Planning to head back to Calcutta in December

The Streets of Calcutta still invoke some timelessness, but not for long as buildings are getting torn down for developments.

Once again I am heading back to Calcutta,  this city has been my first entry into India in November 2008, it touched my heart deeply and I fell in love with this Great Dame, missing her dreadfully.

This time I would like to see Calcutta proper, to venture into North Calcutta and the other parts of Bengal.

Visiting the Poush Mela in Santiniketan (alt spelling – Shantiniketan), because I am fascinated about the Bauls – spiritual musicians who have forsaken the material life and devote themselves to music, like a spiritual monk/nun. Their music is so soulful, it touched me deeply when I first listened to them in Bangladesh.

Poush Mela happens during Christmas in December, not sure about the dates yet, will have to find out more about it. It is said that most of the Bauls around the country would make their way to this massive jamming session for 3 days.

Santiniketan (alt spelling – Shantiniketan) is made famous by the Nobel Literature Laureate Rabindranath Tagore who helped made the town into a university center for Bengali arts and literature

Kenduli Mela, another baul festival celebrated at Kenduli in Birbhum District of West Bengal, a less commericalised festival compared to Poush Mela but also gradually getting corroded by the Kirtans – Sikh musicans over-numbering the Bengali bauls. Story about the Kirtans invading the Baul festival is here.

The festival happened around 14 January this year, not sure when it will be in 2010. As it happens it is on the same day as Ganga Sagar mela at Sagar island, another festival I would like to visit as well.

Kenduli mela held in honor of a Sanskrit poet Jayadeva, the village is said to be the birthplace of the famous poet and lyricist although now it is being disputed. Kenduli is located in the Birbhum district of West Bengal. It is at a distance of about forty-two kilometers from Santiniketan (alt spelling – Shantiniketan)

A Korean Comedian who speaks Arabic

Wonho Chung is an incredibly funny Korean comedian who speaks fluent Arabic, born in Saudi Arabia to Korean and Vietnamese parents. He is hilarious to watch!

Axis of Evil Comedy tour

Finally I met the Dalai Lama!

Persons to meet before I die :

Met the Dalai Lama = CHECKED!

I was pretty blessed to have met the Dalai Lama in Ladakh, he was holding a Dharma teaching for 4 days.

I subsequently met him a few times while he was in Leh meeting up with the locals organisations.

He has such a huge presence even with 30,000 people who gathered for his teachings, he glowed in aweness. My heart skipped a few beats when I saw him the first time.

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Happy Birthday to me!

Taken at Old Delhi, at fresh lime juice stall. I don't really know why the stall seller placed a key into the glass but its kinda special isn't it?.

First October 2009

It’s my Birthday today!

Pani Puri at Old Delhi

Old Delhi, India

I got introduced by this street snack or Chaat in Hindi by a great Bengali food connoisseur, Sourabh and his great beautiful wife in Calcutta. There it is call Phuchka, and in Delhi its call Gol Pappa but most commonly known in its hindi street name, Pani Puri (Water-Biscuit)

Its made from wheat and semolina flour, deep fried into little balls, it is then filled with a mixture of tamarind and mint and pieces of potato and mixed spices, ‘Pani’. In Old Delhi it cost from 5rp to 10rp for 5-6 pieces, in Calcutta it cost 3rp – 5rp on average.

Tasted a few dreadful versions in places like Manali, some parts of New Delhi and other places,  this Old Delhi Pani Puri stall owner puts pride in his creation. The pani burst with sweet, sour and spicy mixtures in your mouth. Really great and cheap too!

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