The myriad flavours of Jodhpur!!

“The Sun City” or “The Blue City”, whatever you call it, Jodhpur is a fascinating city of Rajasthan. One of the most traveled tourist destinations, Jodhpur is famous for its magnificent forts, beautiful palaces, temples and colorful bazaars. Jodhpur is also known for its unique culture, arts and crafts and colorful festivals. Apart from all this, the city is well known for its utopian cuisine.

If you want to fume up all your senses with hot spices, this is the city to venture out from little narrow lanes street food to fancy fine restaurants serving wide varieties of mouth watering dishes suiting all the palates.

1. A walk around Sojati Gate, one of Jodhpur’s famous markets, with its heavy aroma of the popular hot Pyaaz Kachoris and spicy Mirchi Badas, could leave the toughest, weak-kneed with temptation.

                                          

2. It’s in tradition of Jodhpur that first you have to eat sweet and then start other food. One can’t escape from sweet hospitality (“Mithi Manuhar”) of Jodhpur. One must try out ‘Mave ki Kachori’, ‘Besan ki Chaaki’and ‘Daal badam ka halwa’ .Janta Sweet Home, Jodhpur Sweet Home, Pokhar Sweets are some of the shop where one can find a quality and variety of sweets.

3. In keeping with Rajasthani culture, here every meal begins with exotic sweet treats and progresses with the delicious Dal Batti, Gatte ki sabji or the unique Gulab jamun ki sabzi along with the traditional Kair-sangri (radish pods). For the authentic flavor, visit the lesser known hotels such as Priya, Poonam and Pokar.

4. For all hard core non vegetarians this place is a paradise, try the ‘Laal maas’ preparations along with the grilled kebabs and tikkas.  Shri Mishrilal Hotel and Restaurant, New Shaheen Restaurant and the Jharokha Restaurant are some of the popular eating hubs of the city.

5. Every meal must end with a tall glass of “makhania lassi” at the Clock Tower, a specialty of Jodhpur made with saffron, yoghurt and sugar, extinguishing the heat of Sun City. The thick lassies are topped with a small piece of homemade butter and are a treat to the taste buds.

Jodhpur has myriad flavors for all 10,000 taste buds set to be tantalized.  Come to Jodhpur and have a meal fit for kings!!

Add a little spice to your life and ENJOY!

The largest democratic exercise....

India is all set for the 16th Loksabha polls. This election has brought in various changes in terms of both voters as well as political parties. As far as the contest goes, this time it’s not the conventional BJP-Congress battle. The recently emerged Aam Aadmi Party and the possibility of “Third front” government have made this contest very exciting and unpredictable as well. The two new ‘participants’ can either spoil the party for the giants or can even steal the show (u never know). The voters’ scenario has also changed a lot this time. Increased interest in politics and ever highest percentage of voting, clearly indicates the winds of change.
And now, with NOTA around, outcomes have become even more unpredictable. Voters will come out and register their disapproval, making the democratic process even more proud.

The congress led UPA government seems to be already ready to face the anger of people because of all the scams and failed promises. And as Rahul Gandhi said they have brought the RTI act…..(and probably that’s the only good thing they have done so far). Apart from this the highly qualified but ever silent Prime minister has added greatly to this anger. People just want to get rid of it. And what about the youth brigade leader Rahul Gandhi- the new torch bearer. Which is actually the real Rahul? The fumbling, tragic figure in front of Arnab or the new version who is ready to change congress’s vision, working methodology and who is ready to take on the world? Will he really fight for all the stuff he's talking about today? Well it’s really hard to answer.

So now comes the question- who if not UPA? Unlike older times this time we have more options to think for, other than the BJP. But I’ll talk of BJP first, certainly because of its deep roots into the politics it is one of the best alternative (and the tenure of Atal Bihari Vajpayee has played a key role in it). BJP have political biggies like Arun Jaitley, Sushma swaraj, Rajnath singh, Nitin gadkar etc. which can together out power any other party but ever since the announcement of its prime ministerial candidate, BJP’s election campaign has been a one-man show. Narendra Modi’s larger than life figure is being brought. Votes are being asked for “Modi sarkar” and not the BJP. His phenomenal success can only be credited to the way he has mastered the essentials of PR: communication, engagement and relationship-building with the public and media.
He is known to be an authority figure more than a team player. He’s a man who brooks no dissent or opposition. How will that work when he has not just one, fairly homogenous, state to deal with but a country which encompasses great social, cultural, ethnic and religious diversities? Can an individual, no matter how purportedly able an administrator, handle the huge hotchpotch that is India? Moreover, Modi doesn’t exactly look like the kind of guy ready to shake hands with those who (smaller parties trying for coalition) make unreasonable demands of him. This is possibly good for the country. But will it be good for the NDA? I have no clue.

