Mouth-watering vegetarian dishes of India

Goa – khatkhate, Almixacuti & Goan nevri

West Bengal - Luchi-ghugni, begun bhaja (fried brinjal), aloo posto (potatoes cooked in poppy seeds paste), and mochar ghonto (banana flower and potato curry). Bengali sweets, such as rosogulla, chomchom and sandesh.

Uttar Pradesh

Aloo puri puffy, crispy puris and piping hot potato curry. sweets petha, peda and rewari.

Kerala - A must-have foodie experience in Kerala is the sadya, which is served on a banana leaf. Avial, appam (type of pancake), porotta (flaky, layered flat bread), vegetable stew, idiyappam (rice noodle cakes) and puttu (steamed rice cakes with coconut) to match with kadala (chickpea) curry.

Karnataka - Mysore dosa smeared with a spicy garlic and red chillies chutney. Neer dosa (made with runny rice batter), allugedda (mashed masala potatoes) and bisi bele bath (made with rice, lentils and veggies).  Traditional sweet Mysore pak.

Sikkim - Food is mostly influenced by Nepalese and Tibetan cuisine. Momos and thukpa to delicacies like gundruk (leafy vegetable), Sikkim has some unique dishes to offer.

Telangana - Shahi tukda the Hyderabadi pudding comprises fried bread topped with condensed milk and flavored with a hint of cardamom and saffron. Sarva pindi  (a type of savory pancake), pachi pulusu (tamarind soup), polelu (flat bread stuffed with jaggery) and baghare baingan (brinjal curry).

Jammu and Kashmir - Dum-aloo, which is fried potatoes cooked in a curd-based gravy. Lyodur Tschaman (cottage cheese cooked in a turmeric-based gravy) and paneer chaman (cottage cheese prepared in milk). Breads such as sheermal and baqerkhani. 

Odisha - Mouth-watering desserts such as ras malai, chhenapoda and rasabali. The vegetarian dishes that commonly figure in a main course meal here include dalma (a green gram preparation), pakhala bhata (a rice dish) and santula (vegetable curry). 

Mizoram - Chhum han is a simple dish made of steamed vegetables. Koat pitha (banana fritters), paanch phoron torkari (mixed vegetables) and bamboo shoot fry.

Gujarat - Khandvi is made with gram flour, the rolled snack is served with chutney. Snack on like dhokla, thepla, muthiya, fafda, khichu. Mohanthal, ghari and basundi are must-try sweets.

Tamil Nadu - Dosa, uttapam has toppings of bell pepper, onion and tomato. Idli, vada, dosa, lemon rice, sambhar, rasam, banana bondas, milagu pongal (savory rice dish) and murukku

Haryana - A paradise for vegetarians, Kadhi pakoda (gram flour balls cooked in curd), sangri ki sabzi (a preparation of stringy beans) and a variety of khichdi (rice and lentil dish) and dal preparations. Buttermilk is one of the much-loved drinks. Gulfi at Delhi.  

Madhya Pradesh - Poha-jalebi  the classic breakfast combinations here is poha (lightly fried flakes of flattened rice) paired with jalebi. With scrumptious dishes such as bhutte ki khees (corn cooked in spices and simmered in milk) and dal bafla (baked wheat balls with dal), Madhya Pradesh sure offers a good mix for food connoisseurs.

Rajasthan - Dal baati from the traditional dal baati churma (a dish made of lentils), gatte ki sabzi (made of gram flour), bikaneri bhujiya (crispy snack) to sweets like balushahi, ghevar and Alwar's milkcake, there are ample of dishes in Rajasthan to please all taste buds.

Andhra Pradesh - Known as pulihora or puliyodharayi, tamarind rice is a tangy rice preparation infused with tamarind pulp. Other well-liked dishes from the state include poornalu (rice flour stuffed with jaggery mixed dal paste), mamidikaya pappu (raw mango dal), koora (curry) and panasapottu koora (jackfruit curry).

Maharashtra - Vada pav from puran poli to vada pav and pav bhaji, the land of Marathas has some of the best food in the country. Other famous food from this region include missal pav, batata vada and modak.

Assam - Aloo pitika, a mashed potato preparation, other signature dishes include xaak aru bhaji (leafy vegetable stir fried), oou khatta (chutney made of elephant apple) and a variety of pithas (rice cakes).

Arunachal Pradesh - Bamboo shoots are used as an ingredient in most recipes. A separate dish prepared entirely with tender bamboo shoots is one of the most popular of the state.

Bihar - Staple food litti chokha (whole wheat flour balls with a stuffing of roasted gram flour) and sattu recipes like sattu paratha. Thekua (sweet dish), balushahi (dessert), dhuska (deep fried snack) and suran chutney (made of elephant foot yam).

Jharkhand - sweet Malpua (deep-fried pancake) and thekua & litti chokha.

Punjab - Makke di roti and sarso da saag (made of corn and mustard leaves). Lip-smacking Amritsari kulcha and lassi (yogurt-based drink).

