Latest news with #Saawan
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Hindustan Times
A wok in the clouds
It's been raining 'kiss cam', 'diplomatic' scam and many a monsoon-propelled traffic jam. Nothing can match the joie de vivre of munching spice-sprinkled bhuttas on a monsoony Mall Road in the mountains. Be it at Dalhousie or Mussoorie, Nainital or Shimla and Kasauli. (HT) As if fake clouds, fake snow, fake news and all that wasn't enough. Now we have fake embassies and fake diplomats, too. Anybody wishing to brush up Geography lessons needn't look far, certainly needn't look at an atlas, Google Maps and all that crap. A scamster running a fake diplomatic mission around the NCR has unwittingly schooled us better than geography teachers in the names of countries we didn't know existed. Thanks to thousands of fake diplomatic seals 'n' stamps raining at the recently raided 'embassy', our GK (general knowledge) stands updated. Just learnt that these are actual micro-nations on the atlas and not the names of fancy pan-Mediterranean dishes or back-of-beyond football franchises -- Seborga, Ladonia, Westarctica. The racketeer has beaten geography teachers to it, by even concocting a nation -- Paulovia! The curious case of 'Sleaze-less in Seborga'. Heritage hops & hills Talking of rains, it is heartening to see so many monsoon heritage walks happening. Nature lovers and monument enthusiasts in the Capital and elsewhere are making the most of monsoons with well curated excursions to enchanting edifices. Humayun's Tomb to Safdarjung Tomb. No worry of miles-long traffic snarls there at least! Really reminiscent of those different sort of 'heritage' monsoon walks undertaken since childhood. Many a monsoon stroll on The Mall. Rainy weekends on the Mall Road of nearby Kasauli were nothing short of heritage walks. And how! They were made up of both monuments and monsoon must-haves. Looming landmarks such as the ancient Church and Major Dhyan Chand's Statue make the Kasauli strolls into heritage walks of sorts. What better than these selfie points at the corners and signature Saawan sights 'n' smells sandwiched in between. Heritage walks on hilly slopes of cantonment towns offer a quaint spectacle. Gravity meets gravitas. General-ly speaking. Where else will you bump into military's movers and shakers in mackintoshes more mammoth than parachutes doing pilates. Where else will you encounter geriatric Generals with moustaches of all shapes, sizes and surprises. From manicured muttonchops to cultivated Tropical Rain Forests more dense than a Gaddi canine's tail. Monsoon strolls on the Mall meant a double trickle. The fabled bun tikkis and bun samosas fresh off the wok on the Mall Road are a delight on any day. But the adventure of dipping 'n' dripping into them on a rainy day is unmatched. For, tucking into bun tikkis under an umbrella spells double delight. There's a trickle from the brolly braving the pitter-patter. There's a trickle down the mouth of the imli chutney from the platter. And 'ever the twain shall meet! Into a sangam more sentimental and monumental, for foodies, than the making of Prayag. Charms of corn As with bun samosas, so with bhuttas (corn on the cob). Nothing can match the joie de vivre of munching spice-sprinkled bhuttas on a monsoony Mall Road in the mountains. Be it at Dalhousie or Mussoorie, Nainital or Shimla and Kasauli. Wrapped in cloaks of Cumulonimbus, having the bhutta-wali charcoal-roast the bhuttas is a sensory experience like none. The sight of the corn on the cob changing colour over flickering flames is like seeing a sunset ripening from a canary yellowness into a honey goldenness over licking 'n' lusting seawaves. The tickling on the nostrils is like an unsolved mystery, an unparalleled mystery. Of not knowing whether it's the smoke from the bhutta being browned or the mists from a charcoal sky curling up the nostrils or bit of both. The bhutta-in-barsaat sensory adventure may be turning into a trickle, less of a tickle. New-age supermarkets showcasing corn-on-the-cob off slick shelves are slowly stealing the sensory experience. Digital-age contraptions peddling shortcuts have begun depriving us of the charcoal-and-corn jugalbandi. Blame it on bhutta meets air fryer. The humble bhutta, nonetheless, rolls on in its journey of many a fusion, or confusion. Makai ka Shorba to Makai Mousse, Bhutta Coffee to Bhutte ki Kees, Corn Locho to Makai Marmalade. The curious case of 'Woh Corn Thhi'. chetnakeer@
Mint
5 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
Bihar Election 2025, a battle of fish fry, mutton rogan josh and biryani?