Let’s talk about the latest hero Arvind kejriwal. Before discussing any pros and cons of him as a leader we have to confess one fact that it’s because of him (or his actions) that people have started taking interest in country’s politics to a greater extent. He has played the vital role of focusing on the issues that are influencing these elections. He has actually expressed the anger which is often felt but rarely expressed. Although the way he wants us to look into the politics is quite impressive and what we actually desire, but is very hard to digest and change the way we practice our politics. After winning the Delhi assembly elections everyone was expecting him to set a high bar for a chief minister, but sooner something tragic happened. He being novice in Indian politics was unable to withstand the pressure of the two political giants. As far as their role in LS polls is concerned, I don’t think they’ll be able to make any significant effect. And the only reason for this is the lack of grass root level support unlike other parties. Their support is limited to the urban middle class only. It needs to build its base in the third-tier and should take his ideas and visions to the mass. Hence it is too early in the day for his party to nurse aspirations of coming to power at the national level.

One can't rule out the impact of the union, if formed of, leaders like Mulayam Singh Yadav, Nitish kumar, Jaylalitha, and others. May be it has the leas possibility but you never know how, when and how effectively the regional power works

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Talking of the role Election Commission is playing here I seriously doubt its ability to curb the malpractices being used to lure voters. As mentioned by one of the finest columnists, its time when EC should tell the politicians who the real boss is.

Well whatever the poll prediction says, there’s nothing certain in politics and impossible things invariably happen just to prove to us that election surveys, however well meaning, are about as predictable as a game of roulette. Despite that, two things appear to be clear. Firstly, the Congress will fare poorly in this election and secondly Modi will have a great win (Whether the NDA can form the Government is an entirely different matter).

Lucky or Ominous!!

Talking about the modern era? The fast moving society? Here’s something that’s so common and is definitely so undesirable and a waste for a society. Superstition- the most common and prevailing epidemic!!

Superstitions are a set of irrational beliefs, rites, rituals or practices that are based on fear or ignorance that one held in spite of its evidence to the contrary. The superstitions are baseless and foolish yet they are as old as man. They are the attempts of our ancient sages to teach science to the people in a popular way. But repeated co-incidences helped in rooting the superstitions. Blind beliefs are related to almost everything that we encounter in our daily life be it be numbers, directions, certain days of week, animals, or any other day to day practice. The early man who had no scientific knowledge fell as an easy prey to superstitions. Illiteracy, lack of knowledge and incapacity to reason out are the basis which generate superstitions. Taking advantage of this gullibility, ignorance and innocence of people, many clever men turn into controllers of evils and fortune and cheat the innocent people.

Superstitions are universal; they are not confined to any particular people or place. A sneeze will be more vulnerable than a bullet fired from a double barreled gun, a horse shoe nail lying on the road; facing you is lucky, while it is ominous if it is found facing away from you.

In offices, workers of all cadres can be seen with long drawn sandal paste, 'tilaks' on their foreheads; or some sort of red or white or black threads tied round their left or right wrists. Some even have the so-called 'tavizes' or 'gandas' hanging round their necks like the mini albatrosses; some even have magic rings on their fingers to ward off the evil eyes of the ominous influence of evil spirits.

What do this all go to show? Only meaningless superstitions. However 'modernly' dressed a person be, however advanced his id be, if a cat were to cross his path, he would either try to be quick enough to pass on before the cat does so or he would do his best to reverse cat's direction of motion, along a straight line or he himself wound round, or he would stand there and then for a while, and if anybody were to see him performing these monkey tricks, he would try to co' some suitable excuse for doing so.

And if, unfortunately, the cat happens to be black one, the God bless both, him and the cat, the cats are lovely creatures but somehow or other Indians seems to be scared of them.

