Page 56 - Seniors Today - Jan25 Issues
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video games or on Bollywood themes with morning by gathering on the terraces to
the hero’s face or name of an upcoming fly kites and cut each other in a friendly
film. competitive spirit. Loud music blaring
from everywhere with Bollywood songs
like Dheeal De De Re and Udi Udi Re
Patang Meri and an occasional Kai Po Che
followed by lapet the first one victory call of
excitement to have cut the string of another.
Lapet means - now rewind you are strong
and get lost. All ages including elders are
seen on the terraces wearing sunglasses and
hats and mothers giving out reminders to
apply sunscreen lotion and be careful you
don’t fall. This goes on throughout the day
till it gets dark, at night and still it doesn’t
end! With the onset of dusk, the sky is full
of countless lanterns trailing each other
behind kites tied to the strings.
The foods that are enjoyed during
Sankrant are chikki made from sugar or
jaggery with variants made with sesame,
peanuts, coconut, walnuts and other dry
fruits. But in Gujarat the favourite food
during this time is a dish called Undhiya or
Undhiyu which is eaten with pooris.
While another version of it is only boiled
or baked in earthen pots with spices, it
is called Ubadiyu. It is a dish made from
a variety of vegetables and green garlic
available in this season and fresh methi
leaves (fenugreek). Bhajiyas or pakodas
made from methi are also a hot favourite
during these days. Another popular snack
during this period is fresh green kernel
of jowar called poonk, eaten with green
chutney and garlic flavoured sev, along
with other yummy snacks cold drinks –
Right from the early hours in the morning nimbu pani and lassi, are also kept hand to
people gather on their terraces with quench the thirst as a result of being in the
colourful clothes, hats, glares, binoculars, sun the whole day.
sound systems, an unending supply of kites The art of kite making has no formal
and manjha (the specially treated thread) training. It is a skill that has been passed
The party starts in the wee hours of the on from father to son and so on since
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Image Courtesy: mensxp.com