Bihar Election 2025: These days, 'Fish fry', 'mutton rogan josh', and 'biryani' are more talked about in Bihar than the state's own speciality 'litti chokha', for all political reasons. The controversy over "mutton rogan josh" being served at a meeting of NDA leaders in Bihar, Patna, is the latest showdown in which culinary preferences have triggered political debates. For RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, "mutton rogan josh" is not just a non-veg delicacy but a jibe and revenge against those who accused him of being "seasonal sanatani" for eating fish fry, apparently during Navratri. New entrant Prashant Kishor's biryani also makes a mention on the menu of controversies. Here's how food choices are giving Bihar politicians a taste of politics. Last year, just ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Tejashwi Yadav was embroiled in controversy over a video showing him grabbing a bite of fish fry in between election campaigns. "Kuch logon ko bahut mirchi lagega," Tejashwi's ally Mukesh Sahani said as he enjoyed the meal alongside the former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar. While many, including several BJP leaders, slammed Tejashwi for eating a non-vegetarian meal during Navratri, the RJD leader claimed that the footage was shot before Navratri festival -- when the Hindu community observe austerities. Top BJP leaders Rajnath Singh and Giriraj Singh had accused Tejashwi of "appeasement politics." Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also said the INDIA bloc leaders were inspired by a 'Mughal' mindset and they enjoy hurting the sentiments of the people. But Tejashwi claimed that he deliberately posted the video late to check the 'IQ' of BJP leaders, who have 'no knowledge and never talked about real issues..." He launched another video of himself enjoying oranges in a helicopter. He took the potshots at the BJP and questioned if anyone would be offended by the color orange. The latest dish on Bihar's political controversy menu is Mutton Rogan Josh. Tejashwi Yadav, who has repeatedly drawn flak from the ruling NDA for consuming non-vegetarian food during Navratra and Saawan, hit back at NDA leaders for savouring mutton in the holy month of Saawan -- that too on a Monday. Saawan Mondays, also known as Saawan Somwars, are the Mondays that fall during the Hindu month of Saawan (also known as Shravan). This month is dedicated to Lord Shiva, and observing fasts and performing puja on these Mondays is considered highly auspicious. Yadav posted an undated video on X, showing a container with a label "mutton rogan josh" written on it. The Times of India reported that the video was shot in the central hall of the Bihar Assembly on Monday. Yadav wrote, "With the boundless blessings and grace of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, BJP ministers and MLAs are relishing mutton 🥩 on the Mondays of Saawan." "We have no objection to anyone's food choice, but the PM should not be 'selective' in his attacks. While he finds it pleasing that his party leaders eat mutton during Shravan, he doesn't hesitate to attack opposition leaders even though they avoid non-vegetarian foods," Tejashwi posted on social media. "Maybe the caterer also arranged for the mutton dish along with vegetarian food, but did Tejashwi only watch who ate the mutton?" state BJP spokesperson Manoj Sharma was quoted by TOI as saying on Tuesday. Last week, Union minister Rajiv Ranjan alias Lalan Singh triggered a similar controversy when he hosted a mutton party for his supporters in Lakhisarai In a video that went viral, Lalan — a former national president of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's JD(U) - is heard saying that he arranged both "vegetarian and non-vegetarian" foods. Speaking to PTI Video, Tejashwi took a dig at Singh, saying, 'We have been called anti-Sanatan by them. I hope Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Motihari tomorrow, will be full of appreciation for Lalan.' Recently, reports claimed that Jan Suraaj leader Prashant Kishor's rally in Kishanganj, Bihar, saw a sudden rush of people after news spread that biryani was being brought for those who attended the gathering. Zee News reported on the incident, claiming that as Kishor spoke at the rally, the audience was sparse, but once the food distribution began, the crowd swelled, leading to chaos and a "mad scramble" for the biryani. A viral video, that captured the chaos, reportedly showed how some people stood on the wall to get biryani. Many people were seen jumping over the wall and bringing biryani from the other side, NDTV reported. Mint could not verify the authenticity of the video. We have been called anti-Sanatan by them. I hope Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Motihari tomorrow, will be full of appreciation for Lalan. Local organisers reportedly claimed that provisions were made for around 5,000 people, but the situation, eventually, spiralled out of control. The incident left many wondering if Jan Suraaj's message of change can resonate with voters beyond the lure of free food, the report added.
