us. 

Unlike the cities where snakes are brought packed in baskets from the villages by snake charmers in an attempt to earn a buck by letting people offer milk to it. In the village the offering to a snake are left near the holes where a snake is known to reside  or it is left simply somewhere in the yard around the homes for the snake to feast at its convenience and freedom. City dwellers like us should discourage the snake charmers by not giving them money and telling them not to catch snakes and not to bring them to the city, where they get killed due to bad handling and being pulled out from their natural habitat.

On Sunday someone spotted a snake in the rocks on the seashore and spread the word. Everyone was warned to be careful. Also the poor snake survived because it was Nagpanchami else it would have been killed.

In the evening I was served food by my gracious cousins. This was a Shravani meal and so was served on a Dinda leaf and not the usual banana leaf or patravaLi. I am not sure what Dinda is called in English neither do I know the botanical name. However to describe it, a thick, large, dicot leaf it is. 

After the meal I went for a long walk along the seashore sans my iPad so no pictures of the beach but I realised that it was a good idea to leave it behind for it turned out to be a surreal experience. When you are on the seashore at dusk after sun down all you see is the Arabian Sea on one side and the palms, screw pine and conifers on the other side. You see the ferocious waves lapping and the sounds cut your thoughts and you want to sing along to the tunes of nature. The clouds were dark and I could see the rain approaching from sea as the Khanderi and Undheri forts became hazy. It was a light drizzle that livened my spirit, I increased the speed of my footsteps homewards and sang to the music of the rain, the waves, Garjata Barsat Sawan Ayo Re ~ ~ ~

Some scenes from Thal that are so Shravan Maasi.



A pile of wood collected during summer to be used in the monsoons.
Overgrowths surround homes, women relax and it's an unhurried pace of life as the fishing is closed in this season.
The chool gets moved from the seafacing backyard to the OTi, it is just impossible to light a fire in the backyard with gushing winds.
Nirmal Tai posing with my newest nephew.
Ghana Barse~ ~ Shravani clouds laden and low.
New boat waiting to meet the sea after Narali Pournima.

Some More Glimpses

 The boat docked at the shore, It is the monsoon time and today is Visarjan so time to enjoy instead of going to high sea.

The most traditional way to carry Ganpati for Visarjan is on a Zula or swing hung from a bamboo.

 Sunset from Malbandar, Khandheri, stands witness to the life on the shores of Thal. Today it is a day for festivities.

Ganpati is a festival for letting loose the imagination. Instead of Arjun here is Ganpati and Krishna is his the sarathi/ Charioteer. It is not a confusion or ignorance about our history or mythology but creative liberties only Hinduism tolerates. This is Arjun awatar Ganapti.

AND

How can I miss out the visarjan in my society. I was back from the village and on the 7th day, that is the no.of days we have Ganpati in our society in Mumbai. As always I am a complete recluse outside my Koli community, whether I am in Mumbai or Blr. Actually the thruth is I am a distant observer anywhere, that is if I am not an organizer. I watched the visarjan from the balcony. I am rarely a part of these celebrations or even if I am, I'm very discreet.

 

You see the local band playing music.  The truck is ready for visarjan and people come out of their homes to see off the Ganpati Bappa. The essence here is the cosmopolitan celebrations involving all castes and religions, people who have left their native lands in search of greener opportunities  and have made Mumbai their home. You will see a Sardar, Muslim, Christians, Gujarati, Punjabi, Kannadiga, Bengali etc all 250 families trying to live in harmony, all participating in each others festivals. After Ganpati there will be Navaratri celebrations and then Christmas Party and New year celebrations. The National holidays like Republic Day and 15th Aug are the neutral reasons to unite this diversity. It is the Siddhivinayak's blessing that makes Mumbai what it is!

Well and here is Chimi enjoying the vacation with her Hrushi Mama :)

Did you notice she has got a tail trim, by her groomer and my Dad!

Gauri Visarjan

After our Ganpati Visarjan we were about to return home via the seashore. It had grown dark but Sushil mentioned that the Gauri were expected to come down on the seashore any moment. As Deewane's Gaur is his family's Gaur we decided to give him company. Sapna had not seen Gauri Visarjan last year so she too was keen.

