Jai Jagannath (Hail Lord Jagannath). After a long time I got the opportunity to eat AVADA (Temple food) procured from Jagannath temple of Puri, followed by the dessert RASABALI a local speciality. It was pure bliss.
No vegetable of foreign origin is ever used in Avada, a conservative tradition enforced since centuries. For example - potato, tomato, cabbage, cauliflower, chilli pepper🌶, papaya which are extensively cultivated in India now aren't originally from India and were introduced by the Europeans. Native vegetables like Mula (Radish), Saaga (locally grown leafy greens), Desi Alu (yam), Potala (pointed gourd), Kankada (spiny gourd), coconut etc are used extensively to cook several delicacies like Besara, Mahura, Saaga, Potala Rasa and so on. These veggies along with Dal (lentils) are all cooked on earthen pot over burning wood which brings out its unique taste and flavor - especially from the crushed MARICHA (Black Pepper). A fitting finale to a meal of Avada is Rabidi, Chhena Payas or Rasabali - all different variants of sweetened skim milk and cheese.
After moving to United States I have developed this bad habit of drinking chilled or iced water. Here water at room temperature is served by default unless specifically asked for. Water at room temperature tastes so bland.
While traveling I have noticed wide usage of Google navigation to locate the destination. This morning the guy who drove me suddenly stopped the vehicle at the corner of the road, asking me - "TIKE NAVIGASANA TA MARI DIANTU (Please punch in the navigation). He was asking me to key in the destination address for him on the Google map. I entered the destination address and set his phone on navigation mode. It was useful for him. Meandering through the lanes using a mix of my "killing of navigation" (Navigation Mari diantu) and his expertise of skirting potholes, we reached our destination.
Almost a week has gone without me doing any tangible form of exercise. Thanks to my friend Amit Mahapatra we had an one hour evening walk inside the Rajarani temple park not far from where I live. We better call it a night walk as it was quite dark between 7 to 8 PM (sun sets here close to 6 PM). There were hardly anyone there except a few Chemenia (small bats) crisscrossing the temple premises which looked brownish lighted by the street lamps.
After finishing our walk we stepped outside of the park only to be greeted by a huge Bull apparently in heat, amorously baying at top of his voice. He didn't like my friend's Scooty and tried to lift it up using his sharp horns. I shouted "Hey Hey" and frantically clapped standing at a safe distance to shoo it away to no effect. My effort hardly could make any difference. Thankfully a cow standing only few feet away got his attention and he swung his massive frame and began trotting towards her veering through the traffic. We heaved a sigh of relief.
Reminded me of a local JATRA (Dance troupe) playing few years back at KHANDAGIRI titled "SABU CHHAKKA RE SASURA GHARA" - (Screwing at Crossroads). This Bull fits the bill. Screwing at Crossroads he can very well play the main character of that JATRA. More later...
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