H1N1 FLU OVER THE CM’S NEST………
The honorable CM easily is one of the most famous people in India to have contracted the flu that has made pigs unpopular the world over. The internet administrator has been having a tough time coping with reader mails who are suggesting how Mr.Modi should cope with the same.

But,’ There is nothing to fear’ our CM announced as usual. Remember, he said the same line, surrounded by his efficient Z category security, post the discovery of 29 fizzled out bombs in Surat.
Our respectable CM is nursing back to good health with the best wishes and prayers ,here are a few suggestions for a workaholic like him; to help him while his convalescent time. Nothing stressful we wouldn’t want that now would we, just 7 different ways to spend the 7 days.

1. Karma chameleon-First and foremost, since he dresses to the occasion, he could design a few swine flu masks [in khadi of course] to go with his future outfits. Who knows, they might be patented by his fan club soon.

2. Net working-Update his multilingual blog [5 languages] and Twit more, a la Amitabh.Bachhan and Tharoor, so that people can have a first person account of his innermost feelings.

3. Ban no more-Finish reading the rest of Jinnah and know what not to write in his own, book in future.

4. Diamonds are forever,post from Russia with love-Understand Surti heeraghasuo ni vyatha better by watching ‘Havey marey heera nathi ghasva.’

5.International Khiladi- Prepare his speech for Patel samaj summit 2010, in the U.S.A, err……..also prepare for visa interview.

6. Fine tuning-Brush up his pied piper skills and tunes to gather new ardent followers.Since the youth love and understand the power of music.

7.Hello,is it me you're looking for?-Make all those important phone calls to friends, relatives and people that he always meant to get back to but could not due to his busy schedules.

Here is wishing a speedy recovery to the man whose rain check has given him the most precious thing that he could not afford-Time.

TEXTILE TOWN’S TEA TIME TREATS………..
Post the official Diwali annual break, laladom is back to doing what it does best.
Textile market is buzzing with business deals over betel nut chewing mouths that are yapping away nonstop about the due stocks [maal in Surti] and payments.
This week will easily be one of the most entertaining as traders will describe their holiday trips and tours and how their better halves got the better of them while shopping.
Post Diwali is the time when Mahabaleshwar turns to Chowk Bazaar, Lonavala to Bhagal char Rasta and Kulu Manali to City light. Over frothy ‘timtim’minty masala tea, from Shiv Shakti, a must have in the textile market area, chikki and channa from trips will be shared along with the chatter.
The spiciest dry, masala channa, by the way are actually sold right on the roadside of Salasar road itself, along with roasted peanuts and other munchies.Mid afternoon will call for shared meals with whiffs of Sindhi, Punjabi and Gujarati cuisine that comes in from homes, carried by the onerous Udiya maali men, the Surti dabbawalas who job hop as gardeners otherwise.
As varied as the traders of Tapi town’s textile market, is the cuisine available in and around it which is relished by visitors as a ‘specialty’ and also by Lalas who want a change from routine homemade food.
The most popular pick is the’ Pehlwan ke Choley Bhaturey’, an authentic Amritsari taste of deep fried plain flour bhatureys with an inner lining of paneer crumbs and coriander packed in a brown paper bag, spicy, ginger rich kabuli channas that are cooked to perfection, rich in oil and Indian spices in a black pepper rich avtaar, served with the most mouthwatering carrot pickle and fried green chilies ‘and thinly sliced onions. Highly addictive, in spite of being the kind of meal, that needs an afternoon siesta to digest the gastronomic delight.
Tea time treats include the Syndicate samosas-Surti receipe of gram dal sautéed in ginger chilli paste along with chopped onions and rolled with pattis to form tiny savoury triangles that tempt and tease the taste buds. Freshly fried, these hot delights make it difficult to stop at one. Also available here is the ‘aloopuri’ the bataka ni puri or bhajiyas of sliced potatoes popped in besan , to be devoured with a raw lip smacking ,curry leaf tempered gram flour chutney that looks like kadhi but is denser and spicier.
The other popular option consists of South Indian cuisine, while most market canteens have the regular fare, Shetty and Gayatri that run kiosks by the roadside, are popular for Mysore masala dosas and Poha samosas and medu wadas served with coconut chutney the flavour of which turns an otherwise bland delicacy into a firebrand one.
Whatever the need of the taste buds or budget, within the busy Surti streets of the textile market, there is something to suit everyone .Both Maaliks and mazdoors relish these tastes of Tapi town’s kiosks that from today will be as busy and buzzing as the business offices that surround them.
Tapi town tattle-New year re-solutions.