Even a cat might reflect on experiencing a 'man-crossing', "how ill - omen these humans are! Whenever I come across one, I do not get a piece meat or else I have to go without milk the ‘rest’ of the day." The things does not end there, these 'cat-cross" scared human will not kill a cat for fear that a golden cat will have to be given in charity order to escape for the punishment of being sent to hell for killing the cat.

When one is going to embark upon a journey, the sight of an empty pitcher or empty bucket or the sight of an old man is very bad. When one is going to set out on a journey and on stepping out if he come across a funeral being carried to the burning or to (be burial ground on his left, it is going and if on the right, it is very bad.

A black spot on the cheek of a fair lady is considered a protection against an evil eye, while an 'unfair' (not-white) child is a protection against itself and against any evil eye. If a lizard chirps, the journey are going to be undertaken, must be abandoned. The sight of a meteor, howl of a jackal, the wailing of a dog are more dangerous than a bank murderous robbers.

The power of superstition is great. It must not however be forgotten that superstition is a disease of the mind, of the brain.

Superstition gives birth to, gives rise to, various fears and anxieties that are unfounded. It hinders the execution of many healthy and good programmers. Superstitions retard the pace of civilization. Even educated persons fall a prey to superstitions. Superstition encourages fatalism by creating more faith in chance than in work. Giant feel dwarfed before men, and blinded by superstition, the knights feel dastardly cowards.

The most horrible feature of superstition is the barbarous cruelty it propagates in certain cases. It promotes the passion of cruelty, anger and frenzy, the idea hinted at here is the sacrifices in the name of propitiation of goods. Sometimes ignorance plays havoc with the sentiments of the people, culminating in mob fury that is capable of doing more harm than all the rests of the elements put together.

Superstition is born of ignorance and no argument can be advanced in its defense and favor. Even the people who otherwise seem quite right with their brains, and even though they are highly educated bow to superstition.

Here are some of the commonly practiced superstitions or blind beliefs:

• The grown-ups should not crossover a child as it would check his growth. 
• Donating a sum of INR 101 instead of INR 100 or INR 51 instead of INR 50. The extra rupee is supposed to bring good luck. 
• Cutting nails, hair, shaving or stitching cloth after sunset is bad 
• Sweeping the house at night is inauspicious. 
• Widows are considered unlucky. Some consider it bad luck to see a widow first thing in the morning 
• It is inauspicious to start a new venture on Saturday. The day is considered unsuitable for marriages and ceremonies. 
• Breaking of a mirror brings bad omen. 
• One who eats a twin-fruit gives birth to twins. 
• Black cats are inauspicious and are associated with witchcraft. 
• Menstruating women are unclean. In fact, it is such a taboo for a woman to be menstruating that people don’t even refer to the natural phenomenon by its name. It is instead called as ‘being down’ or ‘chumming.’ Women who are menstruating are not allowed to enter the kitchen. They are also supposed to stay away from temples, mosques and all religious spots in the house itself. 
• If a lizard falls on one's head or body, he is going to die soon. (But in actual, he lives in fear of death for many days, and then forgets it). 
• Never wash the front courtyard immediately after someone leaves the house. 
• Right side is considered as auspicious, while left side is considered as inauspicious. In any religious rituals, people use their right hand. In rituals wife always sit on left side of her husband as she is considered as a secondary 'thing'. Even at the time of the marriage, the place of the bride is at the left of the groom. People give or take money, ornaments, gifts or even a flower by right hand only. 
• Don’t leave your slippers inverted on the floor. 
• Hiccups indicate someone is thinking of you. 
• Teen tigaadaa, kaam bigada. Bad luck occurs if you take things numbering three instead of any other number. 
• Leaving the house after sneezing is considered a very bad sign and if someone asks you that where are you going is considered even worse.

But gradually as the light of knowledge grows brighter, born of darkness, as the superstitions are, they cannot stand the light. Ignorance superstition must flee the blazing flame of knowledge, although it might take a long time to go, as deep are its roots. Whatever is not based on rationality and reason should not be allowed to overpower our mind and create unnecessary fear. If you have worked hard, you cannot fail just because a cat has crossed your way. Superstitions are baseless and should be given up.