Meanwhile we watched other Ganaptis being sent off. The first Gaur to arrive for Visarjan was the Chaipatil family's. The Gaur is carried along with the chair on the head by a women and brought to the shore without disturbing the flower decorations. We too offered our prayers and watched them do the aarti and then the ladies danced around the Gaur. Meanwhile the Deewane Family's Gaur also came to the shore.

 

 

We bid our final goodbyes to every one and returned home. The next day I was too return to Mumbai. My time was up. I had to return to Blr on Saturday. Take rest on Sunday and Monday onwards I would return to my sterile Corporate world.

Yet it is the want of not just butter but also jam on the bread that takes us places. I do have plans to return one day...to my beloved Thal.

Ganpati Visarjan

Our Ganpati goes along with the Gauri so this year the visarjan/ farewell was on the 6th day after Chaturthi, it was the 16th. Visarjan is always done at dusk and the entire scene is something to experience.

Earlier we would carry our Ganpati on the large swing we had at home. It would be hung from a bamboo pole and my father's maternal cousins carried it to the Malbandar. Especially Uttam Kaka always claimed that it was his duty and respect bestowed by us on him, he also is the burliest among all of my father's cousins. However now since we dismantled our swing from the terrace and we do not have burly men at home ;) Mothe Baba the genius converted it into a cart, He made it himself and uses the cart only for our own religious processions in Thal.

It has been tradition that the Patil families both ( Nagesh Patil and Vani family) take their Ganpati for emmersion  together. So in that tradition we decided that we will start from home at 5.30 pm for visarjan.

On the day of the visarjan the naivedya offered is not distributed as prasad but instead it is packed as a Shidori or packed meal for the Bappa as he will be traveling back to his abode.

At 5pm we moved the Ganpati and place him near the main door so that we could do the aukshan, everyone gets a darshan before departure. Ganpati is never moved from the sthapana place directly, it is a tradition to do a goodbye at the door and then move him.

I admire the fact that Sumeet wears the Nangota or Rumal for all religious celebrations when today the village youngsters shy away from wearing it.

Nagesh Patil family were also getting their Ganpati ready and the the push cart was stationed in front of their home which is just behind ours. The loud Ganpati Bappa Morya! was a signal for us to get ours out too by the time the cart was in front of our home. After placing our Ganpati on the cart the men folk took turns to push the cart while the others helped all the way through the old bazaar, bus stand and through Undher Ali and on to the Malbandar. All this among chants of Ganpati Bappa Morya!!

I would like to point out that we maintained a noise free Visarjan even though it was in the village. We could hear a lot of bands playing and loudspeakers blaring in the distant. For us it was just the pure chanting and villagers chanted back in response to our Ganpati Bappa Morya! as we moved ahead.

Baabli Kaki was praying for the family all along . It sounded like she was brainwashing the Bappa. I was missing the fact that there were no senior women from Vani family to do it for us but found solace that aleast B kaki was doing it. She was muttering something like, "Kaama dhandhya la pora jatan, yashacha vata des, Phurach dekh, mangari valu nako. Sukhi thev, Vighna kai haanu nako." Her tone was of demand for her children. It made me sentimental how much the success of the children meant to the mother in her.

We were the first few to reach the Malbandar, the pristine beach of Thal. The sun was on the horizon and so without wasting much time we did the farewell aarti. Kishor Bhau quickly removed his T shirt and his two boys followed suit they to wanted to take the Ganpati into the sea.

I was teasing them that they are the new trainees. Technically Kishor Bhau is the eldest among the  current generation in the two families and it is his duty to perform the Visarjan. Lalit, Hrushi and Sumeet were standing back and watching. The sun was ready to submerge in the sea, first with the Vani's Ganpati and then the Patil's Ganpati, Kishore Bhau along with another man carried the Bappa straight into the sea.

Ganpati Bappa Morya! Pudhchya Varshi Lavkar Ya! 
Ganpati Gele Gavala, Chain Padhe Na Aamhala!

Ganpati Bappa Morya! Come back soon next year! 
Ganpati has gone home, leaving us restless.

