Seeing the Pope at St Peter’s Square
Three weeks ago, as I planned my vacation, I toyed whether to visit the Vatican on a Monday or a Wednesday. And then I chose Wednesday, because that’s the day that the Pope gives an audience. I…
October: A mindful watch
Shoojit Sircar‘s off-beat film ‘October‘ struck a chord somewhere. If you have gone through a phase where your world has come to a standstill for some reason, you will identify with it. In one of the best performances…
Pandavleni: The rock-cut caves of Nashik
We were in Nashik and decided to walk up to Pandavleni early on Wednesday morning before the sun came up. We met several joggers and walkers and also some people trying to trek uphill without using the…
Cheezbilai or Junglee Jalebi
Just at dawn, on our walk, we discovered a flock of plum headed parakeets fly from one tree and rest on an adjacent branch and peck at something. They did that repeatedly and then one parakeet dropped…
The pumpkin patch
This morning we discovered a pumpkin patch. Actually, it was more than a patch, it was a field where they were growing red pumpkins. I’ve always found the local nomenclature for pumpkins and squashes very confusing. Now, this one…
Satuani: A ritual to mark the beginning of summer
Although I originally belong to Bihar, I did not grow up there. So I’m always on the lookout- trying to gather little details of the unique customs and traditions of the place. On Friday, that is on…
Saturdays and khichdi
One of the most delectable dishes that Bihar has to offer is the masoor dal khichdi. It isn’t the usual bland khichdi which is served to people who are ill. Instead this is flavourful, with added vegetables…
A divine morning
Some mornings are divine. You wake up to the find out that the rain gods decided to work overtime during the night. The whole world has been washed clean and the leaves are glistening green. The air…
Borborygmi: the rumblings of your stomach
This morning I read a good (and ‘gud-gud’) piece written by Indraneel Majumdar which talked about the nocturnal rumblings of an overworked stomach. It instantly transported me back to my medical school lecture theatre, where Dr Jalgaonkar,…
Padmaavat: Bhansali brand of grandeur on 70 mm
Padmavati (I just can’t bring myself to call it Padmaavat- reminds me of Amaavat or aam paapad!) is not about the brave queen of Mewar. Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s magnum opus has just one person completely overshadowing everything…