NDTV
6 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Mutton Politics In Bihar Poll Pot, Tejashwi Yadav Slams NDA Meet Menu
Patna: Heated exchanges between the ruling JDU-BJP and the Opposition RJD are keeping the election pot boiling in Bihar, and now mutton politics is on the stove. Tejashwi Yadav, RJD leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, has shared a video from an NDA meeting at the Assembly in Patna this Monday. The video shows a pot labelled 'Mutton Roganjosh' in the dining area. The Kashmiri delicacy was served on the second Monday (Somvaar) of the Hindu month of Sawan, considered sacred by a section of Hindus, who avoid non-vegetarian food during this month. Mr Yadav, who has drawn fire from the BJP in the past for eating non-vegetarian food during holy months, targeted the BJP's "selective" politics over food. "With Prime Minister Narendra Modi's blessing, BJP's ministers and MLAs are feasting over mutton on Sawan Somvar." प्रधानमंत्री श्री @narendramodi जी के असीम आशीर्वाद और कृपा से सावन के सोमवारी को दबा कर मटन 🥩 चापते बीजेपी के मंत्री और विधायक। मोदी जी की कैबिनेट में बिहार से तीन ऐसे मंत्री है जो सावन में भी प्रतिदिन 3 किलो मटन खाते है लेकिन दिखावटी तौर पर सनातन पर लंबा चौड़ा ज्ञान देते है।… — Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) July 21, 2025 The Bihar cabinet, he said, has three ministers who consume 1 kg of mutton daily, but "deliver long speeches on Sanatan". "We have no problem with anyone's food habits, but the Prime Minister is so selective. He is fine with his party leaders eating mutton, but when it comes to Opposition leaders, who do not eat meat during Saawan, he does not hesitate to use lies to turn their food habits into a national issue," Mr Yadav said on X. Hitting back, BJP spokesperson Manoj Sharma asked if Mr Yadav has CCTV footage of who ate what. "Should he be watching the food counter or working for Bihar's development? Maybe the caterer served both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. What's the fuss?' he asked, according to a report in The Times of India. Last week, the RJD leader had targeted the NDA and the Prime Minister over JDU leader and Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh -- also known as Lalan Singh -- hosting a mutton party. "We have been called anti-Sanatan by them. The Prime Minister is coming to Bihar tomorrow and will thank Lalan Singh from the stage for arranging a mutton party for his supporters. He is doing a charitable deed," Mr Yadav said. Earlier, in 2023, the BJP and its allies had slammed the RJD-Congress alliance over visuals of RJD patriarch and veteran politician Lalu Prasad Yadav hosting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for a mutton meal during the month of Saawan. Targeting RJD and the Congress, the Prime Minister had said the parties in the INDIA alliance don't care about the feelings of most of the country's population. "During Sawan, they are going to the house of a convicted man and cooking mutton. Not only that, they are also posting videos and teasing the people of the country. The law does not stop anyone from eating anything, and neither does Modi, but their intention is different. When the Mughals attacked, they were not satisfied with defeating the king alone. They did not get satisfaction until they destroyed temples... they enjoyed doing this. In the same way, by uploading the video in the month of Sawan, they (the opposition) are exhibiting the thoughts of the Mughal era, attempting to tease people and fortify their vote bank," he had alleged. The BJP had also tried food politics against Mr Yadav just before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, when it accused the RJD leader of eating fish during Navratri. Mr Yadav had responded that the video, which showed him and Vikassheel Insaan Party chief Mukesh Sahni, was shot a day before Navratri.
