HIMALAYAN DEVELOPMENTAL BLUNDERS

Originally the term 'Himalayan Miscalculation' was used by Mahatma Gandhi in 1922 when the first Non-cooperation Movement turned violent. In later times 'Himalayan Blunder' was used to refer to the 1962 Indo-Chinese conflict and the mistakes of Jawaharlal Nehru that led to India's humiliating defeat to its northeastern neighbour. However, there are other kinds of blunders that can be committed so far as this mountain range is concerned, blunders that can affect the lives of millions of people. A glance at the story (link below) will show how. 

https://tatsatchronicle.com/risky-rides/

BANARASI TOMATO ‘CHAT' AND 'ESPRESSO MALAIYO’

What do you think about Kashi?

IF you think Banaras is only about the journey to the other world and things spiritual, you are way off the mark. It offers its fair share of goodies for the pleasures of this world too particularly gastronomical delights for those more materialistically inclined. This venerable city serves a variety of mouth-watering street food prepared with great care and expertise to meet every taste. It has something for those who like it hot and spicy as well as those with a sweet tooth. 

                                                                    

Nai Sarak

While tour guides of Varanasi are apologetic about the rather untidy nature of their city, particularly with respect to European and American tourists, the fact is that the real charm of the ‘centre of the world’ lies in its crowded alleyways that lead to from the main streets above to the ghats on the banks of the Ganga below. Some may find the going ‘dirty’ in the narrow lanes but these are the very lanes and by-lanes around which the culinary delights of Banaras are available. 

Tomato Chats Served Hot & Spicy

                                                                      

Out of all the foods available on the colourful streets of Banaras, four stand out and must-try-out for every visitor. I will relate them in the order of my preference. The first place goes without hesitation to ‘tomato chat’. It is available at ‘Deena Chat Bhandar’ on ‘Nai Sarak’ or the new street of this oldest of the world’s cities. The chat is a mixture of a number of vegetable ingredients the dominant among which is the American fruit called tomato. The sting is provided by fine

'Espresso Malaiyo'

ly chopped green chillies. It is served on a plate of leaves sown together with twigs. 

The second is a milk espresso snack called ‘malaiyo’ which is flavoured and sweetened milk worked up into a thick froth with a light-yellow colour, filled to the brim of an earthen tumbler. It resembles the better-known candyfloss. The third delicacy is the ‘lal peda’ a delicious sweet meat that can be purchased at Rajshree Sweets in the cantonment area. 

The last (not by any means the fourth) is the Banarasi Paan, or green betel leaf rolled up into a triangular shape and available virtually anywhere in the city. The best, in my opinion, is the ‘saada’ or plain one, not the sweet paan as the real flavour of the leaf can be tasted only in a plain paan. A paste of red kattha (catechu powder) and chopped betel nut is applied on the leaf before it is rolled up and stuffed into the mouth whole. The combination leaves a characteristic red colour on the inside of the mouth and red pan stains in corners of stair cases and on walls is a ubiquitous sight everywhere in India. The real Banarasi paan just melts in the mouth leaving no fibrous remnants.