Uttarakhand - Bal mithai is a dessert made with roasted khoya and coated with sugar balls. Apart from this, Uttarakhand has some unique dishes like the bhaang ki chutney (made with hemp, mint leaves and green chillies), Garhwal ka fannah (a dal preparation), baadi (a type of porridge), jhangora ki kheer (cereal-based dessert) and Kumaoni raita (a curd preparation)

Chhattisgarh - Muthia the dumpling served with chutney is made from rice batter mixed with spices and chopped onion. Aamat (tangy soup made with bamboo shoots), dubki kadhi (a kadhi preparation with chana dal dumplings) and chousela (rice puri).

Himachal Pradesh - Babru - Stuffed with black gram, this is a Himachali version of the popular kachoris. The Himachali pulao made with rice, nuts, spices and fruits is also a staple of the state. Apart from this, sweet, saffron-flavored rice known as meetha zafrani chawal and makhana raita (lotus seeds and curd preparation) are also popular.

Guide to new car delivery inspection

An oversight on your part at that time could lead to some stress or inconvenience later

Taking delivery of your new car is a big occasion. While it is easy to get lost in the moment of being handed the keys to your new set of wheels, you should take care that everything is in order. An oversight on your part at the time of taking delivery could lead to some stress or inconvenience later. Here are some pointers on what to do before taking delivery.

Bring someone along

It is best to take someone along when inspecting the car — if you have a trusted mechanic, even better. It’s nice to have an extra set of eyes and ears as you inspect the car, so that you’re more likely to notice things that may have been missed if only a single person were looking over the car. A mechanic will also be more likely to spot any sub-par repair work, or notice if anything seems out of place.

Exterior inspection

Walk around the car and inspect the surfaces for dings and scratches and places that may look repainted. Also keep an eye out for misaligned panels or improper panel gaps, which could indicate a shoddy repair job. Check the rubber seals around the doors and windows for cracks and check the tyres for tread level and flat spots. Also switch on all exterior lights and make sure they are working properly and do not flicker. A flicker could indicate a wiring or battery problem.

A full inspection — especially by someone with a trained eye — can help you identify any damage or unwarranted wear-and-tear to your new car. This should be correctly rectified by the dealer prior to your taking possession.

Keep in mind that it’s not unusual for cars to suffer a little damage during storage or transit from the factory.

Interior inspection

Inside the car, check if all the various adjustment functions for components like the wing mirrors, seats, steering and seatbelts work properly, as well as all electricals within the cabin, such as the audio system, touchscreen, instrument cluster lights, cabin/reading lamps etc. Check the quality of the dashboard, door pads, seats, and if the overall fit-and-finish levels are acceptable. Also, keep an eye out for any stains on the upholstery and check the carpets for signs of water seepage.

Fire up the engine and switch on the air conditioning; check if it cools the cabin quickly and effectively. Also check for any odour emanating from the system, which could indicate the growth of bacteria inside the system. Improper cooling or a foul odour will require the system to be serviced.

Also make sure you check for the spare tyre, vehicle jack and tool kit. In most cars, the spare wheel is under either the boot floor or the vehicle.

Under the hood

Open the bonnet and look for any signs of fluid leak, dirt, grime and signs of rats. Also, check all fluid levels to make sure they are at the correct level and colour. It’s also worth inspecting the rubber hosings, tubing and insulation casings of wires under the bonnet for damage. Rubber components tend to dry out, harden and/or crack over time, which is an indicator that the car has been exposed to the elements for a while.

Also, start up the engine, allow it to idle, and check for any peculiar or unusual noises. While at idle, the engine shouldn’t vibrate excessively, the bay should not smell of unburnt fuel and the exhaust should not emit black fumes.

Inspect the battery and its terminals for signs of corrosion as well, and ask the sales person for the battery’s warranty card.

Pre-delivery test drive

Sure, you will have test-driven the car prior to placing the order, but this is more to check out your new car’s mechanicals. Insist on taking it for a test drive before officially accepting delivery. A test drive will help you zero-in on any mechanical issues — manufacturing defects or otherwise. If the car has been lying still for a while, the tyres may develop a flat spot. This can be identified during the test drive, if not spotted during the visual inspection. Also get a feel for the steering, brakes, clutch and gearbox and make sure that all are functioning smoothly. On the test drive, see if the car is pulling in one direction, if there is a judder in the brake pedal during hard braking, any unwanted suspension noise over uneven roads, or if any of the warning lights show up.

Paperwork

Check the manufacturing month and year of the car. Ask the dealer to show you the ‘Form 22’ which is issued by the manufacturer and mentions the vehicle’s engine number and chassis number, with the month and year of manufacture.

The car’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) should be the same as the one appearing on the bill of sale, registration certificate and the finance or lease agreement. Check that the engine and chassis number of the car match the ones on the invoice as well. And make sure your spelling, address and other details are correct and consistent on all documents.

You get only one chance to see if there are any fundamental issues with your car. Make the most of it and do a thorough job, and don’t forget — any of the faults that you might see need to be noted down, signed and duly acknowledged by the dealer. Once satisfied, you can celebrate your new purchase with even greater peace of mind.