DIWALI’S DAZZLING RAZZMATAZZ
As we close down on the countdown to Diwali, traditional meals will be set out in Surti homes to be relished with relatives and friends. While most Surti homes will have fixed meals as per festival of the day, here are some themes that you may add on, to make your festive feasts more fun.
Dhanteras-Diyas and Dhuns-As multi coloured rangolis and the glow from earthen lamps light up your abode, set out the table with floral rangolis with bhajans in the background to set the pious mood of this day.Coulourful flowers can be sourced from shops outside temples around town for an array of aromatic splendor, a perfect welcome to Goddess of wealth. Copperware can be used to serve-Kansar to be relished with sugar powder and ghee as a good omen, along with patra-stuffed aloccacia leaves, gourd and gram vegetable and Gujarati dal with rice.
Kalichaudus-Kajra and Quwalli-The night where kajal is made from lamps, calls for a kajrare gajrare night, get strings of fragrant mogra flowers for guests to wrap around their wrists and a surmadani at the entrance. Play recorded quawallis and lose your soul to the soulful rendering of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Abida Parveen as they lend nasal nuance to Amir Khusro.Karoake along with the maestros. Though tradition calls for a meal of Doodhpak, puri, Juwar wada, Kadhi-rice moli dal and stuffed aubergines with jacket potatoes, this is one night that tikkas and tandooris are savoured.
Diwali-Genda phool and Ghazals-The most important day of the Hindu calendar is meant to be celebrated in the traditional way. As marigolds add wealth to the decor, just the right time for Jagjit Chitra and Farida Khanum take you through a nostalgic journey of memories as you share gifts and game of cards with friends. Use khakhar pan and dadiyas to serve sheero puri batatavada.Set the table with a bright and kitschy organza runner or braided chattai mats. Keep a special menu and array of kiddy meals ready for the young guns. Go slow on the cracker front but has a blast bonding with family.
Bestu Varsh-Silverware and Symphony-Go ahead and use the fancy polished silverware and goblets that are otherwise stored away. As visitors do the rounds greeting saalmubarak, let Beethovan, Chopin and Mozart’s serene symphonies grace the occasion as a backdrop.Lapsi, kela methi bhajiyas, flower vatana and dal rice will be prepared in most Gujarati homes. Make a mixed mithai- chocolate platter to serve the eager guests. Line the drawing room with jasmine during the daytime to enhance the enchantment.
Bhai beej-Crystal and Classical-Bring out the rare crystal collection to lay out Undhiyu, ghooghras, basudi mungdal, kadhi and tuver vatana and turiyapatra. Play Hindustani classical instrumental or vocal. Let sitars, tablas and saarangis lend their wealth to the richness of your relationships. Add desi rose petals to white karoti rangolis.Plan the holidays ahead as you breathe in inscense sticks that atomize the air post the cracker corruption.
Tapi town tattle-Glow and growth.Saal Mubarak.