News18
7 days ago
- Politics
- News18
'Mutton Party': Tejashwi Yadav Slams NDA Meet Menu Ahead Of Bihar Polls, BJP Hits Back
Last Updated: Tejashwi Yadav's reaction came in the wake of the BJP's attack on him in the past for eating non-vegetarian food during holy months. The poll battle in Bihar is getting intense day by day, with RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav sharing a video from an NDA meeting at the Assembly in Patna on Monday. The video shows a pot labelled 'Mutton Roganjosh' in the dining area. The Kashmiri delicacy was served on the second Monday (Somvaar) amid the ongoing month of Sawan, considered sacred by a section of Hindus, who avoid non-vegetarian food during this month. Yadav's reaction came in the wake of the BJP's attack on him in the past for eating non-vegetarian food during holy months. 'With Prime Minister Narendra Modi's blessing, BJP's ministers and MLAs are feasting over mutton on Sawan Somvar," Yadav said in a post on X, accusing BJP of doing 'selective" politics. The Bihar cabinet has three ministers who consume 1 kg of mutton daily, but 'deliver long speeches on Sanatan, he said, adding, 'We have no problem with anyone's food habits, but the Prime Minister is so selective. He is fine with his party leaders eating mutton, but when it comes to Opposition leaders, who do not eat meat during Saawan, he does not hesitate to use lies to turn their food habits into a national issue." 'Should he be watching the food counter or working for Bihar's development? Maybe the caterer served both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. What's the fuss?" he was quoted as saying by The Times of India. Last week, the RJD leader had targeted the NDA and the Prime Minister over JDU leader and Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh — also known as Lalan Singh — hosting a mutton party. Earlier, in 2023, the BJP and its allies had slammed the RJD-Congress alliance over visuals of RJD patriarch and veteran politician Lalu Prasad Yadav hosting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for a mutton meal during the month of Saawan. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Economic Times
7 days ago
- General
- Economic Times
Sawan Shivratri 2025: Messages, wishes, WhatsApp and Facebook statuses for friends, family and loved ones
Synopsis Sawan Shivratri, a sacred festival dedicated to Lord Shiva, will be observed on July 23, 2025. Devotees observe fasts, offer prayers, and perform rituals during the holy month of Shravan, seeking blessings for health, prosperity, and spiritual growth. The occasion emphasizes devotion, introspection, and surrendering to the divine, with various ways to celebrate, including fasting, chanting, and acts of charity. iStock Sawan Shivratri, one of the most sacred festivals for devotees of Lord Shiva, will be observed on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. Celebrated on the 14th day of the waxing moon (Krishna Paksha Chaturdashi) in the holy month of Shravan (Saawan), it holds deep spiritual significance in Hindu tradition. Unlike Maha Shivratri, which symbolizes the cosmic union of Shiva and Shakti, Sawan Shivratri is observed as part of the month-long Shravan festivities, a time devoted entirely to Lord Shiva through fasting, prayers, and rituals. Devotees across India observe fasts, offer bilva leaves, chant Om Namah Shivaya, and seek blessings for health, prosperity, and spiritual awakening. According to the Drik Panchang, it is a powerful night for devotion, introspection, and surrender. Traditional & devotional wishes May Lord Shiva bless you with health, wealth, and happiness. Happy Sawan Shivratri Har Har Mahadev! May Bholenath shower you with his divine grace Om Namah Shivaya! Let peace and devotion flow through your life Celebrate this holy night with faith, prayers, and love Let the light of Shiva destroy all darkness in your life Messages for friends and family Wishing you and your family a blessed and peaceful Sawan Shivratri On this divine night, may Mahadev protect and guide you always Let's celebrate the power of devotion together. Har Har Mahadev May your bond with your loved ones strengthen through Shiva's blessings Sending love, peace, and prayers this Shivratri In every 'Om Namah Shivaya,' I find peace and power Wrapped in faith, soaked in Saawan – Happy Shivratri Let Mahadev's Trishul destroy all your worries today This Shivratri, surrender your ego, and rise in devotion Fast ends, but faith flows forever – Happy Sawan Shivratri Devotion louder than the Ganga, silence deeper than Kailash "Shiva is not a god up in the sky. Shiva is the very source of existence." – Sadhguru "Om Namah Shivaya – The five sacred syllables that awaken the divine within." "Meditate like Shiva—calm, powerful, eternal." "Let go like Shiva—of anger, ego, and attachments." "Where there is Shiva, there is freedom from fear." "Celebrate not just the ritual, but the transformation it brings." "Shiva's silence speaks to those who listen with the soul." Shiv ki leela, shiv ka gyaan, Shiv mein hi hai jeevan ka pehchaan Damaru baje, trishul chale, Mahadev aaye, bhalayi ke liye Chandrama jise sheesh sajaye, vo Mahadev sab dukh bhagaye Sawan ka mahina hai bhakti ka geet, Mahadev ki kripa sadaa mile preet Rudra ka roop bhayanak sahi, bhakton ke liye sadaa sukhdayak hai wahi Mahadev ki kripa se har manokamna poori ho – Happy Shivratri Fasting (Vrat): Devotees observe a strict fast or take only fruits and milk Shiva Abhishekam: Offer water, milk, honey, curd, ghee, and bael leaves to the Shivling Chanting: Recite 'Om Namah Shivaya' or the Shiva Chalisa Night Vigil: Stay awake throughout the night meditating or singing bhajans Charity & Seva: Help those in need, reflecting Shiva's compassion