Are you ready for Live-In relationships??

In the 21st century when everyone is adopting the elements of western culture in all their livelihoods, there is still one thing that has yet not got a social acceptance and is looked at with scorn. That controversial element is Live-In Relationship.

As per the dictionary it is an alliance in which two persons live together without any legal bonding between them. With the supreme court of India questioning the decision of Delhi high court on terming this as "walking-in and walking-out" relationship, it still stands as a highly debatable issue. With the conflict arising between the freedom of choosing a life partner after a certain age and the moral and ethical values of marriage its legality is always in question.

As per the results of various surveys, a lot of reasons have arose to back this kind of relationship. With the freedom-seeking ideology, this alliance seems to be a good one with no strings of commitment attached to it.

There is always a personal freedom where partners are free from responsibilities and obligations. It has no legal hassles at all which even gives you the comfort of moving out a relationship any time you want. It is a step one can take before entering into conventional wedlock. This rehearsal of marriage can bring all sorts of problems forefront so that one can take the final decision. In fact the nonacceptance of society exempts the couple from following the otherwise necessary diktats of society. Keeping aside the advantages live-in relationship have over conventional marriage there are people who simply see no need to marry to live together.

Even with legal permission by the judicial body of India, live-in relationships are still considered a no-go. With a country having the greatest family system all over the world and that too with a strong tradition and culture live in relationships have a long way to go. The biggest demerit of such an alliance is the question on sanctity of the "old fashioned" wedlock. Live-in relationships can't match the social recognition and legal rights enjoyed by the married couples. It also lacks the stability in relations provided by the conventional marriage. Also there is a issue of lack of emotional support in cohabitation as compared to the wedlock. A major drawback involving both the legal and social aspect is the effect on development of a child born out of such relationship. In case of break-up the custody of children also arises as a point of conflict. This kind of relationship also faces the strong regional and communal beliefs that stands against pre-marital sex (which I won't discuss here...)

So analyzing both sides of the coin there are a few questions arising out of it. Are we finally seeing the rapid decline of the conventional institution of marriage? and though live-in relationships come under the ambit of the Domestic Violence Act and Right to Maintenance Act, The problem is to determine who is in a relationship with whom? If a married man enters into a live- in relationship, only the legal wife is eligible for benefits, the second woman gets none. So between the two women, who supersedes who? That's the debate.

Thee Indian society might have frown upon live-in relationships but the increase in number of people opting for such alliance indicates a degree of acceptance. Hence, there is a urgent need of a law that fully undertakes live -in relationships and may include a agreement between the two partners before slipping into such cohabitation.

Kya baat hai!! Kal se pakka!!

So here goes the first stroke of this new paintbrush...
                     Is your name GHAZINI?? NO?? Fine..I agree...but then you must agree that you though have that short living memory...don't you?..We all love it when someone comes with an initiative to put things in right order..we do cheer him...yell out the slogans..change our fb status,profile pic, tattoos..etc etc..but then what happens to that zeal of changing the society's scenario?? Where do we lose all that faith in "We shall overcome someday"..
    Don't we loved SATYAMEV JAYATE?..for a month long we kept telling every other guy to watch it. Why?? Just because it was something new, presented by Mr. perfectionist Aamir Khan...or it truly ignited fire inside us. If it did then why did we put that fire off so early. How many of us tried to change the mentality of at least one person?
           We boasted very proudly of Anna Hazare and Arvind kejriwal for their campaigns against corruption. We even became a part of such a rally or camp just to upload a pic on twitter or Facebook. are we truly supporting them...most of us would have given bribe to a traffic police officer, or to officials at RTO or passport office to get rid of all the mess.

   We admire Incredible India's advertisement but on the other can't do the effort to go to public toilets instead of peeing and spitting in open. 

 We keep on complaining about the political system but a very few of us use their right to vote...so as Angela Markel said on her visit to India that the Indian youth have no right to complain regarding the same. We shout on the name of democracy but we ourselves don't respect the sole meaning of it!
  If this continues come what may we are never gonna succeed towards the Utopian world we desire...cz as Aamir said in one of the episodes that there is only 1 magic wand that can change all this and that's the man himself!!
   Hope we will become a true "citizen" of the nation till we meet again.