கோவில்களில் இறைவனை வணங்க சாஸ்திரங்கள் கூறும் மூன்று வகை நமஸ்காரங்கள்!

கோயில்களுக்கு சென்று இறைவனை வணங்கும் போது முக்கியமான மூன்று வழிமுறைகள் உள்ளதாக ஆகம சாஸ்திரங்கள் கூறுகின்றன. 

உத்தம நமஸ்காரம்:

லட்சுமி வாசம் செய்யும் வேதரேகைகள், மந்திர உபதேசங்கள் நிறைந்த நமது இரண்டு கரங்களை இணைத்து, இதயத்திற்கு அருகில் மார்பிற்கு நேரே மையத்தில் வைத்து, மனதில் மட்டுமே மந்திரங்களைக் கூறி இறைவனை ஒருநொடியேனும் மனதார வணங்க வேண்டும். மனிதனின் ஆத்ம இருப்பிடமான இதயத்தில் இருந்து வணங்குவதை இறைவன் செவிசாய்த்து கேட்பான் என்பது ஐதீகம்.

அஷ்டாங்க நமஸ்காரம்:

இவ்வகையான நமஸ்காரமுறை ஆண்களுக்கு மட்டுமே உரித்தானது. இம்முறையில் அஷ்டாங்கமும் (அஷ்டம் எட்டு; அங்கம் உடற்பாகம்) தரையில் படும்படியாக வீழ்ந்து, இறைவனிடம் தன்னை முழுமையாக அர்ப்பணித்து வணங்க வேண்டும். தலை, முகம், இரண்டு தோள்பட்டைகள், உடல், இரண்டு முழங்கால்கள் மற்றும் பாதநுனி ஆகிய உடற்பாகங்களை தரையில் படும்படியாக படுத்துக்கொண்டு இறைவனின் திருப்பாதத்தை சரணடைந்தால் வாழ்வில் பாவங்கள் நீங்கி நற்கதி உண்டாகும்.

பஞ்சாங்க நமஸ்காரம்: 

இந்த நமஸ்காரமுறை பெண்களுக்கு மட்டுமே பொருந்தும். இவ்வகையான வணங்கல் முறையில் பெண்கள் தங்களது பஞ்சாங்கத்தையும் (பஞ்சம் ஐந்து; அங்கம் உடற்பாகம்) இறைவனிடம் முழுமையாக சமர்ப்பணம் செய்து வணங்க வேண்டும். இம்முறையில் தலை, இரண்டு முழங்கால்கள் மற்றும் இரண்டு பாதநுனிகளை பூமியில் வைத்து இறைவனை வணங்கிட நற்பலன்கள் கிட்டும்.

பரிகாரங்களில் மிகச் சிறந்தது கோவிலில் சுத்தமான நெய் தீபம் ஏற்றுவதே!

தர்ம சாஸ்திரங்கள், சம்பிரதாயங்கள், வழிபாடுகள், விரதங்கள், பிரார்த்தனைகள், வேண்டுதல்கள், பரிகார பூஜைகள் எல்லாம் காலம் காலமாக தொன்றுதொட்டு நம் முன்னோர்களால் கடைபிடிக்கப்பட்டு வரும் விஷயங்களாகும். பரிகாரம் என்பது கஷ்ட நஷ்டங்கள், இடையூறுகள், தடைகளை அகற்றி நல்வழி காட்டுமாறு கடவுளிடத்தில் வேண்டிக் கொள்வதாகும்.

திருக்கோயிலில் தீபம் ஏற்றுவது மிக சக்தி வாய்ந்த பரிகாரம் ஆகும். அதுவும் அதிகாலை, நண்பகல் (உச்சிவேலை), அந்தி பொழுதில் ஏற்றப்படும் தீபங்களுக்கு மிகவும் விஷேச சக்தி உண்டு. அதில் பல சூட்சும ரகசியங்கள் அடங்கி உள்ளன. கோவில்களில் இந்த மூன்று வேளைகளில் ஏற்றப்படும் தீபம் உடனுக்குடன் துன்ப நிவர்த்தியை தரும்.

மிக கடுமையான பிரச்சனைகளுக்கு நல்ல சுத்தமான நெய்யை, இறைவனின் கருவறையில் சுடர்விட்டு பிரகாசிக்கும் தூங்கா விளக்கில் சேர்த்து வந்தால் போதும். இப்படி தூங்கா விளக்கினை நெய்யால் மூன்று வேளைகளில் தொடர்ந்து தீபம் ஏற்றி வர நாம் எண்ணிய காரியம் நிறைவேறும்.

இத்தகைய தீபம் உடலில் இருந்து பிரிய போகும் ஒரு ஜீவனின் நேரத்தையே தள்ளிப்போடும் அளவிற்கு சக்தி வாய்ந்தது ஆகும். ஆகவே பல ஆயிரம் செலவு செய்து பரிகாரங்கள் பண்ணுவதைவிட ஒரு நெய்தீபம் ஏற்றுவது சிறந்தது.