SURTIS SWOON UNDER PADVA MOON...................
Post the rare, dual Aso Sud Poonam and soft sultry surprise rain shower, Chandi Padva has officially commenced. Now that we are loaded with our custom made Ghari and swadisht Bhusu; it’s going to be ‘Ghari on the go’ time for Tapi town tonight.
Here are some popular places where Surtis swoon under the spell of the Chandi Padva Moon, with an added new twist to enjoy the same.
Tere mere beach mein-Dumas, the ditch by the Arabian Sea is where the romantic junta will be headed. With, ‘Chalo dildaar chalo chand ke paar chalo’ as the theme in mind, looking out at the receding waters, that are swallowed by the dark of the night. You could play ‘truth or dare’ with your gang and have a heart to heart about your fortes and drawbacks, like the Farah Khan show. [P.S-be careful not to turn it into Sach ka saamna].
Senior citizens zindabad!-Those who are not in the mood or health to venture out, can meet on their terraces and organize Antakshari.To be strictly played in original, non remix style, with simple singing and without annoying loud music. After all, what else can ever beat the magical charm of,’Tujhe Chand ke bahaney dekhu, tu chatt per aaja goriye’ and ‘Dum bhar jo udhar muh pherey, O Chanda’.
Gul Gulshan Gulfaam-Happy families will gather in gardens around town to picnic and play games together. Family bonding will grow strong while playing ’Ubhi kho’, dumb charades and night cricket which are most popular with large gangs.While the Kid brigade will enjoy strolling and storytelling sessions of’Chandamama dur ke ,pudey pakaye dudh kay’,’chandamama mere paas aana’ under the moonlit skies.
Surti sightseeing-Sheri dwellers will be lining up on the sides of suburban streets right from Chowpatty to Piplod through Airport road till Bhimpore. With wishful wanting of,’Chanda re chanda re kabhi toh zameen per aa, baithengay baatey kareingay.’ There are numerous new mean machines that have rolled into town that will be a sight for sore Surti eyes. We have A6, A4, Audis, BMW’s X-5 SUV, 3 and 7 series Sedan and Gujarat’s only XF Jaguar that put on a grand road show.
Farmhouse fantasy-The rich but not yet famous will party the night away under the ‘khoya khoya chand khula aasma, aankhon mein saari raat jayegi, tum ko bhi kaise neend ayegi’ theme. Not much Ghari will be eaten [the rich don’t eat at parties, silly, its passé’.]But a lot of business will go on .Subtle ‘aankh micholi’ will be exchanged and silent ‘chand mera dil, chaandni ho tum’will linger in the air. These farms will also be the only places in Surat where Ghari will be eaten in three different ways.
1. Chilled and chopped with the ghee layer severed off.
2. Microwaved and melted till the fat liquidates
3. Relished in its normal form at room temperature.
Devour this Surti delight just as you please, tonight.
Tapi town tattle-Joy of giving = Joy of living.

CHANDI PADVO-SURTI GHARI STORY...........
‘Sharad Purnima ‘is considered the brightest, coolest full moon night of the Hindu calendar year. Folk lore goes that on this Poonam, Lord Krishna performed ras- leela through the entire night with thousands of gopis in his ek-anek avatar. Garba revellers too, give it a go, for one last time, in all their colourful splendour.
Many Gujaratis observe a fast which is later broken by consuming ‘doodh-poha’ (offered as the first rice harvest to God) and galka bhajiyas served piping hot, on terraces.
On the next day, falls ‘chandi padvo’; celebrated with feasting, in Surat. Night picnics are organised at Dumas, farmhouses and sheris. Surtis reportedly consume and export more than 100 tons of ghari. Relished with bhusu-a namkeen mixture, ghari is distributed amongst family and friends .Packaged plastic boxes are sent country wide and to N.R.I s.Although this Surti speciality is in demand through the year, Surtis relish it only during the chandi padva day.
The trend is believed to have started in the 17th century. A Chauta bazaar sweetmeat shop owner, whose business had seen better days, went to the akhada of Nirvaan baba at Nawab ni wadi, Begumpura on Sharad Poornima, to seek blessings and luck for better business. Baba appeared in his dream and asked him to prepare a sweetmeat that looked like a full moon and offer it to please the Gods, on the next day. Thus,’Ghari’ is covered with ghee to look like the moon and relished on chandi padva.
Gharis are made with mawa, bits of almonds, pistachios, charoli, cardamom and some blend it with kesar. This mixture is cooked, cooled and rolled into a palm sized ball, then enveloped in a thin layer of kneaded plain flour, deep fried in ghee and later set in a layer of the same. Sold commercially, at most of Surat’s mithai shops, It is also popularly prepared to order in old city homes and ‘nyaath ni wadis ‘by communities who prefer the authentic pure version without additives like semolina and gram flour.
88 year old Surti, Leelaben Parekh’s eyes light up when she talks about her first experience of having a ghari’,’In the 1900’s,a Saurashtrian who worked for the royals of Junagadh, Dev Shankar Ghariwala,shifted to and set up shop in Surat. He sold gharis at 50 paise per piece, from Lalgate and also at the kerb of Bhagal below the Masjid. Nothing available these days tastes as good as that velvety delight. He used to add coconut milk, hand pounded in wooden mortar pestles to bind the flour. His ghari would have a thick layer of ghee that fingers would plunge into. It was packed in cane baskets lined with khakhar paans and tied with a sutli dori,’
More than 70,000 kilos of Ghari at an average price of around Rs.300 per kg will be sold on a single day in Surat this year .The divine constellation of Manekthari Poonam will be seen worldwide, but will be celebrated back to back only by ‘khai-pi ney jalsa’ loving Surtis.