Photography Exhibition

This was a photography exhibition I saw at India Habitat Centre recently. Loved the colours and expressions captured in this selection of photographs.

Jalebis

These two men were busy creating what several of my friends (with sweet a jaw) believe is the modern day art. These two men are busy making jalebis.


A batter is artistically made into twisted round shapes and is deep fried.


Once the batter turns orange because of the saffron and added food color, the Jalebis are put into a thick sugar syrup.
You can try making them at home using this recipe:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups self raising flour
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 cup yogurt
• Vegetable/canola/sunflower cooking oil for deep frying
• 1 cup sugar
• Few strands saffron
• 1/4 tsp cardamom powder
• 2 drops orange food colour
• 2 tbsps rose water

Preparation:

• Mix the flour, baking powder and yogurt into a batter and keep aside for 24 hours to ferment.
• Pour batter into a ketchup dispensing bottle.
• To make sugar syrup: Melt the sugar with the rose water and boil to get a one thread consistency. To check for one thread consistency, carefully dip the tip of your index finger into the syrup, touch your finger and thumb together and gently tease apart. If one thread is formed between your finger and thumb the syrup is done.
• Turn off fire, add the saffron strands and cardamom and stir well.
• Heat the oil in a deep wok-like dish. To test for the right temperature, drop a small amount of batter into the oil. If it sizzles and rises to the top of the oil, the oil is hot enough. Keep the flame on medium at all times to ensure all round cooking of the jalebis.
• Now hold the ketchup dispenser over the hot oil and squeeze the batter into the oil into a wiggly, randomly coiled circle. Squeeze out several at a time.
• Fry till light golden and then remove and put directly into the sugar syrup.
• Allow to soak for 2-3 minutes and then remove.
• Serve warm.

Dastakar Spring Mela

Some more colours as Delhi goes all out to welcome and celebrate the Spring season. Over the weekend, I went to Spring edition of the Dastakar Mela. Dastakar is Hindi for handicrafts. The event held at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts is a celebration of the handicrafts from all over India.

As we entered the lush green lawns, we saw this man sitting outside his stall and making lac bangles.



This was his final work.

Further into the mela, I spotted these wood carvings and cane furniture pieces.

There were a lot of terracotta plant holders for gardening enthusiasts.I loved these butterfly shaped garden steps.
There was a lot to eat but the best find in the food court was Daulat ki Chat. Traditionally chat is full of salt and spices. But Daulat ki Chat is a sweet preparation. It is made of the milk foam and has just a little bit of sugar and is garnished with pista (pistachio), kesar (saffron) and powdered brown sugar. In short, it is DELICIOUS!

Environment Friendly Job: Raddi-wala

We in India have been environment friendly for a long time. Our re-cycling also keeps in mind the economics. Today I present the "raddi-wala'. The old newspapers and magazines are called 'Raddi'. It is customary for Indian households to stock a stack of old newspapers. Depending on the space in home and the newspapers a household subscribes to, the stack of 'raddi' varies from a minimum of 5Kg to as much as 20Kgs in some households.


This is Janakraj, the 66-year-old man who has been buying the 'raddi' at my house for the last 10 years. His day starts at 5 o'clock. He goes all across Central Delhi buying 'raddi' from homes and offices. The rate at present is Rs 6 per Kg. And I sold 10Kg of old newspapers.

He weighs the newspapers, calculates the amount he will give and gives the money with a smile.
He then fills his sack with the paper.

Then off he goes to earn his livelihood and make earth a better place.



He sells his collection of old newspapers, magazines, glass bottles, old plastic containers to a wholesale "raddi-wala", who in turn sells his collection to paper mills that produce recycled paper.

Suraj Kund Mela (Fair)

Suraj Kund is a place on the outskirts of Delhi. It is a picnic spot, which comes to life during the first 15 days of February every year. The Suraj Kund handicrafts mela is held in the vast complex every year in a bid to promote the national handicrafts industry.


I visited the mela (fair) yesterday with my mom. We thought that the spring day would be spent best at the fair shopping.There were several artifacts available for sale, from terracotta to jute, to wool... you ask and it was there.

This replica of the India Gate caught my eye but I did not buy it considering the real thing is just a stone's throw from my home.
Music from different states of India was also playing in different corners of the mela. Below is a group of four from the West Indian state of Rajasthan playing for the crowds and the cameras.

The ship of the desert were also in attendance. People were paying a lot of money to see the mela riding on the camels.
We were not the only people to think that visiting the fair on a Sunday was a good idea. And more minds thought like us.

And there were many many many more.

Even as we were leaving the crowds kept pouring in.


I have never seen so many people at one place. Up until now, the statement that India has the second largest population in the world, was just a statement. Now I have photographic proof! Phew it was tiring but overall enjoyable day.