ZaPalooza Pune - Flea market, music, food shopping and more

Easy Fried Rice in Minutes

In conversation with Shatrujeet Nath on his Vikramaditya Veergatha serie...

Learn to make Classic Easy Pasta Recipe by Chef from Mercure Hotels

Easy Chicken Chilli Momos Recipe

Check out the easy recipe for chicken chilli momos right from the streets of Pune.
This momo guy sits in Pune - Koregaon park at the entrance of lane no 5 next to the juice vendor.
Street food at its best.



xoxo
Bhakti

Shopping @Dorabjees, Diy Facemask, healthy eating with Green Tokri

https://youtu.be/SLkVt-k4_Kw

Let me take you with me to the best and iconic departmental store in Pune..
https://www.dorabjees.com/
 Check out what I shop and also see my healthy food haul and a local brand Green Tokri
 http://greentokri.com/
 which is really awesome and healthy.
Also check my dinner prep, unwinding with a DIY face pack and some Beautiful Green Tea from the laps of Himalayas ..

The Tantric Curse - Anupama Garg - Book Review

Book: The Tantric Curse

Author: Anupama Garg

Publisher: Rupa Publications

Genre: Fiction| Thriller

Pages: 280

Price: 295 INR

Synopsis

On an amavasya night, eight-year-old Rhea mysteriously lands at the doors of Shaktidham, a Tantric house of worship, in a trance. Realizing that she is blessed with unusual faculties, the guru of Shaktidham, Satya, chooses her as a disciple over his own son, Krishnam, to carry on his lineage, a privilege previously bestowed only to males. But the lineage has been cursed for generations, and it is up to Rhea to either break the curse or perish in the attempt.
Will she succeed in her endeavour? Will her love for Krishnam become an obstacle in her path? The Tantric Curse, an unusual story set in the world of Tantra that aims to dispel most of the myths about the practice, will keep you spellbound till the very last page. 

My Take

I was really happy on receiving this book from the author as I was really intrigued By the subject of Tantra. In India or anywhere else this topic is always that of mystery, of hushed voices, suspicion, little knowledge and more gossip. 

Though everyone talks about it in whispers everyone sure wants to know more. 

I was all the more glad to Read this book as this is selected By the National Book Trust and is being showcased in Indian Pavilion at the Frankfurt Book Fair (world's largest fair for books )

My first thoughts on this book were that it Might be boring with a lot of gyan (knowlwledge) and a slow Read. However I was in for a suprise, I underestimated this book. Once I started reading, I couldnt keep it down. 
A breezy read surely and made very interesting with a surreal love story in the background.
Its a page turner for sure and I enjoyed it thoroughly.

. 

The book has an intense story woven with a beautiful love story. The author has very cleverly imbibed the principles of tantra and narrated them through the story. The story progresses with different aspects being told of this subject. 

The pratogonist of the book is the disciple of Tantra and takes us into this world of ancient and authentic Tantra.

Tantra has originated from Lord Shiva himself. Though misrepresented and misunderstood this art is pure and positive. 

The author strives hard to tell this fact and I think she is successful in doing so through this book.

Anupama Garg herself is a disciple of  Baba Batuknathji , a well known Tantric and head of Bhoot Nath ashram, the main centre being Lucknow ,Uttar Pradesh India.

She took it on herself to shed some light over Tantra and show people the true meaning of this art. 

The author uses Simple language and holds the readers interest in the world of Rhea. Her journey compels one to think that all things are happebing for a reason in our life.. its a chain action. The purpose of our life is self discovery to attain the BEST of ourself to achieve self satisfaction By being true to our purpose in life.

Looking at life in reverse we can join all dots and understand why things happened. However it is us who have to keep going forward to discover our worth on this planet, to know why we are born and to fulfill our roles. It is this awakening that allows one complete satisfaction in ones life. While telling this and more the author holds the plot completely with the strong storyline and chatacters which are etched beautifully with utmost detailing. All questions are answered and the plot unfolds one mystery after another. 

The Guru Satya, the Sadhak Rhea, the saint Krishnam weave a magic on us and draw us into their world of Tantra, awakenings, beautiful love, principles, will and determination.

This book is a must read in all aspects. The author has done a tremendous job and has been successful in not only explaining the world on true principles of Tantra but also in giving a beautiful story who draws the reader in and keeps you mesmerised.
Looking forward to more books from her.

Thumbs up from my side - Must read.

Check out the complete video on the book review below.

Here is the link to buy The Tantric Curse from Amazon

Hope you have fun reading it.
Let me know.

