mayurisjikoni

Navratri celebrations      Its amazing how different states of India celebrate Navratri. Some with poojas and havans, some by laying out different types of miniature dolls depicting the Gods, demi Gods, animals and people. For Gujaratis its all about garbas and dandiya raas. I miss the small familiar community celebration that takes place every year at the Patel Samaj in Mombasa. This year I'm in Bangalore.     Years back when I was in Bangalore with my daughter, Navratri passed by without much happening. The highlight was a pooja in our society Club house and then Dussera celebration. However, Navratri celebrations have taken on a whole new meaning. As HSR Layout gets more developed, we saw lots of decorations and more temples celebrating the festival. A Durga ma pandal and the whole street was lit up making the area look so beautiful and festive. We've just moved to a new home and the society had organised a garba night on Saturday. Chaats and sweets were serv...

A hard nut to crack!   When one thinks of coconut, the first thing that comes to the mind is the cool healthy coconut water. However, there is more to a coconut than just the water or the succulent flesh. Coconut milk, coconut cream, coconut oil, grated coconut, coconut flour, are all used in cooking in many countries. Right from sweet to savoury dishes, coconut is used to add flavour, creaminess and a bite to any dish. Curries, desserts, cookies, cakes, salads, drinks etc, name it and coconut is used. Coconut milk is used in place of dairy produced milk by vegans. Coconut water is rich in potassium and is considered a natural hydrator. Coconut flour is made from the flesh of the coconut. It can be replaced partially in baked goods to reduce the glycemic index. Coconut oil is used for cooking, for treating certain skin disorders, for preparing beauty products and for luscious hair. The shell is used to make decorative pieces, used as dishes and bowls and to burn as wood for cooking...

For my eldest Foi    My eldest Foi, my dad's older sister, turned 85 this year. She is still strong and independent. A woman with talent, she has instilled a few values in me, like how to keep a home spic and span. At 85 she still goes around the house with a duster and hates to sit idle.She constantly keeps herself busy, reading both English and Gujarati magazines, newspapers, doing pooja, watching telly and chores in the house. She was a teacher for many years, knows how to knit, crochet, and embroider. Nowadays she does not do the latter two but still knits.New born babies in our family get a sweater or booties from her.She also taught me that when travelling with jewellery, be it real or fake, its best to put the earrings, chain link, and the bangle through a safety pin and then put it in its pouch or bag. This way even if the custom people go through your stuff, there are less chances of anything going missing. I haven't seen anyone pack a suitcase so neatly. She is also ...