Eating on a banana leaf... :)

If you have ever had the chance to attend a south Indian function you would know what this is about. Having gone through the arduous task of sailing through a lunch on the banana leaf one would quite agree that it is indeed an art to manage a lunch on it. But once you master it, it’s more fun than anything.

The wedding is over and people rush in huge numbers towards the dining hall. Generally, two to three rows of long tables are arranged with enough passage in between for the valets to walk. Big, green, banana leaf are laid and its time to settle down. People start with sprinkling little water gently on the leaf and wiping it as though a sign to say, “Bring it on, I am ready for an attack” [One is pretty hungry after the dull wedding though one hardly has any active participation besides dressing and chatting, for having become so tired!!]
There’s a sequence to serving in the traditional banana leaf. First is a spoon of kheer, i.e to start with something sweet. Though for most it is like a movie’s trailer which helps you judge whether the further course would be tasty or not. Next is pachadi (a southie variety of raita with tadka) and crispy brown vada (vadai) to go with it. Next up are two-three kinds of vegetables of which one is mandatory to be spicy. Followed by the famous avail/kootu ( a liquid side dish with n-number of veggies in it). A bit of pickle for the last, and limbu rice (which acc to me they serve in miserly quantities most of the times….darn) of course salt if need be.
Three more to go before the final attack!! Starting with paruppu (Dal), rice and ghee. Hot and spicy sambhar to mix up with the rice, an icing on the cake being the crunchy papads. Its time to start!! Choosing one after the other diligently working your way through tasting and finishing all that is served, a major look out is the server’s speed as well as that of your co-eaters. Since, if you are stuck up with sambhar rice when the pandhi (the current eaters) are through with their rasam rice, then you may have to forgo on rasam…..unless you are brave, patient and vociferous enough to call out to ‘the mama ’and ask him for rasam.
Rasam brings us to a very seminal part of learning this art, by far the most challenging one if you have been brought up to eat with a spoon. You can turn yourself into a jester frantically trying to get things in place. Following criteria’s to be thought of:
1. What is the size of your leaf?
2. What is its current position? Too near to the table’s edge or safely far from you?
3. How filled is your leaf? Can you do some space management?
If the above questions are answered in positive, then you are ready for a kill, else there’s trouble…hehehe. Some tips…..
Once rice is served, make a small partition between the heap of rice, 1st serving---start mixing, second one---take care of the borders lest they make way to your expensive outfit, 3rd serving--- (strictly recommended only for experts) start off!!! Eating rasam rice neatly is a sure portrayal of dexterity.
Payasam next, followed by curd rice with the little pickle at the corner. Once done, you have victoriously completed the task, ready to move out….ouch…too full to move… ;)
Sitting next to naani has given me hands-on-exp and training. Being scrupulous while interacting with the mamas, since a mere nod/low replies will only land you with more. Also between regular intervals, looking out for which mama is serving which dish so as to be prepared for a firm YES/NO ably gestured with your palm over the leaf. Don’t engage in too much talking while rice is being served lest you overstuff yourself or waste food sloppily.
Scientifically, banana leaves make the food more tasty, keep the heat in them intact and due to the constant contact between your hand and leaf, the leave’s juice goes in along with the food which helps in digestion. Its environmental friendly, since its disposal causes no harm and are even given to cows at times as food.

SOOOoooooooo, planning to have lunch on a banana leaf??? ;)

pavsaache prakar.... :P

RAIN CATEGORIES!!!??? :D
I have this weird habit of categorizing and organizing things. Since I loooove rains, this thought just crossed my mind while in the bus, during the monsoons in Mumbai and what better roads than vashi bridge….haaaa
Although this might seema l’l “aiiing” at first, I am sure you’d b able to relate to it 
The first type “I’m there” It starts with small droplets, one where some of them gently wet your face and some fall on the tar roads giving them a polka dot like design. One which makes you feel its subtle presence….the coolness in the air and the vernal freshness that it brings around you. Almost mystic! One where you don’t have to use your car’s wipers, not have to open your umbrellas and not bother about the muddy waters. A good-natured serene, mother like rain which makes you sing a ‘cloud no 9’ or ‘goonji si hai’ and tempt you for a walk down the road with the open sky and its mild shower.
The second type “Catch me if you can” very annoying ones. Unpredictable and almost sardonic since when you are convinced that it aint gona rain i.e. you pack your umbrellas inside a cover and deep into your bag…..you step out and LO!!! Rains are there literally out of the blue….And by the time you manage to fetch your umbrella and open it (that’s when the button gets stuck too!!) the impish rains are gone leaving you drenched!! On the same lines, when you are waiting at the bus-stop it rains, when you get into the bus, it stops!! Its like this five year kid playing on off on off…making the weather humid, damp and should I say us confused!!
The third type “YAWN, a ya I’ll come” most vapid and sultry one. Where it seems like the black clouds is carrying a burden of having to bump into each other and rain for us. Like a lazy fellow who hasn’t opened the shower tap properly. You hear the irritating composition of “tap tap tap’ hitting the roofs of your balcony with the able support of the pigeons flapping their wings till you develop a headache. The atmosphere is neither conducive for hot bhajji and chaai nor for shopping outside. Its lying in between making the surrounds gloomy and sleepy, like hearing a song when the walkman’s battery has gone low……draggy, drappy, crappy hehehe
Last but certainly not the least “Take this, take that and take more” the fighter rains. Bringing lightening and thunder along, it’s this angry young man answering to all those whiners who complained of water shortage. You fold your pants up, carry a chaaata or wind shea…..there’s no escape. Raging sky mercilessly pouring its anger out. Its when you want to call home, but they wont allow you to remove your cell lest your cell conks off…you want to run home but the umpteen number of puddles and flooded streets…you can only swim through them taking diseases along with you…sluggish water…you want to drive fast but the speed of rain much greater than the speed of your wipers. It’s the time when the BMC is cursed, any mobile network is not good enough, potholes are at every half a step, parents are tensed…..chaos!! Once done, when the day ends, the clouds seem calm, smiles and asks…”Howzzzaaat??”
Mumbai rains give you such a variety….jai ho to Mumbai monsoons!!!