Happy New Years Guys...

xoxo
Bhakti

Festive Chocolate Modaks / Ladoos

I love all festivals and celebrate them with complete gusto and excitement. However Ganapati festival is one of my favourites, I cant wait to get Bappa home every year and whenever I look at him its just getting immersed in his eyes every single time.
This time is no different I am so happy and immersed completely in all Bappa's festivities and digging in completely on Bappas favourite food (and mine too ;p, he is the foodie God and that makes me fall in love with him all the more, added advantage you see).
So here I am churning out delicious delicacies for Bappa and his Bhakts (devotees, -we ;p).
My kitchen is filled with amazing aromas of all kinds of modaks, so I thought why not share the easiest and one of the yummiest one of the lot with my blogging family.
So without further ado here it goes.


Chocolate Modak / Ladoo

You can give this recipe a modak shape or Ladoo shape both are equally loved by Bappa.
You can even use it for other festivals and celebrations.
The Recipe is super easy, quick and finger licking good.
So why wait, lets just start Making.

Ingredients

Milk maid/ Mithai mate or any condensed milk.
Powdered Sugar
Digestive Marie Biscuits
Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
Vanilla essence or any other (optional)
Milk

Method
Crush the biscuits in powder form preferably by hand so it is uneven and has a coarse texture.
Add Condensed milk, Cocoa Powder to it.
Add Sugar as per taste if required.
Add milk and vanilla essence.
Knead it all in a dough form it shouldn't be sticky but firm so add your ingredients accordingly.
Shape them in your desired modak or ladoo form.
Refrigerate for some time.
Your Modaks are ready.

Quick, easy and amazingly delicious - Hope you enjoy.
Let me know how they turn out.

Until we meet again.
Stay happy and cheerful and enjoy the festivities.

xoxo
Bhakti

Weekend trip to Rice Paradise

Weekends are meant to take a break from the ordinary, mundane and I just do exactly that. Dive in to the weekend with an enthusiasm of a child having fun in his first fun fair. I love doing things that bring peace and happiness to my heart, travelling and nature rank in the first few.

So here we were travelling with a bunch of friends to the rain soaked Rice paradise lying in the backyards of Pune. No more puzzles and for those who have already guessed - Yes Mulshi it is. This small beautiful town glows and basks in its beauty like a dazzling peacock dancing in the rain. Mesmerising one and all with its splendid grandeur and Natures beauty.

It was a triple celebration - Friends Birthday, Friendship day and a good old weekend - Jackpot don't you think.

What with a big over enthusiastic bunch we had, we booked a quaint rustic bungalow in Mulshi (there are many available for stay). Very basic dormitory type setting like camping together with gorgeous nature surrounding us. Home cooked, rustic hot food.

It was an amazing weekend what with such gorgeous set of people in beautiful surrounding, gurgling streams, rustic home cooked meals, non stop pitter patter of rain, getting drenched and hot smoking bbq all done by us - heavenly.

All Ready !!

Lets go .. Candid

pic credit - Ashish P

The journey itself is so beautiful.

such a rustic old property, Zahir and me completely fell in love.

It had a small pond pool, Victorian old age statues, a lovely guava garden. It even had its very own weather vane on the highest point of the roof.

No sooner than we reached and settled we were served hot poha and pakoras along with chai. I digged in hot Bhakari along with chutney. Once we were well fed we decided to explore the place and head out for a small hike in the Rain.

Rice fields everywhere, they are so pretty, swaying in the wind and dancing in the rain.

This guy though is the best thing of the entire package ;p

We found this stream gurgling along. It was so therapeutic to just let the water flow over your feet, the light drizzle of rain and the fresh fragrance of the rain washed mud, foliage and farms with scent of wild flowers and blue canopy of the sky  dotted with specs of clouds.

Enjoying like a child

Nature and its beauty. These wild flowers are so pretty and cheerful.

Pc - Ashish

P C - Ashish

Never to leave and always to behold and protect.

oh btw a small accident, one of our friend dropped his camera lens right in the stream. We all were so worried but Thank goodness nothing happened to it. Immediately cleaned it with a cloth and after going home kept it in a pot of rice grains to soak all the moisture off..

Credit - Ashish

On our way back to the cottage after a nice excursion.

Pic credit - Ashish

Credit - Preet C

courtesy - Ashish P

First glimpse of the cottage on returning from the hike..

so inviting ..

we jumped into preparing bbq and lighting a slow fire, so magical. We were served gavran chicken curry, bhakari, rice and some vegetables too.  

The food was so amazing, we digged in. danced the night away. Beautiful memories, that's what the journey is about.

this candid snap, I am in love with this..

Pic credit - Preet C

Magical nights like these - dancing in the moon light in the rain.

Life is all about living and not just being alive.

on that note hope you liked  the post, let me know ...

until we meet again

Stay Happy and Cheerful

xoxo

Bhakti

P.S - Some pictures belong to Preet. C and Ashish .P, I have already given the credits in case I have missed any.