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Meera at Seva Mandal Ganapati: Worth her weight in … bananas

September 1, 2012 By 12 Comments

pictures of Meera on the scales at the GSB Seva Mandal by Arun Shanbhag

In a Hindu tradition called Tolay Bhaar families celebrate life events by offering their weight in fruits to the divine. These fruits are then served to devotees as prasad. At the GSB Seva Mandal Ganapati, this tradition takes on mammoth proportions where 1000′s of devotees offer everything from the more traditional coconuts, bananas or modak/appams (the sweet dollop made during Ganapati festivals), to gold or silver jewelry.

During the past year, we got a wonderful opportunity to perform Meera’s Tolay Bhaar (roughly translates to: scales are full) at the GSB Seva Mandal in Mumbai. The weighing scales are setup in front of the Ganapati murthy, giving the devotee an unimpeded darshan. Despite my concerns, Meera sat quietly and (eerily) focused in darshan, the entire time she was on the scales. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Festivals, Konkani, Meera, Sanatana Dharma Tagged With: , , ,
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Tambdo Phovu – Red Flattened Rice, v2

July 22, 2012 By 14 Comments

Pics how to make Tambdo Phovu poha, red flattened rice by Arun Shanbhag

(During processing these pics, I remembered I had previously written on Making Tambdo Phovu; so, edited the text and added in newer pics.)

Phovu (beaten or flattened rice) freshly mixed with few spices is a staple breakfast of Konkanis. We grew up eating tambdo phovu nearly every day (tambdo for red comes from the crushed red chillis in this recipe). When visitors arrive unannounced, aunts or grandma would quickly mix this snack, usually takes less than 5 minutes to prepare. Since this is simply mixed, it is also called kāláyilo (mixed) phovu. Many households use phova piTTo (powdered spice mix for phovu), but we made this from scratch. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Food, Konkani, Recipes Tagged With: , , , , , ,
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Girls making Papad 2

April 26, 2012 By 13 Comments

Picture of girls making papad in Kumta, India

A few years back while visiting Kumta I went back to the little shack where I had earlier seen young women making papad (writeup and pics). I was glad to see that this little cinderblock workshop was still active, and women came together to make papad and other eatables to sell in local stores. I like the light in this pic. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Food, Konkani, Kumta, Travel Tagged With: , , , ,
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Ganapati at the GSB Muth, Wadala 2011

September 7, 2011 By 15 Comments

Ganapati at GSB Wadala by Arun Shanbhag

The GSB Wadala Muth Ganapati holds some of my fondest memories of sarvajanik (public) Ganapati. At 8 ft, it is not the largest of the Ganapatis, but certainly one of the most artistically excuted and ‘constant.’ Even though the artisans craft a new murthy from clay each year, this murthy has not changed one bit over the last three decades. The size is limited by the doorway to the hall where this Ganapati sits. The GSB Seva Mandal Ganapati contrarily, is built on and sits on a trolley which is covered under a huge outdoor tent. On visarjan day, the stage is dismantled and the trolley with the Ganapati is pulled out. The Wadala Ganapati is wheeled/carried out of the hall, placed on a trailer and taken to Shivaji Park for immersion.
[Read more...]

Filed Under: Festivals, Hinduism, Konkani, Mumbai Tagged With: , , , , ,
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Ganapati at GSB Seva Mandal

September 6, 2011 By 6 Comments

pictures of GSB Seva Mandal Ganapati 2011 2012 by Arun Shanbhag

The GSB Seva Mandal is one of the largest Sarvajanik (public) Ganapati celebrations in Mumbai. The murthy is 14 ft tall and all pujas ( devotional services) are performed in Sanskrit following traditions prescribed in ancient scriptures. See pics from our 2009 visit here.
[Read more...]

Filed Under: Festivals, Konkani, Mumbai, Sanatana Dharma Tagged With: , , , ,
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Video: Making Mysore Masala Dosa

March 6, 2011 By 15 Comments


[move your mouse out of the video frame, to lose the black border]
Following up on the Video: Making of Rava Dosa and Masala Dosa, here is the next installment of making Mysore Masala. I was surprised they spread a red chilli paste over the dosa, I had thought they sprinkle a spice blended podi (powder) as seen at the Shanbhag fast food place in Hospet, Karnataka. Delicious, nonetheless. A Mysore Masala Dosa at Kamats, Colaba costs Rs 38 (US 85 cents)! I want two, delivered.
[Read more...]

Filed Under: Food, Konkani, Video Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,
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Video: Making Rava Dosa and Masala Dosas

November 21, 2010 By 46 Comments

(move your mouse out of the video frame, to lose the black border)
Growing up in Mumbai, dosas were a staple in our home. We never tired of them. Could munch dosas for breakfast, lunch and dinner. In the expert hands of my mother, dosas were easy; its the parathas and North Indian fare she avoided. We didn’t miss those. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Food, Konkani, Mumbai, Video Tagged With: , , , , , ,
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Dwija – The Twice Born

May 10, 2010 By 47 Comments

Composite image of fetus overlaid on pic of cosmos by Arun Shanbhag, Who is a Dwija or Twice born?

In the Vedas, Upanishads, Gita and the Puranas, we often encounter the term, Dwija – twice born (Dwe – two; ja – born). A person was called a Dwija, after his thread ceremony.

What two births are implied here? [Read more...]

Filed Under: Konkani, Sanatana Dharma, Spiritual Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,
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Video: Approaching Kumta on the Konkan Railway

April 7, 2010 By 31 Comments


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Music: Mere Desh Ka Salaam, Shobha Gurtu.

Those who have ridden the Konkan Railway can attest, the rural countryside with emerald green fields is mesmerizing. I think of an early retirement in a village, a small house and running a school.

To share the genesis of this madness, I recorded the view. Here is a 67 second snippet, as the train crossed the Aghanashini River and approached the Kumta Train station. I recorded this from the doorway with my flip video, amidst the rain and rumbling of the train. Enjoy and tell me what you think.
[Read more...]

Filed Under: Konkani, Kumta, Travel, Video Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
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Video: Making Puran Polis

October 10, 2009 By 36 Comments

When in Mumbai, we attended a puja at my aunt’s place in Jogeshwari. There we enjoyed a delicious south india lunch, served on banana leaves. Freshly made, warm puran polis, dribbled with home-made tuup (clarified butter), was one of many desserts. The catering crew were making it in the back. Enjoy the video.

puran poli sanzori konkani foodsAnd see this older post, where I describe how our extended family comes together to make Sanzori, a variant of the puran poli. So much fun.

Here is Shilpa’s (Aayis Recipes) excellent recipe for puran poli (also called Obbattu).

And another recipe for Puran Poli from Sailu’s Kitchen.

Some of my Other Videos:

Filed Under: Food, Konkani, Mumbai, Video Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,
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