Articles by Uma Swamy

Jayalakshmi and her husband are the founders of Basavangudi based Asha Dollmakers which highlight tradition as well as creativity during weddings. According to old Mysore wedding traditions, it is considered auspicious to give dry coconut, roasted chana, jaggery and arishina-kumkuma (turmeric and vermilion) to the bride during Vara pooje, a function to welcome the groom to the wedding. Over the years, innovations have led to creative figurines dressed to look like traditional dolls.Wedding contractors and marriage halls place bulk orders with individuals or small-scale units producing such figurines. Although the price varies depending on customer specifications and quantity, the cost…

Jayalakshmi and her husband are the founders of Basavangudi based Asha Dollmakers which highlight tradition as well as creativity during weddings. According to old Mysore wedding traditions, it is considered auspicious to give dry coconut, roasted chana, jaggery and arishina-kumkuma (turmeric and vermilion) to the bride during Vara pooje, a function to welcome the groom to the wedding. Over the years, innovations have led to creative figurines dressed to look like traditional dolls.Wedding contractors and marriage halls place bulk orders with individuals or small-scale units producing such figurines. Although the price varies depending on customer specifications and quantity, the cost…

The marathon of festivals is now peaking with Deepavali around the corner. There seems to be no festival fatigue in sight as shops court their customers in different ways. Armed with an opportunistic license given by the festival, corporates and clients felicitate each other with gift hampers of dry fruits, sweets of salted savouries and sweets. Deepavali sweets. Pic: Uma Swamy Adyar Anand Bhavan, next to BTM Petrol Pump, Maiyyas, G Pulla Reddy, Sri Venkateshwara Sweets, Dharwad Mishra Peda, Parimala Sweets (4th Block) are gearing up to meet the consumer rush.  Dr P Sadananda Maiyya,  Director of Maiyyas Beverages and…

The marathon of festivals is now peaking with Deepavali around the corner. There seems to be no festival fatigue in sight as shops court their customers in different ways. Armed with an opportunistic license given by the festival, corporates and clients felicitate each other with gift hampers of dry fruits, sweets of salted savouries and sweets. Deepavali sweets. Pic: Uma Swamy Adyar Anand Bhavan, next to BTM Petrol Pump, Maiyyas, G Pulla Reddy, Sri Venkateshwara Sweets, Dharwad Mishra Peda, Parimala Sweets (4th Block) are gearing up to meet the consumer rush.  Dr P Sadananda Maiyya,  Director of Maiyyas Beverages and…

The shingada or kuttu (water chestnuts) comes to the rescue, given that the on-going Navratris have restrictions on many North Indians, and in particular the Jain community. Festival Food at Mast Kalandar. Pic: Uma Swamy As recipes using flour made from Shingada are permissible, people make variants of regular dishes as well as new ones. Mast Kalandar, the Vegetarian restaurant , is serving the Vrat Thalis  using shingada or kuttu flour in pooris and pakodis that are salted with a special salt (sendha namak) .  Priced at Rs 159, the Vrat Thalis or the Navratra combo will be served till…

The shingada or kuttu (water chestnuts) comes to the rescue, given that the on-going Navratris have restrictions on many North Indians, and in particular the Jain community. Festival Food at Mast Kalandar. Pic: Uma Swamy As recipes using flour made from Shingada are permissible, people make variants of regular dishes as well as new ones. Mast Kalandar, the Vegetarian restaurant , is serving the Vrat Thalis  using shingada or kuttu flour in pooris and pakodis that are salted with a special salt (sendha namak) .  Priced at Rs 159, the Vrat Thalis or the Navratra combo will be served till…

It’s a busy time for Bengali Associations across Bangalore as they are in the midst of organising Durga Pujo. This is the time of Puja, new clothes and getting together with the community to share a rich heritage of performing arts and cuisine.  One such Pujo is being organised by Bengali In Bangalore (BinB), a non-residential Bengali community online. The theme for this year’s pujo is Awkal Bodhan which depicts a scene from the Ramayana of Lord Rama doing a puja before going to Sri Lanka to rescue Goddess Sita. Apart from this there will also be Dhunuchi Naach, a…

It’s a busy time for Bengali Associations across Bangalore as they are in the midst of organising Durga Pujo. This is the time of Puja, new clothes and getting together with the community to share a rich heritage of performing arts and cuisine.  One such Pujo is being organised by Bengali In Bangalore (BinB), a non-residential Bengali community online. The theme for this year’s pujo is Awkal Bodhan which depicts a scene from the Ramayana of Lord Rama doing a puja before going to Sri Lanka to rescue Goddess Sita. Apart from this there will also be Dhunuchi Naach, a…

Shenoy Stores is a landmark that has stood its ground since it began forty years ago (1971) Shobha Shenoy and Vittal Shenoy started the shop as a general store in 1986. Initially, their objective was to meet the need for traditional and fresh condiments. Eventually, affordable home-made tindis (savouries) that were packed to maintain freshness were made and sold. Their specialty is the samosa that is sold at just Rs. 1, proving that the best in life need cost an arm! Ready snacks also include holige, chaklis, mixtures and several Mangalore delicacies. Shenoy Stores also stocks pickles, curry powders. Shenoy’s…

Shenoy Stores is a landmark that has stood its ground since it began forty years ago (1971) Shobha Shenoy and Vittal Shenoy started the shop as a general store in 1986. Initially, their objective was to meet the need for traditional and fresh condiments. Eventually, affordable home-made tindis (savouries) that were packed to maintain freshness were made and sold. Their specialty is the samosa that is sold at just Rs. 1, proving that the best in life need cost an arm! Ready snacks also include holige, chaklis, mixtures and several Mangalore delicacies. Shenoy Stores also stocks pickles, curry powders. Shenoy’s…