Gaur Basli

In Thal, Gauri pooja starts at midnight with the a lady swooning and performing the act of "khelane". Where the belief is that the Gauri makes her appearance in a chosen women. In Koli Gauri is called just Gaur. This Gauri pooja took place at Deewane Family's old home. Sapna and me attended there as my Savitri Atya does her pooja there. Every lady has her own Gauri depending on which family she belongs to before marriage. When I was a kid I would accompany my Mom to Sakharkar family's Gaur. This is also a way of retaining their maternal relations and identity.

Shevanthi does the Gauri Khelane, you also see her along with Manubai with whom she has decorated the Gaur.

The next day noon is the main pooja where a picture of Gauri is put on a chair and she is decked up with a saree and lots of flowers. It is very colorful and vibrant. Fruits and some vegetables and maize is hung from the roof as signs of fertility. The senior woman of the hosting home does the offering of the Vaan (symbols of fertility) consisting of a Soop (that wicker flat basket) filled with coconut, vegetables and fruits, haldi kunku. Then the rest of the visiting women are allowed to make their offering and prayers. Soon you see a heap of flowers and fruits in front of the Gauri.

Following this aukshan/ aarti is done, haldi kunku is exchanged with other women. The senior women relatives give the younger ones money for green bangles. It is like showing that the younger women's fertility and well being of the married couple is very important to them. Sapna got hers from Shevanthibai and Manubai, she was shy to accept money from these people who she did not know are related to us in a distant way, I coaxed her to accept and take their blessings. Though this festival is very important for married women, unmarried also participate in a big way. 

After the pooja the women go to their maternal home for lunch. In homes that do not have Ganpati make a chicken meal for their returning daughter. While for the women who abstain from meat during Ganpati (In my family's case we are vegetarian) there is a vegetarian spread. Except the non veg dish other items on the Taat are the almost the same. It goes like this, Hirva Masala Moog Dal, Dhaan , pickle, papad, God Ghari, any dried beans bhaaji, Tomatochi Bhaaji(this one is the star) or Barik Methi Moog Dal

The rest of the day is filled with dancing at the family homes of people hosting the Gaur. In my family like I mentioned my Mom went to the Sakharkarachi Gaur, Mothi Aai and Savitri Aatya to Deewanyachi Gaur and Devaki Kaki to Chaipatlachi Gaur. While Aruna Kaki went to Colaba in Mumbai.

Again at night the women gather to sing songs and dance to the rythym of the dhol. When we were kids we loved Manubai's dhol prowess and we would sing, dhabuk chav dhupchav, dhabuk chav dhup chav! Ever heard a dhol emitting those bols ;) LOL. Many a times Manubai would leave the dhol and pluck a twig from a near by Nigurdi or Bhendi Tree and give it in our hands to make us look like cheer leaders :P

The koli dance you see on TV is choreographed and not essentially Koli though the music is. The true koli dance is lifting one hand in the air, bent at the elbow and the other folded across the midriff  along with the bending legs one at a time and limping in a circle. It is a very graceful dance and not at all filmy or tamasha like. However now the stage performances have evolved to suit the demands of the public.

The music played on the loudspeaker at the Gauri celebration is cassettes of Koligeete sung by some popular talent. Infact I met one such Koli / Agri geet singer at Charu's home. He is known by his orchestra Dadu's. He is thoroughly entertaining what with his heavy jewelry. He is a celebrity in the Koli community (I had never heard of him). He was dressed in black and gold jazzy clothes and looked like the nth version of Bappi Lahiri and his car, Oh boy! was a large specially designed vehicle painted in shades of pink and a keyboard theme and a doodle of Dadu's written across the sides. I was impressed how he took his image so seriously even on a private visit. My multi-talented Jiju is also a citizen journalist and he meets and befriends a lot of weird people you see! Imagine the recall I have, I am even mentioning this guy, Dadu's on this blog, I  had winced when I was introduced to him. If Ajay-Atul can change the Marathi music world with their superb folk music then this caricature can atleast make koli music noticeable with his glam sham he thinks, may be. Bayanchi  (Devi in Koli) Gaani gaato mhane. Aso, wish he evolves to give koli music a better taste. 

Gaurubai Vachav :P !!